Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-12-26
GENERAL HEBRON.
From the CHion.


Brigadier General Frank j. Heron ia tn
youngest Brigader in the service. He is no
yet twenty SIX, two years younger than Hoche
when sent to crush the rebels in La Vendee
yet, like that youthful soldier, has earl,
carved his name on the roll of fame, by deed.
of yalor prompted by skill and genius. TIL,
r promptitude with which he marched his two
divisions, camped at Dug Springs and Viii
sons Creek as late as six o'clock on Thurs
day last, over a rough country, to succoi
Blunt, threatened with destruction by ar
overwhelming rebel force at Cane Hill, one
hundred and twenty-five miles distant, and
and the encounter with the whole combined
rebel force beyond Fayetteville and their ab
solute deleat-are facts recounted by every
one to-day, and will live in history.
Gen. Heron was born at Pittshurg, Pa,
where his father still resides, and fills, we be-
lieve, the Office of Clerk in the United Stat S
District Court Young Heron came to Du-
buque in 1856, and embarked with his broth.
or in the banking business He has resided in
Dubuque ever since. When the militia was
first organized in that State in 1859, he was
made captain of the Governors Greys,' q
company which under his command, became
distinguished in peace times" for the
beauty and efficiency of its drill. Captain
Heron took his company on a steamboat
excursion to st. Paul, Minnesota, circum-
stance worth mentioning only as an ilustra-
ton OF his military taste, and the pride man.
ifested in " bringing out the crack company"
at time when military displays were at
low ebb in public estimation. The command
:, OF such company, however, was school in
which the future commander acquired tact
and skill for future usefulness. Hence on
the Presidents first cal for troops to put
down the rebellion. Captain Heron was the
] earliest to make tender Of his company to
the Governor, which was accepted He
joined the LIST Iowa. under Colonel Bat 8,
and reaching st. Louis, went through tn
successive skirmshes with Lyon, and in the
bloody battle of Wilson's Creek distinguish
cd himself for discretion and valor. He was
afterwards promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
of the 9th Iowa, Vandever, Colonel, and at
Elk Horn commanded that regiment Colonel
Vandcver having the command of brigade
in Cars division. While cheering on his
men in the heat of the contest he was hit by
spent ball in the ankle, and at the same
moment his horse was shot dead, and he fell |
under him. Discngaging himself he imped |
back to join his regiment, when party of
thirty rebels surrounded and took him pris-
oner. He was conveyed, half fed and badly
cared for, to Van Buren--saw the funeral of
McCulloch at Fort Smith-and in due time
was exchanged for Colonel Herbert, an acting
rebel Brigadier. Colonel Heron returned |
to St. Louis to have his foot SET, and was
subsequently made Brigadier General Sent
<out to the Southwest to take command of the
army Of the Frontier in place of General
Sehoteld, who was favored with an opportu-
nifty to display his genius in a wider field of
operations than had been vouchsafed to him
before. 1t is said that General Blunt ranks
him in command. 1t may be remarked, that
with personal advantages and several quail
ties Of the first order, Gen Heron has dis
played marked ability as a commander. He
grasps with clear intellect the most compre-
hensive military questions, and at the same
timc pays the strictest attention to the mi.
nu est details. He is ever ready to answer
questions from officers and privates, as he is
considered fully posted in all the ntricacies
Of military science from laborous study