September 24, 1863
This is the final letter that we have from Charles Goodyear. The beginning of the letter starts with Charley thanking F. W. Gunn for the letters of recommendation that will be of great help in his endeavor to become an officer in a Colored Regiment. The recommendations will work as an introduction and help him get to be put before the Casey Board to be tested for promotion. He also describes the difficulty it will be to get into Washington because the Colonel does not want to lose men to the Colored Troops. It could mean he would lose his commission. Charley then mentions how he will write to Major Raymond to get permission to go to Washington. He next talks some about his preparations for the exam, and how he has been going over math, geography, tactics, and such. He also mentions the difficulty in finding time, further made difficult because some of the others who were looking for promotion had fallen ill. The letter then ends with some discord in the family, with both his sister and brother Stephen advising against such an endeavor, though neither has convinced Charles to stop.