The National tribune., 1882-03-11
DEATH OF A HERO.

"Robert Timpany, veteran of the Mexi-
can War, forage master q. S. A, recipient of
a certificate of merit, with rs conComitant
two dollars per month, for gallantry at the
stOrming Of Chapu.tepec and Vice President
OF the National Association of Veterans; q
member Of the Grand Army Of the Republic,
knights Of Pythias, Good Templars, and
Scotch Societies of New York and Phi!adel-
phla, was born at Paisley, Scotland, January
u, ;81l.
Love Of adventure and Of military glory
developed with him at an early age; IS a
volunteer in the British Legion upder De
Lacy Evans he went to Spain about 1884 in
support Of the young Queen Isabella against
her uncle Don Carlos. There lie saw much
hard service among the hills Of Northern
Spain, and the Legion successfully cnmplet-
ing their mission, Tlmpany was discharged
with honor and returned safely to his native
land. But soon his democratic principles
and love of the rights and freedom of man
carried him into the ranks of the Char:lst3 Of
his day. Having valnly petitioned the
i'Ai''''Ai AAlt'iaiChO thai vi
and being willing TO fight for what they con-
sidered to be their rights, he, with others,
armed and took The field near Paisley, about
1888, against the British forces. Finding
themselves unsupported by the other coun-
ties, and knowing that their cause was then
hopeless, they dispersed; the men taking
advantage of the government proclamation
to return to their homes, while the leaders,
who had been outlawea and q reward offered
for tkeir apprehension, made their escape.
Tmpary wandered about tie Highlands
as peddler for over a year, until an oppor-
tunity at length presenting itself he left the
country. He was subsequently pardoaed by
Queen Victoria, but never returned to his
native land
Arriving in the United States in 1910, he
at once commenced the manufacture of car
pets, The business proving remunerative,
he was fast accumulatIng fortune when he
was unfortunately burnt out and lost all.
He next moved to Philadelphia, and when
the war clouds gathered on the Mexican
border his military ardor again asserted
itself aud he entered the army April Il, i847
This proved to be the commencement of a
long and honorable career of usefulness il
the service of his adopted country. He was
at once assigned to Company K, Eighth
Infantry, and participated in all the engage
ments in which his regiment took part till
the close of the war; and was volunteer in
all the storming parties called for.
At the storming of Chapultepec Timpany,
as we are told, having the regimental color
or flag and nothing TO fasten it to, and being
determined that hrs regiment should not be
outdone, deliberately took off his suspenders
and with them tied the color to the staff of
a flag which had just been planted on the
works by Sergeant Havermeyer, the same,
[ think, who afterwards became Mayor OF
New York. Havermeyer did not appreciate
this act and attempted to knock Timpany
off the ramparts, for which act he would
have paid with his life, but for the timely
arrival OF an officer who struck up Timpany's s
arm ust rs he was about to shoot his as
sailant, thus saving to New York mayor.
The officer proved to be the captain of Tim
panys company, and nothing further was
heard of the matter till few years after,
when he received his certificate Of merit for
gallant and meritorious conduct at the storm
ing of Chapultepec. At the taking of the
City of Mexico, while passing through a
large mansion, Timpany's attention was at
tracted by the cries of a woman III distress.
Hastily making his way to the room whence
the cries proceeded, hs discovered man in
the uniform Of an American soldier strug-
Cling with a beautiful lady, while on tho
bed lay poor weak child, sick or dead.
Taking in the situation at glance in an
instant he feiled the man, and, dragging
him from the room, took from him caskot
Of jewels, which he handed to the officer in
charge of his party, with an account Of the
whole affair. The officer returned the Jewels
to the lady, who proved to be a person of
wealth and family. After peace had been
established in the city the lady sought to
present to the officer whom she supposed to
have been her protector some token of her
gratitude. She sent for him with that OBJ
ject, but he very properly informed her that
her gallant protector was Robert Timpany.
She requested to see her noble preserver, and
with every manifestation Of gratitude, pre-
sentcd him in recognition of his gallant and
manly conduct with very handsome gold
watch and chain, valued at $500. OF this
he was ever after very proud.
During the war he was slightly wounded
in the neck, but the wound healed up, and
he took 10 further notice Of the matter till
after the war, when he had to submit to an
operation, it being ascertained that the ball.
which was of copper, had poisoned the fesh
portions of which it became necessary to
remove.
After the Mexican war he was offered a
commission, which he declined, and remained
with his regiment till discharged on the
completion cf his service at Camp johnson,
on the north fork Of the Concho, Texas,
April Il, 1852. lie next enlisted at New
port, KY, June 2, 1852, in Company Fl,
Seventh Infantry; was discharged at Fort
Arbucllle, June 2, 1857; re-enlisted on the
18th in Company F, of the same regiment
participating with it in the expedition
against the Mormons in 1858. His term of
service expired June II, 1862, and on OctO-
Der 4, 1868, he again re-enlisted at Fort