I've been searching the web for a homepage on this civil war unit with scant sucess, so i decided to build my own.
The 91st New York was headquarterd in Albany, Ny. The Unit was sent to Key West, and then to Pensacola, Florida, at Ft. Pickens. From there they participated in several raids into North Florida and South Alabama, including a raid into Geneva, Alabama in December 1862-January 1863 to capture the Steamer Bloomer.
This raid was led by Lt. James H. Stewart of the 91st NY, and Elias D. Bruner, Acting Master of the Schooner Charlotte.
Later documents show Stewart as a Captain of Co. D., but he was also a Lieutenant in Co. B, so the raiding party may have been made up of men from Co. B, D. or others.
In Brief, Lt. Stewart enticed Master Bruner into the adventure. The soldiers left Ft. Pickens in mid-December, 1862, and sailed to about where Freeport, Florida is today. They marched three days to Geneva (48 miles by road) and captured the steamer without a struggle about a mile south of Geneva. When they got up a head of steam, they discovered a leak in the boiler, so had to power down to repair it. During this time the townspeople (126 living in Geneva at that time) tried to raise an army, but had few guns, and only one 4-pound signal gun. No shots were fired, and the Bloomer was navigated to Choctawhatchee bay in three days in the "worst river" the pilot "had ever seen".
Bruner and Stewart got in a dispute over who was entitled to the prize, and the matter was referred to Admiral Farragut. In 1865, a New Orleans prize court ruled in favor of Bruner and awarded him approx. $5,000.
A detailed article about the raid can be read here:
A Federal Raid into Southeast Alabama
Here is the Dyer's Compendium entry for the 91st.
I'll try to put more info on screen as time permits.
Meanwhile, if you have any info on 91st NY, or are descended from any of its members, i'd love to hear from you.
Why profile a northern unit during the war of northern aggression?
Although the daring deeds and brave exploits of our boys in grey have been undersung, this particular unit had the good grace to choose Geneva, Alabama to commit this act of War, thereby creating the potential for a tourist mecca.
Barton, Theodore...Schoharie...discharged 6-10-1865
Gardner, Richard...Fulton...wounded 4-1-1865, discharged june, 1865
Letcher, Henry...Schoharie...discharged 6-10-1865
Lampman, Martin v....enrolled Jan 1, 1865, discharged June 13, 1865 at Annapolis Md.
McCormick, 1st Sgt William M.
Raub, A.R.
Relyea, John...Carlisle...died from brain fever May 16, 1862
Smith, Pvt. Van Ness Cr.
Stewart, Capt. James H.
Soldiers of the 91st New York came from Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Rensaleer, Schenectady, and Schoharie Counties. Apparently some came from other places, also.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyschoha/91st.html
Edward Barker was Chaplain of the 91st NY for a time.
The US Army Military History Museum has info on the 91st NY, but not online.
Geneva, Alabama Links has some links about Geneva, Alabama
