behind AotW

John Cook was not quite 14 when he enlisted as Bugler of Battery B, 4th United States Artillery in June 1861. You probably recognize his name from his heroism at Antietam in September 1862, for which he was much later awarded the Medal of Honor.

Here he is in a widely reproduced image probably taken soon after his enlistment. Thanks to the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association (AGCRA) for putting that online.