The Southern Illustrated News served as the Confederacy’s alternative to Harper’s and Frank Leslie’s weeklies. William Loring was featured on the front page of the July 25, 1863 issue. Like most articles about Old Blizzards, the feature seems to raise more questions than it answers.

GEN. WILLIAM LORING.

This gallant officer is a native of Florida, and was born in December, 1824. At the early age of fourteen, he volunteered as a private in a regiment raised to fight the Indians during the celebrated Florida war, and in two years fought his way up to the captaincy of his company. At the close of the war, being yet but a boy, he entered the College of Georgetown, in the District of Columbia. Shortly after leaving college, the eyes of the Government having been attracted to him by the high military qualities which he had displayed in Florida, and which, from a private soldier, had made him a captain at sixteen, he was appointed to command a company of mounted riflemen in the Army of the United States. This was his rank when the Mexican war commenced. During that war his gallantry and good conduct were conspicuous in every battle from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. In a daring assault upon one of the gates of that city, he was so desperately wounded in the left arm, that amputation became necessary. The highest tribute was paid to his conduct throughout this long and arduous campaign. He was repeatedly brevetted, and, what is dearest of all to a soldier, was repeatedly promoted also. He went into the war a captain, he left it a full colonel. This circumstance alone, in an army where promotion was proverbially slow, is sufficient to indicate the value of his services. At the end of the war, he was appointed military commandant of the newly-acquired province of New Mexico, where he acquitted himself equally to the satisfaction of the inhabitants and his Government.

Colonel Loring was one among the first of those gallant officers of the old army who offered their services to the Confederacy. Knowing his value, President Davis immediately created him a brigadier-general, and he was sent to take the command which the death of the brave and lamented Garnett had left vacant. With consummate ability, he manœuvered his small force in front of the powerful Yankee levies that had overrun Northwestern Virginia, until he was relieved by General Lee. In a few weeks, he had contrived to impress the inhabitants of that portion of our State with a high opinion of his ability. Upon the retirement of General Lee, he again came into command, and it was while in this position that he was ordered to unite his forces with those of General Jackson. A difficulty sprung up between these two brave men, which threatened serious, if not disastrous, consequences. The only remedy was the removal of one or the other, and Loring was accordingly ordered to Suffolk. To prove that he had not lost confidence in him, however, the President promoted him to the rank of major-general.

General Loring had no opportunity to distinguish himself at Suffolk. He indeed remained there but a short time. A powerful delegation, consisting of some of the first men in Western Virginia, waited upon the President and begged that he be sent to take the command in that country, and he was sent accordingly. How he employed the few months that he commanded in that quarter will be remembered as long as Virginia is a State. In three battles, fought in rapid succession, he routed the Yankee forces, chased them down the Valley of the Kanawha, took many prisoners, guns and munitions of war, and ended by taking possession of Charlestown. It was about the time of the invasion of Maryland by General Lee, and he was now ordered to join that general. Misunderstanding the order, he failed to comply, and for that reason, or some other, was recalled. He was immediately transferred to the Mississippi Valley, and placed in command of Fort Pemberton, on one of the branches of the Yazoo. His heroic defence of that post against overwhelming odds, and his successful retreat when resistance was no longer possible, are too fresh in the recollection of his countrymen to need repetition here. His last exploit, cutting his way through an overwhelming force of Yankees who had separated him from the main body of Pemberton’s army, was one of the most daring exploits of the war. It was the last in which he has been thus far engaged. But we may look for his name in the gazette that brings tidings of the next battle. If there, he will certainly be heard of.

General Loring is a gentleman of a most amiable disposition and the most pleasing manners. His men adore him, and will follow him any where.