Robert Temple Emmet

Surrounded he held his ground to protect the retreating men.

Robert Temple Emmet was born in New York City on 13 December 1854. Graduating from West Point in 1877, he joined the 9th United States Cavalry and served on the western frontier, including New Mexico and expeditions against hostile Apache forces.

On 18 September 1879, at Las Animas Canyon, New Mexico, Second Lieutenant Emmet took part in an operation to relieve an endangered detachment. A diversionary attack left him and five men surrounded. Recognizing that the opposing force was moving toward ground from which it could fire on the withdrawing soldiers, he held his position until the troops reached the canyon. He continued to cover his party while they recovered their horses. His gallantry brought the Medal of Honor, awarded in 1899.

Emmet later served as an aide-de-camp and resigned from the regular army in 1891. He returned during the Spanish-American War, serving with New York volunteers, and became a colonel in the New York National Guard. In civilian life he worked as an engineer and later managed a farm at Ashfield, Massachusetts. He died there on 25 October 1936.

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.