Corinth and Iuka, Mississippi

(Source: War Between the States)

Corinth and Iuka, Mississippi have much in common.

Both towns “mushroomed” in the 1850’s when news spread that rail transportation would reach their campsites.

The towns were incorporated within a year of each other and each had an ante-bellum female college.

Both towns had a Civil War battle which was fought in 1862. These battles occurred less than a month apart. The Battle of Iuka was on September 19^th, The Battle of Corinth was on October 3^rd and 4^th.

Another link in the history of the two towns occurred during the Battle of Iuka. Brig. Gen. Henry Little was killed. He had been sworn into the service of the Confederacy at Corona College in Corinth.

During the battle Gen. Little galloped to the front and joined Gen. Price in the thickest part of the fight. While they were conferring, Little was struck in the forehead by a mini ball and died instantly.

Later Gen. Little’s body was brought into town and buried by torchlight in the garden of the Coman house. This ante-bellum cottage is still standing. It is across the street of the Tishomingo County courthouse. Later Gen. Little’s wife had his remains removed to Baltimore.

Before becoming a Confederate officer Henry Little had been an assistant general of the Missouri State Troops.

It is said that a temporary Union hospital was set up in an Iuka hotel after the battle. This hotel, so the story goes, had a fine supply of linen as well as good mattresses and feather pillows. At that time Corinth was in Federal hands. Wounded soldiers sent from Corinth to Iuka in box cars are said to have been made comfortable by piles of mattresses and nests of pillows.