Background
Bloomer was born in Switzerland on November 30, 1835.
Bloomer was born in Switzerland on November 30, 1835.
He was the regiment"s color sergeant, and after the war he was deeply involved in civic life and the Grand Army of the Republic. The family settled in Saint Louis for a time before moving to Stillwater. Bloomer worked on the Henry Jackman farm and as a carpenter.
The Guards were mustered into the Regiment at Fort Snelling on April 29, 1861, forming the nucleus of Company B. Bloomer was initially given the rank of corporal and participated in all the regiment"s major engagements until the Battle of Antietam.
He was wounded slightly in the head at the Battle of Bulletin Run. During the Battle of Savage"s Station on June 29, 1862, which was part of the Peninsula Campaign, Bloomer was promoted to color sergeant.
In the midst of the engagement the standard bearer was killed. Bloomer picked up the colors, and was separated from the regiment for five hours.
He returned the colors to the regiment and was promoted for his bravery.
While carrying the colors during the Battle of Antietam, Bloomer received a gunshot wound below his right knee. He crawled to safety behind a nearby oak tree as the First Minnesota retreated. Bloomer lay there until the next day when Confederate soldiers carried him to a barn.
Eventually Bloomer came into the care of his comrades when the Confederates retreated.
On September 20, 1862, his leg was amputated. Bloomer spent the rest of his service in military hospitals until he was discharged on December 2, 1862.
He returned to Stillwater, but became very restless and heartbroken when a local woman refused his proposal of marriage. He accepted a commission as a Lieutenant in the Veteran Reserve Corps.
He served until September 19, 1866, when he was mustered out.
They had four children together. The couple resided in Stillwater after Bloomer"s service. The veteran worked as a guard at the Stillwater Prison, as an insurance agent, and sewing machine salesman.
Bloomer was subsequently employed as Washington County Treasurer for six years, and established a summer camp on White Bear Lake afterward.
He was appointed Assistant Adjutant General of the GAR by Marty in 1881 and played a pivotal role in reestablishing the organization in Minnesota. Bloomer was also involved in veterans" affairs outside these two organizations.
In 1905 he was given the honor of carrying the First Minnesota"s battle flag from the old state capitol to the new. He also formed an organization which raised money and erected a soldier"s monument on the grounds of the Washington County Courthouse in 1916.
By 1915 Bloomer could barely walk and needed two canes to do southern
He died on October 4, 1917, and was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Stillwater. An imposing monument of Bloomer as the First Minnesota"s color bearer marks the site of his burial.
He was a member of the "Wide Awakes," a group that supported Lincoln during the 1860 election. He was a member of both Acker Post in Saint Paul and Muller Post in Stillwater. In addition to the Grand Army of the Republic, Bloomer was a member of the Last Manitoba"s Club along with most of Stillwater"s Company B veterans.