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Charles E. Goddard is born.
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Charley leaves Winona, MN headed up the Mississippi.
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The Civil War begins with an attack on Fort Sumter.
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Charley joins the Union Army at Fort Snelling at age 15. In reality, he joined in April and was really 16.
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Regiment traveled by boat to St. Paul.
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Charley and his Regiment travel by luxurious train through Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and down into Maryland toward Manassas Junction.
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The Battle of Bull Run -In reality, Charley did not fight in this battle because he suffered from dysentery at the time; although, in the book this is his first battle experience.
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Charley's regiment withdraws to Washington and spends much time in camp waiting. In reality, Charley participates during this time in many battles that are not depicted in the book.
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The Seven Days Battle near Richmond, VA- This may be the battle alluded to in Chapter 8 as Charley's third battle where he is hit 4 times by passing bullets but not actually shot.
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The Battle of Gettysburg - Charley is wounded.
Link to the factsCharley fights from an elevated, sheltered position in this battle, which may be a reference to Cemetery Hill. His Regiment leads a counter-charge against oncoming Confederates, which may be referring to Pickett's Charge. He is wounded in this battle, and in the book he feels as though this is the death he'd long been expecting. -
Charley Goddard dies at the age of 23.
Link to photoCharley died at a young age in his hometown of Winona, Wisconsin. Some attribute his death to the physical and mental toll that his battle experience put upon his body and mind.
