Golding acknowledges receipt of his father's letter; relates campaigns since Union army enlistment on November 23, 1861 under H.B. Clitz; immediate promotion to sergeant; spends months at Fort Hamilton; departs for Virginia with a stop in Washington D.C.; camps near Fairfax Court House, Virginia, and Alexandria, Virginia; rides a steamer to Fortress Monroe, Virginia; camps near Hampton, Virginia, Big Bethel, camp Winfield Scott; in charge of supply wagons left between Yorktown, Virginia, and Williamsburg, Virginia; joins regiment in Cumberland one week later; marched to White House, Cold Harbor, Camp Lovell near New Bridge, Virginia; builds roads during Battle of Gaines Mill, Virginia; at site of battle of Hanover Court House, but does not fight; pickets the bridges over the Chickahominy River; describes tents; marches toward Mechanicsville, Virginia; charges three times in battle at Mechanicsville; falls back when flanked at Savage's Station, Virginia; marches through White Oak Swamp; attack by Confederates; resumes march toward the James River; sees Gen. McClellan; Confederate attack; repels attack and remains as the last brigade on the field; then falls back to a location that is not healthy; receives letters from Caroline and Sarah; acts as Commissary Sergeant; will write to NY for a commission; Major wounded.