Medal of Honor Recipient for his heroic actions at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas in 1862 as Lieutenant Colonel of the 9th Iowa Infantry

(1837-1902) Born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he later joined his three brothers in Dubuque, Iowa, where they established a bank. In 1859, he organized and was elected captain of a militia company known as the "Governor's Greys," which Herron offered to President-elect Abraham Lincoln in January 1861, two months prior to Lincoln's inauguration. He served with General Nathaniel Lyon's forces in Missouri, as captain of the 1st Iowa Infantry fighting with them in the battles of Boonville, and Wilson's Creek. In September 1861, Herron was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 9th Iowa Infantry, and fought with them at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, where he was wounded and taken prisoner, and for his extraordinary heroism he was commissioned brigadier general of volunteers, and awarded the "Medal of Honor" for his exploits there. At the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, he was promoted to major general to date from November 29, 1862, when he turned certain Union defeat into victory by virtue of his spectacular actions. He served during the siege of Vicksburg where his division of 8 regiments successfully plugged a gap on the extreme left of the Union battle lines. Upon the surrender of the city General Ulysses S. Grant chose Herron, along with generals James B. McPherson and John A. Logan, to lead the procession of Grant's Army into the city and accept the formal surrender of arms on July 4, 1863. He next led the Yazoo City expedition, capturing the city, a Confederate fleet, and supplies there. Herron was appointed to command of the 13th Corps, and occupied the Texas coast with headquarters at Brownsville. As the Civil War came to an end, General Herron commanded the District of Northern Louisiana, and he was appointed to negotiate treaties with the Indians. After the Civil War ended, he stayed in Baton Rouge where he was a tax collector for a district in New Orleans, and served as a United States Marshal, and Secretary of State of Louisiana before moving to New York City in 1877, where he practiced law and worked as a banker. He died in New York City on January 8, 1902, at the age of 64, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. A bronze bust of Herron that was sculpted by Solon Borglum was erected in January 1914, and is located on Pemberton Avenue in Vicksburg National Military Park.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Full standing view wearing a double breasted frock coat with rank of brigadier general. He also wears a rectangular eagle belt plate, sash, and sword keeper is attached to his belt. He poses next to a studio column and drape. Back mark: J.A. Scholten, No. 273 South 4th St. Cor.[ner] of Convent, St. Louis. There is some scattered soiling and wear on the verso of the mount. Corners of the mount are very slightly rounded. Very fine image of this Civil War, Medal of Honor recipient. Rare.