Joseph is listed as Ord Sergeant, Field and Staff (F & S) of the 8th Virginia Cavalry.

The abbreviation Ord, could be either Ordnance or Orderly (1st) Sergeant.

Orderly Sergeants were the top dog enlisted man in each of the 10 companies. There were no Orderly (1st) Sergeants assigned to the Field and Staff. The F & S contained three Non commissioned Officers, viz., Sergeant-Major, Ordnance Sergeant, and Hospital Steward. See below;

C. S. Organization

Initially, heavy artillery was organized the same as infantry regiments or battalions. . . . A full regiment would rate a colonel, a lieutenant-colonel, a major, an adjutant who ranked as a lieutenant, a commissary who ranked as a captain, a quartermaster who ranked as a captain, a surgeon who ranked as a major, a sergeant-major, an ordnance sergeant, and a hospital steward.
http://books.google.com/books?id=v_ywftdTcCMC&pg=PT34&lpg=PT34&dq=civil+war+ordnance+sergeant&source=bl&ots=FfihVpBfXj&sig=ySjs_mxmjOsygH3uwaq0Vt60BNw&hl=en&ei=0kOyTeL3K5O6sAOMnNX9Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q=civil%20war%20ordnance%20sergeant&f=false
page 40

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This indicates how the term 'Officer' was used at times:

Georgia 22nd Infantry Regiment

FIELD OFFICERS:

Jones, Col. Robert H. - Colonel
Wasden, Joseph - Major, Colonel
Jones, George H. - Captain, Colonel
McCurry, Benjamin C. - Captain, Lieutenant Colonel
Pritchett, J. Walter - Lieutenant Colonel
Lallerstedt, Lawrence D. - Captain, Major
Girardeau, J. A. - Adjutant
Daniel, J. D. - Adjutant
Bedell, S. L. - Adjutant
Jones, William E. - Chaplain
McAfee, William Hamilton
Woodruff, S. F. - Sergeant Major
Nesbit, William Hoyle - Sergeant Major
Leigh, J. F. - Sergeant Major
Peeples, L. F. - Sergeant Major
Hanks, J. A. R. - Assistant Quartermaster
Keith, J. L. - Captain, Assistant Quartermaster
Jones, John J. - Assistant Quartermaster
Skinner, Augustus A. - Quartermaster
Wallace, William C. - Quartermaster Sergeant
Barker, George H. - Ordnance Sergeant
Jones, Richard F. - Ordnance Sergeant
Wilkes, John L - Surgeon
Pope, Sampson - Surgeon
Brandon, W. C. - Assistant Surgeon
Wilkins, J. T. - Assistant Surgeon
Jones, John William - Assistant Surgeon
Humphries, Thomas S. - Hospital Steward
Wilson, James T. - Ensign
Dunham, Ralph E. - Musician*
Shelton, J. M. - Musician*
http://www.researchonline.net/gacw/unit66.htm

* These two would most likely have been the Drum & Fife Majors

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The majority of the 35 cards in the file of Joseph William Brown, 8th Virginia Cavalry are invoices for Ordnance stores. Here is card #33:

Invoice of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores turned over this 25 day of July 1863 by J. W. Brown Ord Segt 8th Va Cav to Capt. Wm J. Clark AQM at Camp Stewart
(8) Eight Haltig[?]
(2) Two Halters
/s/s J. W. Brown Ord Segt
8th Va Cav

Card #27
Confederate States
To J. W. Brown
Oct 31st ?? Commutation of rations for myself for (68) Sixty eight days commencing 23rd Aug 1862 ending Oct 31st 1862, at 30 cts per day whilst acting as Ordnance Sergt 8th Va Cav. $20.40

I certify that the above account is correct & just that the above commutation was ???? by my Order & was necessary for the Public service it being impracticable to take rations in Reg[?]
/s/s J. W. Brown
[unreadable]

What was Joseph's civilian occupation? Could he have been a Gunsmith, Clerk, Constable, Merchant?