-
Charley Goddard is Born
He was born in Union County, Pennsylvania -
Goddard Family Moves West
At the age of seven, Charley and his family move West to Winona, Minnesota. -
Goddard Joins Company K
Charley Goddard was mustered into Company K, the First Minnesota Regiment, at the age of sixteen. -
Chapter One
Charley, a fifteen year old boy, leaves his Winona farm for war. He is excited for the glory of being a soldier and in a shooting war. -
Chapter Two: Fort Snelling
Charley wasn't allowed to desert his post, traffic with the enemy, or steal from other soldiers. He was miserable; he had little food or clothing, and at training camp, they did drills all day. While there, Charley also learned how to dry fire guns to save ammunition. -
Leaving for Washington, D.C.
The First Minnesota Regiment arrived in Washington, D.C. at midnight on June 26. -
Chapter Three: Toward Manassas
Charley and his commrades boarded a train to the first battle. Most of the men had never ridden on one. On the way, Charley sees a slave woman that makes him want slavery abolished even more. -
Chapter Four: Bull Run
The rebels shot at them before they could fire back, so Charley layed down to avoid getting hit. Lieutenant Oleson got shot in the arm and told Charley to retreat. -
Chapter Five: Night
Thinking he saw fireflies, Charley actually saw lanterns. The lanterns were held by soldiers looking for dead commrades. The next fight would occur soon, and Charley grew used to fighting. He knew that he would end up dead before the end of the war. The dead bodies, looking like broken dolls, would soon include him. War was a spectator sport. -
Chapter Six: Farming
After three months of fihting, Charley was paid his full $33.00. He spend his money on pies and sent the rest home to his struggling family. Charley was afraid he wouldn't see them again. War was becoming harsh; for every one man that died in battle, four would die of disease. During this time period, Charley turned sixteen years old, and often argued with Private Nelson. It was his third battle, and he no longer was the naive young boy from Minnesota; he wanted to kill every rebel in his way. -
Chapter Seven
They made camp in New York that ended up getting disease. Charley was handling war more maturely; he knew if he made friends, they'd die. He was put on picket duty to spot rebels when he confronted one that wanted to trade with him. Disgusted by him, Charley killed the soldier. -
Chapter Eight: Winter
Charley was ordered to kill a horse to feed the sick and dying men. They were getting ready for the next battle at Richmond. During the fight, Charley had to shoot the rebel's horses. The next day, 3,000 rebel men marched toward Charley. He tried his best to dodge the bullets, but he was positive that he got hit. While waiting for the surgeon, he noticed that it was other men's blood on him. One gruesome scene includes them stacking the dead corpses up, creating a wall to protect from the wind. -
The Emanicpation Proclamation is Issued
President Lincoln issuesdthe Emancipation Proclamation. It proclaimed nearly three fourths of slaves and freed 50,000 of them immediately. -
Chapter Nine
Over the course of time, Charley killed more men and became less like his old self. They were in Gettysburg. The Union Army stood on top of a hill, while the Confederate Army marched across a field. Charley had an advange. After killing a man, he leaned over to take his rifle. As he stood up, a bullet pierced his shoulder. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
The Civil War was officially over. Now the North and South had to try to become one united country agian. -
Abraham Lincoln Assasinated
President Lincoln was shot in the head at Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. -
First Minnesota Regiment is Discharged
The First Minnesota Regiment was honorably discharged of duty for The Civil War. -
Goddard Runs and Wins County Clerk
After the war, Charley wanted to find a job so he ran for County Clerk and won. -
Chapter Ten: June 1867
By this point, Charley was twenty one years old, had a cane, and was forever changed; not just physically, but mentally. He went on regular "picnics" contemplating suicide. Was he to live in pain or end it right then and there? He took the rebel's rifle with him, thinking it was pretty. He told himself that he would die from something pretty. -
Charley Goddard Passes Away
On December 9, 1868, Charles Goddard fell ill and died at the young age of twenty three years old.
