Charles Henry Eldredge was born in Massachusetts in 1839 and grew up in New York. When the Civil War broke out, he joined the United States Navy as assistant paymaster on the USS Supply, where he remained until he was promoted to paymaster in February 1862. Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Eldredge served on the USS Canandaigua, the ship that rescued the crew of the USS Housatonic after it was struck by the CSS H. L. Hunley on February 17, 1864.
Following the war, Eldredge's career as paymaster took him to many locations, where he served both on shore duty and on ships. He was often called for duty on examining boards. He served on the USS Idaho briefly before being assigned to the Navy Yard at Pensacola FL. He was promoted to pay inspector in July 1871 during his tour of duty as storekeeper for the Asiatic Fleet. This was followed by three years at the Navy Pay office in Portsmouth, NH. As fleet paymaster for both the South Pacific Squadron and the South Atlantic Squadron, his home was the USS Richmond from August 1875 to September 1877. While serving as Inspector of Provisions and Clothing at the Norfolk Navy Yard he was promoted to pay director in August 1881. He moved between Norfolk, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore in the last years of his career serving in increasing important positions of responsibility and finally earned the rank of rear-admiral. He retired on his sixty-second birthday, September 21, 1901. He died on July 16, 1916 at the age of seventy-five.
From the description of Charles H. Eldredge papers, 1861-1916. (The Mariners' Museum Library). WorldCat record id: 32885306
