“I won’t be getting into any trouble Ma, he said, wrapping some bread and cold potatoes and half a roast chicken in some tow cotton. Plus they will be paying me, I hear they give eleven dollars a month.” These were the words Charley Goddard used to convince his mother joining the Union army was the right thing for him to do. Although he was only 15 years old, too young to join, he decided to lie about his age when asked by the Union army officer questioning him; He was very dedicated to fighting for what he believed in and helping his mother after the loss of his father. After his Pa died he had been struggling with the responsibility to help his family that is why he made the decision he did. Also, his hometown of Winona, Minnesota was abuzz