Robert Temple Emmet

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.

Robert Temple Emmet
Born(1854-12-13)December 13, 1854
New York City
DiedOctober 25, 1936(1936-10-25) (aged 81)
Ashfield, Massachusetts
Place of burial
Beechwoods Cemetery, New Rochelle, Westchester County, New York
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
New York National Guard
Years of service1877–1891, 1898–1899 (Army)
1899–1905 (National Guard)
RankMajor (Army)
Colonel (National Guard)
Unit9th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Indian Wars
AwardsMedal of Honor

Education and army career

Emmet was born in New York City to William Jenkins Emmet and Julia Colt Pierson. He is the great-grandson of Thomas Addis Emmet, a lawyer, who was an elder brother of executed Irish nationalist Robert Emmet. His father's parents were Robert Emmet and Rosina Hubley. His mother's parents were Josiah G. Pierson and Julia Colt.

He had a twin sister named Rosina Emmet Sherwood and had two other sisters, Lydia Field Emmet and Jane Emmet de Glehn.[1] All three of his sisters were noted portrait artists.

In addition his brothers included, United States Army colonel William Le Roy Emmet; C. Temple Emmet, an attorney and sportsman who was a graduate of the Yale Forest School Class of 1902; William LeRoy Emmet, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1881; Devereux Emmet, who became a prominent golf course architect; and Richard Stockton Emmet.[2] His uncle, John Emmet, attended West Point from 1814 to 1817. His first cousin was portrait artist Ellen Emmet Rand.

Robert Temple Emmet was married to Helena Van Courtlandt Phelps, who died on February 27, 1920, in New York.[3][4]

He graduated from West Point in 1877 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant, in the 9th Cavalry Regiment of the Buffalo Soldiers upon graduation.[5][6]

Medal of Honor citation

Emmet received the Medal of Honor for actions at the Battle of Las Animas Canyon, New Mexico in 1879.

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 5 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."[5]

References
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
  1. Willard, Francis E.; Livermore, Mary A., eds. (1903). A Woman of the Century. New York: Charles Wells Moulton. pp. 654. Retrieved April 18, 2009. robert temple emmet.
  2. Biographical record of the graduates and former students of the Yale Forest School. Yale Forest School. 1913. p. 39. Retrieved April 18, 2009. robert temple emmet.
  3. Biographical history of Westchester County, New York. Chicago: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1899.
  4. "Mrs. Robert Temple Emmet" (PDF). The New York Times. February 28, 1920. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  5. "Medal of Honor recipients Indian Wars Period". Army Center of Military History. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
  6. "Valor awards for Robert Temple Emmet". Military Times Hall of Valor. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
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