Quartermaster Joseph J. Yates
Yates is a little enigmatic as he appears almost nowhere in the historical record except on the muster roll of the Anderson Zouaves and in this picture from the Brady Collection held by the Library of Congress.
Perhaps it is just an interesting cooincidence, but a Joseph J. Yates along with an R. Nevin, both of New York, appear on Page 35 of Scientific American (Volume 14, Issue 5), on October 9, 1858, as claimants on a patent for an oven used for cooking army bread. Besides Augustus H. Hansthorse, who was only 18 years old when he enlisted as Hospital Steward in July 1861, Yates was the youngest of the officers to enlist with the Field and Staff of the Anderson Zouaves. Yates enlisted on the same day as Riker and perhaps it was his affinity with bread ovens that saw him become regimental quartermaster after a short stint as adjutant.
It is possible that there may have been other connections between Riker and Yates such as class, political affiliations and Dutch heritage.
It is probable that Joseph J. Yates was related to the Yates of Schenactady, a family of Dutch descent with its fair share of political and social clout. Joseph Christopher Yates (who doesn’t appear to be directly related), of Schenectady, was one time governor of the State. However, it is possible that Joseph may have been the son of John R. Yates, the postmaster of Schenectady, whose father was Joseph J. Yates and mother was Annatje Roosa. There is some question regarding the number and names of the children of John R. Yates, however, his marriage in 1830 to Elizabeth M. Yates (a blood relation) would make him the right age to have fathered Joseph in 1834. If Joseph’s father was John R. Yates, then his uncle would have been Brig. Gen. Isaac J. Yates, US Army.