Corinth, Mississippi
Alcorn County
(submitted by Gerald & Tammy Westmoreland)
Corinth is the county seat of Alcorn County, Mississippi. The current population is about 14,700. It lies on the state line with Tennessee.
Corinth was founded in 1853 as Cross City, so-called because it served as a junction for the Mobile & Ohio and Memphis & Charleston railroads. It was the town's early newspaper editor, W. E. Gibson, who suggested its current name for the city of Corinth in Greece that also served as a crossroads.
A college known as the Corona Female College was founded in 1854, but due to the Civil War, the school had a short existence. Another school known as the Corinth Female College was founded in 1879, but has long since been extinct.
Corinth's location at the junction of two railroads made it strategically important to the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard retreated to Corinth after the Battle of Shiloh (April 1862), pursued by Union Major General Henry W. Halleck. General Beauregard abandoned the town on May 29 when General Halleck approached, letting it fall into the Union's hands. Since Halleck had approached so cautiously, digging entrenchments at every stop for over a month, this action has been known as the Siege of Corinth.
The Union sent Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans to Corinth as well and concentrated its forces in the city. The Second Battle of Corinth took place on October 3−4, 1862, when Confederate Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn attempted to retake the city.
GPS: 34.934167, -88.522222
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