W.W. Loring: Florida's forgotten general

by James W. Raab

Confederate General William Wing Loring had been soldiering since he was 14 -- for the Republic first and then for the Confederacy. But "even his enemies bore him a man of unflinching honor and integrity'. . . ." As part of the Army of the Republic, he had led a regiment, with 600 mule teams, some 2,500 miles across the mountains to Oregon, "without losing a man." Years and a generation later, this was called "the greatest military feat on record." Loring began his career in Seminole wars in Florida at a time when most young men attended West Point. Later he studied law, and when Florida became a state he was in the state Legislature. When the Mexican War began, 27-year old Loring abandoned law and politics forever. He became a captain, a major, a lieutenant colonel. At Mexico City he led an assault on Belen Gate and lost his left arm. "Thereafter his empty sleeve bore its eloquent testimony to his courage and gallantry." Loring left few personal letters to rely on for information about his life. He did not keep a diary and died before he could write his memoirs. Author James W. Raab had to become a literary detective. After six years of research, Raab sets the record straight about "Old Blizzards."

263 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing style is disjointed and unpolished. However, you do get details on an obscure but colorful figure, and some military operations rarely touched on in other works. Loring led an offensive into West Virginia at roughly the same time Lee, Bragg, and Van Dorn were making their offensives. I had no idea this was happening, and it is good to see that aspect covered. Also interesting is his service out west in the 1850s and in Egypt after the war.

In the end, it would have been better if the book was less defensive. Champion Hill was Loring's low point in his career; Raab should just accept that, and his defense of Loring wears thin at this point. More importantly, Raab offers no critique of the man or his social position. Loring's surly and disagreeable temperament was only passingly commented upon.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched account of a Civil War general. He has a monument in the downtown plaza of St Augustine. Not many know why. This is a solid biography about a career in military service that spanned a few conflicts in American History.

[Tom Harman · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Wing Loring: Florida’s Forgotten General is a solid and overdue overview of a capable Confederate general who received remarkably little attention during the war despite a strong service record. Loring’s career illustrates how reputation, politics, and credentials often mattered as much as battlefield performance. His lack of West Point pedigree clearly limited his advancement and likely cost him promotion to lieutenant general.

The book does a good job tracing his varied career, and his postwar service in Egypt stands out as an especially interesting chapter—both unusual and revealing of how American military experience was valued abroad after the conflict. While the book may not radically reinterpret the war, it succeeds in restoring visibility to a figure too often overlooked.

Overall, this is a well-researched, readable account that fills an important gap in Civil War biography. 4 out of 5 stars.

Side note: I’m a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans camp in St. Augustine that bears Loring’s name, which added a personal dimension to reading his story.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of information in the book. very dry though. (I know it's non fic, but I've read others that weren't so dry.) Get a cup of coffee cause you'll need it. really great with dates, a little bit of strategy and who else was nearby and involved.