Rifles for Watie
Encyclopedia
Rifles for Watie is an American
children's novel
by Harold Keith
. It was first published in 1957
, and received the Newbery Medal
the following year. Commonly shortened "Rifles", Rifles for Watie is written at an 8th grade advanced - 9th grade level.
The Civil war was a fight for many things such as slavery, rights , ideals and land . The setting, west of the Mississippi, is also not typical of Civil War novels, so the reader gets a perspective on the war not generally available in Civil war works.
In Rifles for Watie, Jefferson Davis Bussey is sixteen when the Civil War breaks out. He can't wait to leave his Kansas farm and defend the Union against Colonel Watie, the leader of the dreaded Cherokee Indian rebels. But Jeff soon learns that there's more to war than honor and glory. As an infantry soldier, he must march for miles, exhausted and near starvation. Passing himself off as a rebel, Jeff waits for the information he needs
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
children's novel
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
by Harold Keith
Harold Keith
Harold Verne Keith was a Newbery Medal-winning American author. Keith was born and raised in Oklahoma, where he also lived and died: the state was his abiding passion. He used Oklahoma as the setting for most of his books, although Rifles for Watie takes place elsewhere.-Biography:Harold Keith...
. It was first published in 1957
1957 in literature
The year 1957 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* Lawrence Durrell publishes the first volume of The Alexandria Quartet. The final of the four volumes will be published in 1960....
, and received the Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
the following year. Commonly shortened "Rifles", Rifles for Watie is written at an 8th grade advanced - 9th grade level.
The Civil war was a fight for many things such as slavery, rights , ideals and land . The setting, west of the Mississippi, is also not typical of Civil War novels, so the reader gets a perspective on the war not generally available in Civil war works.
In Rifles for Watie, Jefferson Davis Bussey is sixteen when the Civil War breaks out. He can't wait to leave his Kansas farm and defend the Union against Colonel Watie, the leader of the dreaded Cherokee Indian rebels. But Jeff soon learns that there's more to war than honor and glory. As an infantry soldier, he must march for miles, exhausted and near starvation. Passing himself off as a rebel, Jeff waits for the information he needs
Main Characters in Rifles for Watie
- Jefferson (Jeff) Davis Bussey – the protagonist
- Lucy Washbourne – Jeff's love interest, a young woman living in Tahlequah, OklahomaTahlequah, OklahomaTahlequah is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capital of the original Cherokee Nation in 1838 to welcome those Cherokee forced west on the Trail of Tears. The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census. It...
(then Indian TerritoryIndian TerritoryThe Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
) - Lee Washbourne – Lucy's brother, a Confederate soldier and scout
- Noah Babbitt – an itinerant printer, older than Jeff, and a Union soldier.
- Stand WatieStand WatieStand Watie , also known as Standhope Uwatie, Degataga , meaning “stand firm”), and Isaac S. Watie, was a leader of the Cherokee Nation and a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
– historical character, the last Confederate general to surrender at the war's end. - James G. BluntJames G. BluntJames Gillpatrick Blunt was a physician and abolitionist who rose to Union major general during the American Civil War.-Early life & career:...
– historical character, Union general who battled to control Indian TerritoryIndian TerritoryThe Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. - David Gardner – Jeff's hometown friend who joins the Union ArmyUnion ArmyThe Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
with him. - John Chadwick – Another of Jeff's hometown friends who joins the Union ArmyUnion ArmyThe Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
with him. - Captain Asa Clardy – Jeff's commanding officer in the Union ArmyUnion ArmyThe Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, and a major antagonist against Jeff. - Heifer Hobbs – company cook and mentor for Jeff in the Indian cavalryIndian cavalryIndian cavalry is the name collectively given to the Midwest and Eastern American Indians who fought during the American Civil War, most of them on horseback and for the South.-Cherokee Nation:...
, a part of the Confederate States ArmyConfederate States ArmyThe Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
. - Sparrow – The cook in Jeff's regiment on the Union side.
- Bill Earle – A friend Jeff made in the war, on the Union side
- Pete Millholland – One of Jeff's sergeants. He's killed by Rebels while cooking supper in Choctaw country
- Jimmy - The 14 year old drummer boy for the Union army. He's critically injured and eventually dies. he likes beans
Main themes
- Love (Lucy Washbourne and Jeff always find a way to get over their different beliefs no matter how passionate they are.)
- War spies of the Civil War
Awards and nominations
- Winner, 1958 Newbery Medal
- Notable Children's Books of 1957 (ALA)
- 1964 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Release details
- 1957, USA, Thomas Y. Crowell, NY (ISBN NA), Pub date ? ? 1957, hardback (First edition)
- 1960, UK, Oxford University Press (ISBN NA), Pub date ? ? 1960, hardback
- 1974, UK, Oxford University Press (ISBN 0192720511), Pub date 20 June 1974, paperback
- 1987, USA, Harper Trophy Books (ISBN 0-06-447030-X), Pub date ? September 1987, paperback reissue
- 1987, USA, HarperCollins (ISBN 0694056138), Pub date ? June 1987, paperback reissue
- 1991, UK, HarperCollins (ISBN 0-690-70181-0), Pub date ? June 1991, hardback reissue