1st Iowa Infantry

Born in Pittsburgh on February 17, 1837, to a proud and distinguished Pennsylvania family, he was the son of John Herron, a wealthy lumber mill proprietor, and his wife, Clarissa (Anderson) Herron. His paternal great-grandfather, who was also named Francis Herron, first arrived in the American colonies from County Antrim (now a part of Northern Ireland) in 1734. The Herrons, of Scotch-Irish descent, were staunch adherents of the Presbyterian religion. (Herron's maternal grandfather, Major William Anderson, was a founding member of Pittsburgh's First Presbyterian Church).

Young Herron attended Western University of Pennsylvania (later renamed the University of Pittsburgh), but decided to drop out at the age of sixteen in order to accept a position as a clerk in a local bank. In 1855 the resless Herron, like many other young men of the time, decided to relocate West, eventually resettling in Dubuque, Iowa, where he and three of his brothers established a small city bank. Long-interested in military activities, in 1859 Herron helped to organize an independent company which was known as the "Governor's Grays."

At the start of the Civil War, he offered the services of his company (with himself as its captain) to President Abraham Lincoln, and in April of 1861, it became a unit of the 1st Iowa Regiment. Among their first engagements of the war was at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, on August 10, 1861. The hotly contested battle was a disastrous defeat for the Federals and caused the loss of southern Missouri to the Confederates. Although the 1st Iowa was barely involved in the conflict, Herron himself was praised by his superiors. Nonetheless, his regiment was mustered out of the service in August of 1861.

His next command was of the 9th Iowa Infantry Regiment, which came with a promotion to lieutenant colonel. At the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge), which was fought from March 6-8, 1862, Herron received a wound during a hand-to-hand encounter and was taken prisoner by the Confederates. For his leadership and repeated acts of heroism during this hard-fought battle, Herron was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in July of 1862.

His greatest achievement as a commander, however, came during the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, on December 7, 1862. Along with General James Blunt, Herron was able to march their combined regiments against the assaulting Confederates under the command of General Thomas C. Hindman, eventually leading to a complete route of the Rebel army. Herron received a promotion to major general (dating back to November 29, 1862), thus making him the youngest officer on either the Confederate or Union side to achieve that rank.

During the Vicksburg campaign of 1863, General Herron served under General Ulysses S. Grant and was one of the three generals selected to take possession of the city. In February of 1865, he assumed command of the northern district of Louisiana. He eventually resigned his commission from the Federal service in June of 1865.

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