Major Charles T. Yoder, U.S.V.

Major Charles T. Yoder was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1843; received a common-school education in that city.

At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was engaged teaching school. He enlisted August 13, 1861, as a private in Company C, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served with his company in the following battles: Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Hedgesville, Union, Upperville, November 3, 1862; Manassas Gap, Markham Station, Little Washington, Gaines' Cross-Roads, Waterloo, Fredericksburg, Kelly's Ford, Rapidan Station, Chancellorsville, Stevensburg, Middleburg, Upperville, June 21, 1863; Shepherdstown, Culpeper, and Bristoe Station.

He received a sabre-wound in the knee in a hand-to-hand fight with Stuart's cavalry at Beverly Ford, Virginia, and was discharged September 5, 1863, by order of Secretary of War Stanton, per Special Orders No. 398, Adjutant-General's Office, and appointed as a clerk in the office of the paymaster-general to adjudicate paymasters' accounts.

His ability as an accurate and correct accountant was soon recognized by the Pay Department, and on March 11, 1864, he was appointed by President Lincoln as paymaster in the army, with the rank of major, and was finally mustered out of service July 29, 1865, by reason of the close of the war, as per Special Orders No. 407, Adjutant General's Office. The major enjoyed the distinction of being the youngest paymaster in the army.

The following clipping, taken from a newspaper published in the interest of claimants before the Interior Department, shows in what appreciation his ability and services are held:

" We suggested in our last issue that there could be found thoroughly competent clerks in the General Land Office who could fill the position of principal examiner, and that promotions from such clerks should be made rather than that an outsider should be inducted into these comparatively 'fat' places. Since then Major Charles T. Yoder, of Pennsylvania, has been promoted to fill one of these places at a salary of two thousand dollars per annum.

"This is a well-merited promotion, and one that gives general satisfaction. Major Yoder entered the office through a competitive examination August 7, 1879, and was soon promoted for his efficiency until he reached the highest grade. He has been engaged most of the time in the adjudication of contested cases affecting both agricultural and mineral lands, and some of the best decisions of the office emanated from his pen. He is a graduate of the National University of this city and a member of the bar. Such promotions reflect credit on the administration. Let them continue."

Source: Officers of the Volunteer Army and Navy who served in the Civil War, published by L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1893, 419 pgs.

Related Links:

• Civil War Records
• Civil War Microfilm at the National Archives
• Yoder Surname