William Loring's Life-- Part 2: Fought in the Mexican War

**   Loring became captain of the U.S. Army's Regiment of Mountain Riflemen in 1846 where he  initially protected Oregon during the California  Gold Rush.  He then fought in the Mexican War, rising in rank several times from major to lieutenant colonel and then to colonel.

**  Loring had his army amputated after a bullet shattered it storming the Chapuletepec Castle during that war.

**  After the war in 1859, Loring spent  time in Europe and then came back to  command the Department of New Mexico in 1861.

**  Upon the beginning of the Civil War, Loring cast his lot with the new Confederacy and resigned from the U.S. Army.  

**  He later accepted the position of brigadier general in the Confederate Army on May 20, 1861.

--Old Secesh