Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant Colonel · U.S. Army

Francis Jay Herron

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Jay Herron, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 7, 1862 at Pea Ridge, Arkansas during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 7, 1862

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Jay Herron, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on March 7, 1862 at Pea Ridge, Arkansas during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 9th Iowa Infantry. Herron was 25 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 26, 1893, 31 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major General.

Herron was born on February 17, 1837 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Herron died on January 8, 1902 in New York City, New York, at the age of 64. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, New York.

Herron is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Was foremost in leading his men, rallying them to repeated acts of daring, until himself disabled and taken prisoner.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Pittsburgh — map
  • Died: New York City — map
  • Buried: Calvary Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. February 17, 1837
    Born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
  2. March 7, 1862
    Act of valor — Pea Ridge, Arkansas
    Age 25. 9th Iowa Infantry
  3. September 26, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 8, 1902
    Died in New York City, New York
    Age 64.
  5. Resting place
    Calvary Cemetery
    Woodside, New York

Biography

Francis Jay Herron (February 17, 1837 – January 8, 1902) was an American military officer who served as a Union general during the American Civil War. He was a public official in Louisiana after the war.

From the Wikipedia article “Francis J. Herron”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on March 7, 1862

WB William Perkins Black Captain · Army Civil War · 1862 Eugene Asa Carr Colonel · Army Civil War · 1862 AP Albert Power Private · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

BL Benjamin Lloyd Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864 AF Augustin D. Flanagan Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 WC William C. Connor Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 JC James G. Clark Private · Army Civil War · 1864 SB Sylvester Bonnaffon Jr. First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 WD William Doolen Coal Heaver · Navy Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.