Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-05-09
IOWA IN THE WAR.
Tho Recoed Proof That IN Iowa MAS
rendered the FIRST TRoOpa ana Ne
cAlv ed the sword 81 the Last 8eb %
Suffen0ePinS. ~ H


WASHINGTON. April 3O.-A matter Of
interesting military history and of
some discussion, is the offer of the
first company of Union volunteers to
the government. Claims have been
laid to this by several organizations,
the states of New York, Pennsylva-
MIA and Iowa being most prominent.
I have ascertained by inquiry at the
War Department that the following
correspondence settles this vexed
question. Secretary McCrary certi-
fies, under date of April Z, 1877, that
the following are true copies of let
tiers on file at his department:
To the Hon. Joseph Holt, Secretary
of Var,
DEAR SIR:-At a meeting of the
Governors Grays, regularly organ
lied and fully equipped volunteer
company of this city, o resolution was
unanimously passed that "the services
of the corps be rendered to the Pres
ident of the United States for any SER
vice he may deem proper during the
present insurrection in the South
As the Captain of the corps, l have
the honor herewith to make known
to you the sentiments of my command.
This will be forwarded to you by the
Governor of the State Of Iowa. /
am, very respectfully, yours,
F.J. HEBRON, Capt. Cows. Grays.
DUBUQUE, Iowa, Jan. 10, 1861.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Jan. g.
SIR:-I have to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the oath in
slant, communicating the tender of
their services by the Governors
Grays, of Dubuque. In reply I beg
leave to request that you will convey
to the company the thanks of this de.
partmcnt for their patriotic offer,
which the Government has, however,
no present occasion to accept.
Very respectfully, your obedient
servant, j. Holt, Sec. of War.
To his Excellency, Samuel J. Kirk
wood, Governor of Iowa, Iowa City.
There is no earlier application than
this on the department records. The
offer was made nearly seven weeks
before Mr.. Lincoln was inaugurated.
The company was the first mustered
in the First Iowa Regiment of which
it was the nucleus. Its captain was
born at Pittsburg, Pa, attended the
cadet school at Frankfort, KY, and
IN owed to Iowa in 1854. He was %
ears old when he made this offer.
CLEANED from the official record
the following creditable story of the
young man, who thus made the first
application to put his company in the
field for the Union:
l. Captain Francis j. Heron, Isl
Regiment Iowa volunteers, three
months men. The regiment partici.
pated in the battles under General
Lyons and served five weeks after
their time had expired. Captain
Heron was in the battle of Wilson's
Creek fifteen days after the expiration
of their time, and his company lost
sixteen men killed and wounded; the
regiment lost in proportion. For
gallantry on the field, promoted.
2. Lieutenant Col. Heron, 9th
Iowa Regiment three years men,
The Col, Vandevere, of this regiment
commanded brigade at Pea Ridge
The regiment was commanded by
Heron and lost nearly third of Its
men, while defending the road back
to Springfield, the only route of sup.
ply and retreat. Colonel Heron was
wounded and taken prisoner and was
exchanged for Lieut.. Colonel Her.
bert, Of Louisiana. Promoted fol
distinguished services.
3. Brigadier Gen. Heron fought
the battle of Prairie Grove against the
whole army of Hindman, after march
ing LA miles in three days to save
General Blunts army. The battle
lasted all day, and broke up the Con
federate dominion north Of the Ar.
kansas river. Promoted for deci.
sive victory.
4. Major General Heron order
ed to Vicksburg, May, 1863, giver
command Of grand division of thu
army of investment. At the fall o,
the city sent up the Taos river tx
destroy and capture the forces ant
supplies there, and also sent to Por
Hudson to reinforce General Banks
General Herron's division was thu
first in the war which passed from st
Louis through to New Orleans.
s. Major General Heron put il
command of the Texas expedition
effected the srrender of the Confed
crate army of the Trans Mississippi
at Shreveport, receiving the surren
der of about 10000 men, under Lieut.
tenant Generals Price and Bucknel
commanding Kirby Smiths army. /
was this army which fired the las
volleys of the war.
Thus it appears that Gen. HerroI
received the surrender of the las
of the four great armies of the Con
federacy.
Robert L. Lees army surrendered
to U. S. Grant at Appomattox.
Joseph E. Johnston's army surren
dered to w. r. Sherman in Nortl
! Carolina.
Richard Taylor's army surrendered
to E. d. Candy at Mobile.
Kirby Smiths army surrendered
to Francis j. Heron at Shreveport
7 IA