Charles Yancey Steptoe was born in 1838 at "Federal Hill" near New London (west of Lynchburg), the son of Thomas Steptoe and Catherine Louisa Yancey. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in Lexington in 1859. He and his older brother John Marshall Steptoe, also a VMI grad, enlisted in Co. A of the 44th Virginia Infantry (Appomattox Invincibles) at Appomattox Court House in April of 1861. He was elected 2nd Lieutenant and his brother 1st Lieutenant. Thereafter, in July 1862, Charles was elevated to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and appointed regimental adjutant. He remained in that position even after Co. A was reassigned to the 20th Va Battalion Heavy Artillery.

He was mentioned in the report of Colonel William Scott (commander of the 44th) following the Battle of McDowell as follows: "I must commend for great gallantry my adjutant, Lt. Charles Y. Steptoe, and my sergeant-major, William H. Clare. They were with me during the whole action, except when sent off on some errand. They never attempted to shield themselves from danger by lying down or by any other means, and it is singular that neither of them was wounded, though Adjutant Steptoe’s clothes were shot through."

Later Charles was wounded at Gaines Mill, however, it appears that the wound was not serious. However, at Fredericksburg in December, Steptoe received a wound to his leg which rendered him a virtual cripple. According to family tradition, the surgeons were anxious to amputate his leg, but he would not permit it.

He spent the better part of the next year in the hospital. During this time, according to Ruffner’s 44th Virginia Infantry, Charles wrote to his old commander, Col. Scott, urging him to come out of retirement, to-wit: "Your old regiment has a great reputation for charging and I believe it is entirely due to you, who always taught that the bayonet was the weapon with which to fight the Yankees saying they would never stand cold steel."

After being discharged from the hospital, Steptoe was assigned to VMI as an assistant professor. After Lexington and VMI were overrun (1864), he was assigned to service in the Invalid Corps and sent to Richmond where he was involved with the "enrolling service" and drilled troops until Richmond, itself, fell.

After the war he attended the Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal) in Alexandria. Upon being ordained as a minister he was assigned to several churches in Culpepper County, including Culpepper, Brandy Station, and Raccoon Ford. During this period he met and married Frances Wallace Nalle of Greenville, whose brother had fought as a VMI cadet at New Market.

Unfortunately, Charles died young, as an indirect result of his wound at the age of 39. He is buried in Lynchburg.