William Wing Loring
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1818-1886
A one-armed veteran of the Mexican War, William W. Loring became one
of the more troublesome of Confederate generals, frequently engaging
in disputes with his superiors. The North Carolina native had been
raised in Florida and served as a second lieutenant of state
volunteers in the fighting against the Seminoles. He then practiced
law and became a state legislator before being commissioned directly
into the regular army for the Mexican War. As a captain of the
Mounted Riflemen, he won two brevets in that conflict, being wounded
at both Churubusco and Chapultepec and losing an arm at the latter.
By the time of his May 13, 186 1, resignation he was his regiment's
colonel.
His Confederate assignments included: brigadier general, CSA (May 20,
186 1); commanding Army of the Northwest July 20-August 3, 1861 and
October 1861February 9, 1862); commanding brigade, Army of the
Northwest (August 3-October 1861); major general, CSA (February 17,
1862); commanding Department of Southwestern Virginia (May 8-October
16, 1862); commanding division, 2nd Military District, Department of
Mississippi and East Louisiana (ca. January-April 1863); commanding
division, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana (April-May 16,
1863); commanding division, Department of the West (May 16-July
1863); commanding division, Department of Mississippi and East
Louisiana July 1863-January 28, 1864); commanding division,
Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana January 28-May
4, 1864); commanding division, Polk's (Army of Mississippi)-Stewart's
Corps, Army of Tennessee (May 4-June 14, June 14-July 28, 1864,
September 1864-ca. March 1865, and April 9-26, 1865); and temporarily
commanding the corps Uune 14, 1864).
While serving under Robert E. Lee in the first summer of the war, he
took part in the disappointments of the campaign in western Virginia.
That winter his command was placed under the overall command of
Stonewall Jackson. Following the Romney Campaign, Loring opposed the
stationing of his men in the exposed town during the bitter winter
and obtained orders from Secretary of War Judah P. Benjamin to move
to Winchester. Outraged, Jackson threatened to resign and was
eventually upheld in his views of military etiquette. On February 9,
1862, Loring was removed from his post but a few days later was
appeased with promotion to major general. After departmental command
in Southwestem Virginia, he was named to command a division in
Mississippi.
Frequently in conflict with department commander John C. Pemberton,
he fought in the Vicksburg Campaign until cut off from the rest of
Pemberton's force at Champion Hill. The two generals blamed each
other for the defeat there. Loring then joined the forces under
Joseph E. Johnston and took part in the defense of Jackson,
Mississippi, and the Meridian Campaign. By now he was known to his
men as "Old Blizzards" because of his battle cry "Give them
blizzards, boys!" Transferred to Georgia, he fought in the Atlanta
Campaign.
When Leonidas Polk was killed at Pine Mountain, Loring briefly took
charge of the corps but was succeeded the same day by Alexander P.
Stewart. Returning to divisional command, he was wounded at Ezra
Church and was out of action until after the fall of Atlanta. He then
fought at Franklin, Nashville, and in the Carolinas. From 1869 to
1879 he was a division commander in Egypt and upon his return was
called "Pasha Loring." (Loring, William Wing, A Confederate Soldier
in Egypt.
