Henry Little
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Henry Lewis Little (March 19, 1817 – September 19, 1862) was a career U.S. Army officer who became a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War. He was killed at the Battle of Iuka.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Little was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 5th U.S. Infantry in 1839. He served in the Mexican-American War and was awarded a brevet promotion to captain for his service at the Battle of Monterrey in 1846. He was promoted to captain in the regular army on August 20, 1847.
[edit] Civil War
Little resigned his commission as a U.S. Army officer on May 7, 1861. He helped Sterling Price train the Missouri volunteers that soon joined the Southern armies. He entered the Confederate service as a major, was promoted to colonel and served Price as Adjutant General.
At the Battle of Pea Ridge on March 7, 1862, Little commanded the 1st Missouri Brigade in Price's division. In the thick of the first day's fighting near Elkhorn Tavern, he demonstrated competence and initiative. "During the course of the battle he gradually assumed more and more responsibility until he became the de facto commander of Price's division during the last hours that the Army of the West was on the field."[1] His appointment to brigadier general occurred on April 12.[2]
Little came east of the Mississippi River with Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn's army and served under Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard at Corinth. There, he caught malaria and was in poor health for the few remaining months of his life. Even so, he was regarded as "a thorough soldier and an excellent disciplinarian."[3] At Corinth he was given command of the 1st Division in Price's Army of the West. His peers praised his division as well drilled and disciplined.
He led his division at the Battle of Iuka on September 19. At about 5:45 p.m., while sitting on his horse behind the front line, next to Sterling Price, he was struck in the head by a bullet and killed instantly.[4] He is buried in Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore.
[edit] References
- Boatner, Mark M. III. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: David McKay, 1959. ISBN 0-679-50013-8
- Cozzens, Peter. The Darkest Days of the War: The Battles of Iuka and Corinth. University of North Carolina Press, 1997. ISBN 0-8078-5783-1
- Shea, William & Hess, Earl, Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West. University of North Carolina Press, 1992. ISBN 0-8078-4669-4
