FIRST BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA (Cook's Battery)

THREE MONTHS By Special Order No. 61, dated April 20, 1861, Maj. Asa M. Cook, commanding the 1st Batty. Lt. Art. Mass. Vol. Mill, 'Minute Men', was ordered to have his battery in readiness before midnight on that date. The guns, six brass six pounders, ten tons of ammunition, and seventy horses were sent forward by rail at 10 o'clock that night, and the men entrained for New York the following morning. Arriving in New York that evening, April 21, they embarked on the steamer DE SOTO for Fort Monroe, arriving at their destination on the 23d. They were ordered to proceed immediately to Annapolis, Md., where they arrived early on the morning of the 24th. Until May 4, the battery was quartered at the Naval Academy. On that date it proceeded to the Relay House. Not until May 18 was the battery formally mustered into the service of the United States. On June 13 it was ordered back to Baltimore to assist in protecting the polls during the election. Returning to the Relay House, it was soon ordered back to Camp Clare on the outskirts of Baltimore, and was later quartered in Monument Square and at the Custom House. Returning again to Camp Clare on the 10th of July, it remained there until Aug. 2, when the men were mustered out of the service. Entraining at once for Boston, they arrived on the following day and were honored by a military parade and a reception by Mayor Wightman.

Massachusetts 1st Light Artillery Volunteer Infantry Militia (Union)

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