In the later part of 1862, he saber-slapped (hit with the flat edge of his saber) an inattentive camp guard and loudly declared the soldier an "SOB."

Because of his "abuse of the guard," he resigned his rank of colonel, his command and subjected himself to a rigorous religious revival then an active recruiting effort.

[1] Forgiven by the press and apparently by the Army, he rejoined the active military as a major in command of a cavalry regiment.

Later he was a Special Inspector of Cavalry for the armies of the Potomac and the James where his insistence of doing things right contributed to a higher degree of quality and professionalism.

Starr married Eliza Kurtz (1822–1900) from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 21, 1841, in Leyden Township, Lewis County, New York and had several children.

[4] In one letter dated March 14, 1847, from an engineer camp near the city of Veracruz, he mentions some skirmishing near San Juan.

"[3] Other letters describe disease in the army (July 7), skirmishes during the approach to Mexico City and the Battle of Contreras (August 30).

From the Halls of Montezuma (September 23) he provides a description of the Battle of Molino del Rey and the suffering of the casualties after that action.

He sends a letter to his wife from West Point, Texas, in Fayette County on June 25, 1848, where he mentions his promotion as a passing comment.

From a camp at Towash Village (April 2, 1849), San Antonio May 20) he encourages his wife to consider coming to Texas.

Starr is there by July 17 and in a letter dated April 11, 1857, from the assistant adjutant general, L. Thomas, he is sent back West.

He served as aide de camp to Brigadier General Joseph Mansfield, who was in command of the Department of Washington.

On September 25, 1861, the Officers of the 5th New Jersey Infantry write to Brigadier General William R. Montgomery regarding of Starr's excess discipline and mistreatment of his men.

Then there is a printed commendation from George McClellan to the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac in a letter dated July 1, from Governor Olden in Trenton to Starr praising his men.

The latter term comes from an old company punishment for transgression that required the offender mount astride a fence rail, with his arms secured behind him and with his feet tied together.

Other forms of company punishment included being strapped to a wagon wheel or being forced to walk a post for hours in full uniform and gear.

[3] Due to a slapping incident, reticent of the future strict disciplinarian and vulgar lashing tongue of General George S. Patton[broken anchor], where Starr "saber slapped" an inattentive guard on the head, Starr resigned his commission in the volunteer service.

When his forward units under Lieutenant Christian Balder encountered Virginia cavalry and came racing back, Starr decided to fight.

[1] Starr had his 400 troopers dismount perpendicular to the road in the adjoining fields and an orchard on a slight ridge near Fairfield, Pennsylvania.

[1][9] It was a cavalryman's worst nightmare of a roiling twisted fight with pistols and blades by an overwhelming mounted force.

The Virginia cavalry cleared Starr's forces off the ridge inflicting heavy casualties and taking many prisoners.

[1] General "Grumble" Jones, outnumbering the Union forces by more than 2 to 1, pursued the retreating Federals for three miles to the Fairfield Gap, but was unable to eliminate his quarry.

Small groups of the Starr's 6th Cavalry," ... reformed several miles from the field of action by Lt. Louis H. Carpenter," harassed the Virginia troopers giving the impression of the vanguard of a much larger force.

[10] The 6th Cavalry's stand was considered one of the most gallant in its history and helped influence the outcome the battles being fought around Gettysburg.

While the 6th Cavalry regiment was cut to pieces, it fought so well that its squadrons were regarded as the advance of a large body of troops.

[11] Private George Crawford Platt, later Sergeant, an Irish immigrant serving in Carpenter's Troop H, was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 12, 1895, for his actions that day at Fairfield.

His citation reads, "Seized the regimental flag upon the death of the standard bearer in a hand-to-hand fight and prevented it from falling into the hands of the enemy."

On September 19, Starr received a letter from W. T. Hartz, Office of the Commissary General of Prisoners, informing him that his parole was invalid.

[3] In September 1864 Starr was ordered to join Sheridan’s army in the Shenandoah Valley, arriving at Martinsburg, Virginia on October 19.

On April 12, 1865, Starr wrote to the editor of the "Richmond Whig" and included the "proper lyrics" to a Union song.