First I have not located confirmation that your particular ancestor was an officer in the 7th Va Cav. The 7th Cav has an interesting and sometimes complex history. In the early stage of the war particularly in Western Va (also WV) regions the desire to get troops into the field to secure the region was paramount. Thus many of the usual habits and processes of proper unit organization was set aside in the haste. Resulting in units that were overmanned, undermanned and various oddities of organization. A "Regiment" during this era normally contained Ten Companies. The 7th Cav had swelled to Twenty-Nine... In June of 1862 it was divided up.. Ten companies remained with it.. Ten companies made into the 12th Va Cav Regt, 7 companies created the 17th Va Cav Battalion, and a few others transfered to other commands... What remained of the 7th Va Cav Regt was the normal ten companies thereafter.

Noted that you mentioned his son was with the 11th Va Cav Regt. Well the previously mentioned 17th Cav Battn in Feb63 was consolidated with the 5th Va Cav Battn to form the newly designated 11th Va Cav Regt... so that makes sence.. You might also find him in rosters of the earlier designations..

In those early stages of the war there were hoards of smaller battalions existing of both Infantry and Cavalry especially in the western part of the state. (Battalions at this period of time were smaller commands of usually 3-5 or more but less than nine companies). Many of these were consolidated to form new full regiments.

Yes in many cases confederate records and rosters are fragmented especially with commands and units that existed early in the war since much of them were completely lost at the end of the war in the Richmond Evacuation Fire. and/or were mustered in counties that their records didnt survive the war ie: "Burnt Counties".

I also tend to tell people to heed caution on names located since just because a particular name found is the same as the one sought... it might or might not be the same person one is searching for even though the names may match. Quite a few times in the past I have helped people with historical research and they dismayed when told that the person/grave/history wasnt the ancestor they thought it was even though the names matched. I had one that had even spent lots of time and funds to have a grave marked and maintained to only find that person was found to be of no actual relationship to them..

Secondly the military records that do exist are not without errors. Many initials and first names are incorrectly listed, last names mispelled etc. Remembering that the existing national archives cards were created/copied from old original muster sheets that in many cases were hastily written. In many cases hard to read later. It might have been "Jos" for Joseph.. but might have appeared to the copist as "Jas" for James.. thus a Joseph might incorrectly be listed as a James...

There was a 60th Va Inf Regt.. previously known as the 3rd Regt Inf - Wises Legion. I did not find any Major Hold/Holt or anything similar associated with this regiment, its staff or any other brigade or division level staff.

Could it be possible this is actually the "80th Va"?, this would make more sence. There was a local 80th Va Militia unit that was from Kanawha. In the early stages of the war there were hoards of these local militia units existing. Remember that when Virginia first left the union its first priority was defending itself, thus there were many local and state designated units formed for its defence. Most of these were short lived and were soon consolidated to create other battalions and regiments. One may have recieved authority to muster a unit and its leadership established, but if the unit failed to muster enough troops, it may have been disbanded or disolved. Those men that had obligatory enlistments thereof usually were transfered to other commands. Even if one did have a command rank in one.. that was no guarentee that it would carry over to state accepted and/or confederate service. One may be a designated Major one month, but if the unit mustering failed you might be a private in another unit the next month. The Confederate Army reorganized in the spring of 1862.. many prior regimental officers failed to resecure the role in the newly held elections. Unfortunately majority of the records of these early militia units did not survive. Virginia also retained various State Line, militia, Reserves, and home guard units for its own local defense and use that did not get sent up as quota units for use of the Confederate Military nor Central Government control.. thus rare that these local unit details or records be found in "Confederate" records since these units only served on the local and/or state levels... He may have served for some period of time in the 7th Va Cav early on as referenced on his grave stone.. but might have been discharged from active service due to his age.. and then served in a local reserve or home guard unit later since he would have qualified and been exempt from draft at that point in time...

Since you mentioned the letter referencing "stars" this would imply the rank in question was either a Major (one star each side of the collar) or Lieut Colonel (two stars each) since it was said the Colonel brought the stars back from Richmond. However there is no Brown listed as either of these ranks in any of these units known. A person of that rank is usually fairly easy to find.

You may wish to request copies of your ancestors service records via the national archives. If existing this may help establish the time frame of his service to help narrow down the search.

Hopes this helps
Respects
Frederick