Asa Merrill Cook

From Boston, he was the pre-war Major commanding the Boston Light Artillery, a militia unit organized in 1853. He and that battery departed for Fortress Monroe in April 1861 and were stationed at Annapolis, MD, accepted into Federal Service for 3 months in May, then were stationed at Relay House guarding the B&O Railroad near Baltimore. They were mustered out in August.1

Cook then organized another battery, the 8th Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery, returning to service as their Captain in late June 1862.

Part of his battery was engaged on 14 September 1862 at Fox's Gap, dueling with a Confederate battery (likely Bondurant's) at close range, taking casualties. They were in action with the 9th Corps above the Lower Bridge on the afternoon of the 17th at Antietam.

Cook and the 8th Battery remained in the vicinity of Sharpsburg into October, served in the Washington Garrison, and were then mustered out of service at expiration of their 6 month term in November 1862.2 There is nothing known about Cook's further military service, if any.

He was listed in the Boston city directories of 1865 and 1870 as "supt. warehouses Custom House, and (Powers, Cook & Co.) teamsters, 100 Blackstone, house at Somerville". He was an original member of MOLLUS, a Union veterans' group.

In 1880, he was still living in Somerville, MA and working at the Customs House in Boston.

The photograph above from the MOLLUS Massachusetts album now at the US Army Heritage and Education Center. There's also a photograph of him in Miller3, taken "as he sat his horse" with the Boston Light in mid 1861. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1880. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

11/16/1823; New Durham, NH

01/04/1904; Reading, MA; burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, MA