 In 1850, Asa and his wife Mary were living in Southampton, New York, where he was an overseer in a cotton mill.By 1860, they were living in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where Blunt was a draftsman for the Fairbanks Scales company.Blunt was appointed adjutant of the 3rd Vermont Infantry on June 6, 1861, and was mustered into federal service on July 16.