He was appointed by President Grant as commissioner of southern claims and served from 1871 to 1877.

This policy was sometimes hampered, since President Grant could appoint any person to office without the person having to take an examination.

In 1870, he was appointed by President Grant as the area's first postmaster, and given the duty of naming the postmark.

He was appointed by President Grant to the first Civil Service Commission.

Pile was again appointed Ambassador to Venezuela by President Grant in 1871, which he served as until 1874.

In 1869 President Grant appointed him surveyor-general of Dakota Territory.

He was appointed by President Grant as United States pension agent on April 13, 1869.

President Grant appointed Alexander Robey Shepherd to the position of governor in 1873.

Appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant, he was also the collector of internal revenue from 1877 to 1881.

He was appointed by President Ulysses Grant in 1871 naval officer at the port of Philadelphia.