Southern Volunteer
Private
- 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.