Mystery of the USS Bloomer

Joined
Sep 27, 2017
Location
Tallahassee, Florida
Hi all, I'm doing research on one of my favorite Civil War ancestors, a German immigrant in the Union Navy named Frederick Nicholas Kolmetz. He enlisted in Brooklyn in July of '61 and was put onboard the Potomac. That ship however was laid up in Pensacola Navy Yard in '62 and from what I gather its crew was scattered to the winds for the rest of the war around West Florida. I know from a testimony he gave for another man's pension that he participated in blockading actions on the Choctawhatchee River at one point after the lay up but I came across something interesting on Fold 3. One card identifies him as having been a crewman on the USS Bloomer a ship he and his widow did not claim on their pension application. From my understanding the Bloomer was captured in southern Alabama on a raid by men of the Potomac and later crewed by Potomac men as well and from the Official Records it looks like Farragut was impressed with her work destroying salt works on the coast. Anyhow I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for finding crew logs or anything that might give me insight as to how my ancestor was connected to this ship? I'd love to be able to tie him to the Alabama raid or the salt works raiding but I have to be sure. Thanks anyone who may be able to help.

Kolmetz Date of Service Report.jpg
 
I can't say from memory if the Bloomer is mentioned, but this book contains some details on the salt-works raids and other coastal adventures:

Buker, George E. Blockaders, Refugees, and Contrabands: Civil War on Florida's Gulf Coast, 1861-1865. Tuscaloosa, Ala.: Univ. of Alabama Press, 2004. 196 pp.
 
I must confess, I've never done research on a Civil War sailor before, but this is a really cool story! Hoping some of our naval specialist folks (like Mark) and genealogists more experienced than myself have some suggestions. :smile:
 
Here is a brief history of USS Bloomer... from wiki...

Bloomer—a stern-wheel steamer built in 1856 at New Albany, Indiana—was laid up at the outbreak of the Civil War in the Choctawhatchee Riverin Alabama, about a mile south of Geneva, Alabama, by her owner, a loyal Union man. On December 27, 1862, a joint expedition composed of officers and men of Potomac and troops of the 91st New York State Volunteers, led by Lieutenant James H. Stewart took possession of her and delivered her to the Pensacola Navy Yard where she was repaired and armed. A small crew was placed on board and, on January 24, 1863, Acting Ensign Edwin Crissey assumed command. The ship was put in operation without being sent to an admiralty court to be libelled.[1]

Near the very end of 1863, Bloomer was at last ordered to the prize court of New Orleans, Louisiana, to be libelled. The final decree in the case, rendered on January 4, 1865, declared this was not a case of "prize" but of "salvage". Early in 1865, she was finally purchased by the United States Navy and continued on duty on the coast of Florida in the vicinity of Pensacola, Florida.[1]

Although she spent most of her naval career operating in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, her most notable service occurred in December 1863 during a brief tour of duty with the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. This operation in St. Andrew's Bay, Florida—in which she was assisted by her tender, the sloop Caroline, and the bark Restless—resulted in the destruction of 380 different salt works and of much of the town of St. Andrew's. Her commanding officer received high praise for Bloomer's part in the successful accomplishment of this mission.[1]
 
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Here is a link to a brief history of the USS Bloomer sold for Salvage...

https://books.google.com/books?id=hQFvDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA22&dq=USS+Potomac+and+USS+Bloomer&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjr_urhxrjjAhUCQ80KHazMAnIQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=USS Potomac and USS Bloomer&f=false

wiki:
In June 1865 she sank in East Pass, Santa Rosa Island, Florida. After the wreck was raised, it was sold on September 22, 1865 to S. P. Griffin & Co., of Woolsey, Florida. Redocumented as Emma on April 5, 1866, the vessel served a private owner until 1868 when she was sold to a foreign purchaser and disappeared from American shipping records.

Here:
https://books.google.com/books?id=d...onepage&q=USS Potomac and USS Bloomer&f=false
 
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