Overview
Charley Goddard is an example of a dynamic, or round character. He goes through several phases before, during, and after the war. Before the war, when Charlie was 15, he wanted to demonstrate to his family that he could be the center of the house and provide for them. Therefore he enlists in the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and when he arrives at Fort Snelling for training, he realizes conditions are much more sickening and worse than what he had in mind. People are dying before the war even begins. Diseases spread causing epidemics.
There were no official uniforms (The men had to make do with red flannel shirts), many of their rifles don't work, and they had to live on rations of old bread and beans, washed down with watered coffee. When they traveled, women would giggle as they pass, and when he received his monthly pay he would buy local pies; one time spending $2 ($100 in 2013 dollars).During the war, he has began to notice that real war was awful, as at Bull Run one of his fellow privates next to him had his head ripped off by a cannon ball which plowed through a horse and ended at the rear end he was so traumatized that he began to kneel behind a tree and vomit.
Later at Gettysburg, when the veteran regiment charged at a much larger confederate line, he was shot, and was passing out while seeing his life - when he truly thought death awaiting him.
When he regains consciousness, he finds out that he was seriously wounded.
After the war, he is around 22 years old and cannot walk well, because his knees have been damaged. Emotionally, he already feels old. He tries to think of things he likes but he can't because the war haunts his memories.
At the end of the book, commentaries state that Charley did not fight at Bull Run in life, and dies only 23 years old, from the wounds' failure to heal properly.
Read more about this topic: Soldier's Heart (Gary Paulsen Novel)