August 5, 2011

On March 7, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Herron led the Ninth Iowa Volunteer Regiment into combat at the bloody Battle of Pea Ridge. As a result of his actions in the Union victory, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, one of four men so cited. His official citation stated that he “was foremost in leading his men, rallying them to repeated acts of daring, until himself disabled and taken prisoner.” Herron was later exchanged and promoted to brigadier general. He participated in other actions, including the Battle of Prairie Grove later the same year.