★ ★ Herron, Francis Jay

Francis Jay Herron​

Born: February 17, 1837

Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Father: John Herron 1792 – 1863

(Buried: Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)​

Mother: Clarrissa Anderson 1797 – 1872

(Buried: Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)​

Wife: Adelaide Sophia Wibray 1838 – 1891

(Buried: Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York)​

Education:

Attended University of Pittsburgh​

Occupation before War:

Bank Clerk in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania​

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Bank Clerk in Dubuque, Iowa​

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1859 – 1861: Captain in Iowa State Militia​

Civil War Career:

1861: Captain in 1st​ Iowa Volunteers Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Served under Nathaniel Lyon in Missouri​

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1861: Served in the Battle of Boonville, Missouri​

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1861: Served in the Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri​

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1861: Honorably mustered out of 1st​ Iowa Volunteers Infantry

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1861 – 1862: Lt. Colonel of 9th​ Iowa Volunteers Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Wounded and Captured at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas​

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1862: Brigadier General Union Army Volunteers Infantry​

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1862: Made force march of 114 miles in three days in West Arkansas​

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1862: Co Commander in the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas​

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1862 – 1865: Major General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1863: Served on extreme left flank during Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi​

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1863: Commander of Union Army of the Frontier​

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1863: Served with leading procession into Vicksburg, Mississippi​

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Captured the City of Yazoo City, Mississippi​

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Corps Commander on the Texas Coast​

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Provided Aide to Mexico President Benito Juarez​

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Union Army Commander of District of Northern Louisiana​

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1865: Resigned from the Union Army in June​

Occupation after War:

United States Tax Collector for the District of New Orleans, Louisiana​

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1867 – 1869: United States Marshal, District of New Orleans, Louisiana​

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Louisiana State Secretary of State​

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Attorney and Banker in New York City, New York​

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1893: Recipient of the Medal of Honor for his role at Pea Ridge​

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Died a Pauper in a tenement in New York City, New York​

Died: January 9, 1902

Place of Death: New York City, New York

Cause of Death: Chronic pyelitis, nephritis and renal insufficiency

Age at time of Death: 64 years old

Burial Place: Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Major General Francis J. Herron! Salutes remembering General Herron on his birthday.

 

[Frank Watson]

Died a Pauper in a tenement in New York City, New York

With the little I know about Herron, I found this surprising, so I went and looked to see how he could have fallen so low. I found this in"Courage and Conduct: Francis J. Herron," Iowa Heritage Illustrated (Summer 2006): 50-61

Courage and Conduct, Iowa Heritage Illustrated

Even his final years have been portrayed negatively by scholars and biographers. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders (1964) states that Herron's "stature and fortunes steadily diminished" during his years in the Louisiana governor's administration and that "his death certificate records that he died in a 'tenement' on West 99th Street [New York City], 'Occupation: None.'" A recent history of the Battle of Wilson's Creek (published in 2000) cites this same source and asserts that he was "unsuccessful in business and died in poverty."

These interpretations are easily refuted. First of all, although Herron's 1902 death certificate lists his occupation as "none," the 1900 census lists him as a banker. Perhaps he had exited his career because of severe health problems in the last months of his life. Second, the notation of "tenement" on his death certificate did not necessarily mean a slum. Technically, a tenement (from the word "tenant") meant simply a multiple-dwelling building. In fact, censuses of 1880, 1890, and 1900 list the Herron residence as an "apartment." His address on West 99th was just west of Broadway and the north end of Central Park, in fashionable suburbs. It is unlikely that slums lined the street. Two years after his death, an ad in the New York Times describes Herron's former apartment: "6 large rooms and bath . . . Elevator, etc." The rent was $60—over $1,200 in today's dollars.

 

[ErnieMac]

His Medal of Honor citation reads "Was foremost in leading his men, rallying them to repeated acts of daring, until himself disabled and taken prisoner."

Francis Jay Herron | U.S. Civil War | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient

U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Francis Jay Herron was presented the Medal of Honor for military valor during the U.S. Civil War.

www.cmohs.org

 

[Pollaco]

The 1st Iowa was known as "Governor's Grays" before the war when it was just a militia Regiment.

 

[Pollaco]

I think he actually commanded several groups of troops known as the Army of the Frontier from March 30 through June 5, 1863.Was there such an army?

 

[ErnieMac]

I think he actually commanded several groups of troops known as the Army of the Frontier from March 30 through June 5, 1863.Was there such an army?

Apparently there was. It's high point was the Battle of Prairie Grove. I've read about the battle but had forgotten the army designation.

Army of the Frontier - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Pollaco]

Herron was the last commander of the Army of the Frontier before it was dissolved, before that was John Schofield (twice) and James Blunt.