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

Second Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Robert Temple Emmet

Second Lieutenant Robert Temple Emmet, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 18, 1879 at Las Animas Canyon, New Mexico during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns September 18, 1879

Second Lieutenant Robert Temple Emmet, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 18, 1879 at Las Animas Canyon, New Mexico during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with 9th U.S. Cavalry. Emmet was 24 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 24, 1899, 19 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Emmet was born on December 13, 1854 in New York, New York. Emmet died on October 25, 1936 in Ashfield, Massachusetts, at the age of 81. He is buried at Beechwoods Cemetery in New Rochelle, New York.

Emmet is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Lt. Emmet was in G Troop, which was sent to relieve a detachment of soldiers under attack by hostile Apaches. During a flank attack on the Indian camp, made to divert the hostiles, Lt. Emmet and five of his men became surrounded when the Indians returned to defend their camp. Finding that the Indians were making for a position from which they could direct their fire on the retreating troop, the lieutenant held his point with his party until the soldiers reached the safety of a canyon. Lt. Emmet then continued to hold his position while his party recovered their horses. The enemy force consisted of approximately 200.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Indian Wars.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: New York City — map
  • Died: Ashfield — map
  • Buried: Beechwoods Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. December 13, 1854
    Born in New York, New York
  2. September 18, 1879
    Act of valor — Las Animas Canyon, New Mexico
    Age 24. 9th U.S. Cavalry
  3. August 24, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 25, 1936
    Died in Ashfield, Massachusetts
    Age 81.
  5. Resting place
    Beechwoods Cemetery
    New Rochelle, New York

Biography

Robert Temple Emmet (December 13, 1854 – October 25, 1936) was a United States Army colonel who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions while surrounded by a much larger force. An 1877 graduate of West Point, he served in numerous campaigns on the Western Frontier.

From the Wikipedia article “Robert Temple Emmet”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 18, 1879

Matthias Walter Day Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 JD John Denny Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879

Same unit

George Ritter Burnett Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

CF Christopher Freemeyer Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JB James Brown Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 WF William H. Folly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 EB Edmond Thomas Butler Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 HW Henry Wilkens First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 TK Thomas Kelly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874
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.