The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-12-27
General Heron.

youngest Brlgadler IN the service. lie Is
not yet twenty six, two years younger than
Hoche, when sent to crush the rebels in La
Vendee, yet, like that youthful soldier, has
early carved his name on the roll of fame,
by deeds of valor prompted by skill and ge
MUS. The promptitude with which he
marched his two divisions, camped at Dug
Springs and Wilson's Greek as late as six
O'Clock on Thursday last, over a rough
country, to succor Blunt, threatened with
destruction by an overwhelming rebel force
at Cane Hill, one hundred and twenty five
miles distant, and the encounter with the
whole rebel combined force beyond Fayette-
VILE, and their absolute defeat-are facts re-
counted by every one to-day, and will live in
history.
Gen. Heron, was born at Pittsburg, Pa,
where his father still resides, and fills, we
believe, the office of Clerk in the United
States District Court. Young Heron came
to Dubuque in 1856, and embarked with
his brother 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 "Gover-
nor's Greys," a company which, under his
command, became distinguished IN ''peace
times" for the beauty and efficiency of its
drill. Capt. Heron took his company on
steamboat excursion to st. Paul, Minneso-
! ta a circumstance worth mentioning only
as an illustration of his military taste, and
the pride manifested in "bringing out the
crack company at a time when military
displays were at low ebb in public estima-
tons The command of such a company
however, was a school in which the future
commander acquired tact and skill for flu,
ture usefulness. Hence on the President s
first call for troops to put down the rebel
| lion, Capt. Heron was the earliest to make
tender of his company to the Governor
which was accepted. He joined the Isl
Iowa, under Col. Bates, and reaching St
Louis, went through the successive Skin
mishes with Lyon, and in the bloody battle
of Wilson's Greek distinguished himself fol
discretion and valor. He was afterwards
promoted Lieut.. Colonel of the 9th Iowa
Vanderver, Colonel, and at Elk Horn com
manded that regiment, Col. Vanderver hav
ing command of brigade i'll Gen. Carr'f
division. While cheering on his command
in 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. Dis
engaging himself he limped back to join hi;
regiment, when party of thirty rebels Sur
rounded him and took him prisoner. He
was conveyed, half fed and badly cared for
to Van Buren-say the funeral of McCul
Tough at Fort Smith-and in due time wa:
exchanged for Col. Herbert, an acting rebe
Brigadier Col. Heron returned to St
Louis to have his foot set, and was subse
quently made Brigadier General. Sent ou
10 the Southwest to take command of the
army of the frontier in place of Gen. Soho
field, he was favored with an opportunity
to display his genius in wider field of oper
atoms than had been voucl safed to him be
fore. 1t is said that Gen. Blunt ranks hin
in command. 1t may be remarked, tha
with personal advantages and several quail
ties of the first order, Gen. Heron has dis
played marked ability as commander. HI
grasps with clear intellect the most com
Prehensive military questions, and at tn
same time pays the strictest attention to TIL
minutest details. He is ever ready to an
swer questions from officers and privates
as he is considered fully posted in all tn
intricacies of military science from laboriou
study Union.