George W. Yates

[Diane Merkel]

The following query is from a website visitor. I have sent her a little information from Brian Pohanka's September 1981 Research Review article and will check Brian's book about Annie Roberts Yates. Is anyone able to help her make the link she seeks?

My husband is a decendent of Walter W. Yates, a supposed realtive of George W. Yates. I have not been able to find any information on either one or find the connection although elders have told us there is one. We have been searching everywhere trying to find more info on this line of the family.

[Peter]

Capt. George W. Yates was in command of Company F, 7th Cav. and was killed with Custer during the battle. There is a photograph of Capt. Yates in "Custer in 76" by Walter Camp. It would be interesting if you could compare a photograph of your relative with that of Capt Yates to see if there is a family resemblance.

You may find more information on George W. Yates if you research Civil War History. The post at Standing Rock Agency was named Fort Yates in honor of Yates galantry in the Civil War.

[muleskinner]

George Yates (1843-1876) had three brothers: John Waters Yates (1839-1910), Edward Christopher (1845-1875) and Francis Dwight (1846-1925).

Yates and his wife Annie Yates had three children -- George Livingston (b. 1872), Bessie Violet (b. 1874) and Milnor Roberts (b. 1875).

George married his wife, Suzanne, in 1908. Bessie married Hugh M. Hewson in 1907. Not sure if Milnor, who apparently suffered from a mental condition, married.

Don't know if this helps. This is from the Brian Pokanka edited diary of Annie Gibson Roberts Yates, "A Summer on the Plains with Custer's 7th Cavalry."

[Ephriam Dickson]

George Yates' brother, Francis D. Yates, operated one of the Indian trading stores at the Red Cloud Agency, home of the Oglala Lakota. The two brothers looked very similar, so much so that some people thought they could have almost been twins. Thought this might be of interest:

"One cold November day in 1876, an Indian walked into the trading store, and laid a woman's watch down on the counter to trade for supplies. It had belonged to Mrs. George Yates, and had been carried by her husband on his last campaign. Instantly Frank Yates recognized it, and as he looked up quickly, a startled expression flashed over the red warrior's face, an expression as though he was looking at a ghost. Without uttering a word he fled from the store. The watch was returned to Mrs. Yates, a last memento from the hand of her dead husband, and although Frank Yates watched carefully he never saw this Indian again."

[Son of a Cavalryman]

Interesting story!

SOACM

[markland]

Found this and thought I would pass it on.

General Rusling, Quartermaster Department Inspector General said this about Yates in his report of August 25, 1866.

"The post quartermaster (also serving as assistant commissary of subsistence) is Second Lieutenant George W. Yates, 2d United States Cavalry, and acting assistant quartermaster. He has only been serving as such for a month or two; but the condition of affairs here speaks well for his energy and efficiency, and I beg leave to commend him accordingly. In my judgment and that of the post commander, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Misner, 2d Cavalry, he will serve the department here well."

Rusling concludes in his "Recapitulation,"

"I. I commend Lieutenant Yates, post quartermaster, as an intelligent and energetic young officer."

[JC]

According to family archives, Captain Yates real name was
George Wilhelmus Mancius Yates,
Mancius being his mother's family name.

Information found in 'They Rode With Custer', by John M. Carroll

[BrokenSword]

Photo - a little dim but George Yates is identifiable (standing, second from left) - Michael

www.civilwarphotos.net/files/images/289.jpg