Lewis Henry Little | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1817-03-19)March 19, 1817 |
| Died | September 19, 1862(1862-09-19) (aged 45) |
| Place of burial | Green Mount Cemetery Baltimore, Maryland |
| Allegiance |  United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Branch |  United States Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1839–61 (USA) 1861–62 (CSA) |
| Rank |  Captain (USA)Brigadier General (CSA) |
| Commands | 1st Missouri Brigade 1st Division,Army of the West |
| Battles / wars | Mexican-American War |
| Relations | brother-in-law ofAlexander E. Steen |
Lewis Henry Little (March 19, 1817 – September 19, 1862) was a careerUnited States Army officer and aConfederatebrigadier general during theAmerican Civil War. He served mainly in theWestern Theater and was killed in action during theBattle of Iuka.
Little was born inBaltimore, Maryland toPeter Little and his wife Catherine on Mar. 19, 1817. He was a brother-in-law ofAlexander E. Steen and son-in-law ofPitcairn Morrison. Little was commissioned asecond lieutenant in the5th U.S. Infantry in 1839 after graduating fromWest Point.[1] He served in theMexican War and was awarded abrevet promotion tocaptain for his service at theBattle of Monterrey in 1846. He was promoted to captain in theregular army on August 20, 1847.[2]
Little resigned his commission as a U.S. Army officer on May 7, 1861. He helpedSterling Price train the Missouri volunteers that soon joined theSouthern armies. He entered the Confederate service as an infantry captain on March 16, 1861, but soon was made anartillerymajor that same month. Little was promoted tocolonel on May 18 and served Price as hisAdjutant General in theMissouri State Guard.[2]
At theBattle of Pea Ridge on March 7, 1862, Little commanded the1st 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."[3] His appointment tobrigadier general occurred on April 12.[4]
Little came east of theMississippi River withMaj. Gen.Earl Van Dorn's army and served under Gen.P. G. T. Beauregard atCorinth. 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."[5] At Corinth he was given command of the 1st Division in Price'sArmy of the West. His peers praised his division as well drilled and disciplined.
He led his division at theBattle of Iuka on September 19. At about 5:45 p.m., while sitting on his horse behind the front line and next to Sterling Price,[6] he was struck in the head by a bullet and killed instantly.[7] He is buried inGreen Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.
