A. Cobb

Federal (USV)

Colonel

Amasa Cobb

(1823 - 1905)

Home State: Wisconsin

Command Billet: Commanding Regiment

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 5th Wisconsin Infantry

Before Antietam

Cobb moved to the Territory of Wisconsin in 1842 and engaged in lead mining; served in the Mexican War as a private in the United States Army. He was later admitted to the bar and practiced law in Mineral Point (Iowa County), Wisconsin. He was elected district attorney 1850-1854, a member of the State Senate 1855-1856, Adjutant General of Wisconsin 1855-1858, and member of the State Assembly 1860 and 1861 serving as speaker during the last year.

He was appointed Colonel, 5th Wisconsin Infantry, 12 July 1861.

On the Campaign

His Regiment was with Franklin's Corps on the Maryland Campaign. At Antietam on the 17th they were in support of artillery, with little loss. Colonel Cobb succeded to command of the brigade as senior Colonel, relieving General Hancock when that officer took over the Division of General Richardson, 2nd Corps.

The rest of the War

The Colonel was with his Regiment at Fredericksburg, in December 1862, though "not much exposed". That winter, Colonel Cobb being elected to Congress, he resigned his position, and Lieutenant Colonel T. S. Allen, of the Second Wisconsin Infantry, was appointed Colonel of the Fifth.

At the President's new call for troops of July 1864, Cobb helped raise and was appointed Colonel of the 43rd Wisconsin Infantry. In October 1864 they were at Nashville, TN. After that time, Cobb was largely on detached duty as the commander of the Supply post at Johnsonville, TN. He mustered out with the Regiment on 25 June 1865.

After the War

Cobb served as a Republican representative from Wisconsin in the United States Congress from 1863 to 1871.

He moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, and became Mayor 1873. He was a justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court from 1878 until 1892; Chief Justice for four of those years.

References & notes

Source: Heitman, Francis Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903, Washington, US Government Printing Office, 1903; and
Nelson, Meredith K. "Amasa Cobb." Nebraska Law Bulletin 14 (November 1935): 197-213.