Set during the American Civil War, the plot revolves around the fictional sixteen-year-old Jefferson Davis Bussey, who is caught up in the events of history. Actual historical personages (e.g. Generals Stand Watie and James G. Blunt) and battles (e.g. Wilson's Creek and Prairie Grove) are seen from the viewpoint of an ordinary soldier, enabled by the choice of protagonist. Harold Keith spent many years interviewing Civil War veterans and visiting the sites depicted in the book, resulting in an authenticity that is rare for historical fiction that targets a young adult audience.[1]
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 other books, let alone one found in children's books.
Jefferson Davis Bussey marches off to Leavenworth from Linn County, Kansas in 1861, on his way to join the Union volunteers. He is off to fight for the North, his zeal having been fueled by reaction to the guerilla war of "bushwhackers" that was taking place in eastern Kansas. However, Stand Watie is on the side of the South. We meet many soldiers and civilians on both sides of the war, including Watie's raiding parties, itinerant printer Noah Babbitt and, in Tahlequah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) the beautiful Cherokee girl, Lucy Washbourne. During an undercover mission, Jeff finds that Captain Asa Clardy of the Union Cavalry is smuggling new Spencer rifles to the Indian forces of Stand Watie.
Jeff winds up fighting for both the North and the South (while on a special undercover mission) during the conflict while making friends on each side. The book is also notable for the detailed depiction of contemporary Cherokee life in Indian Territory, including various tribal political factions. Keith portrays the difficulties Jeff Bussey faces in choosing one side or the other in the midst of huge conflicts.
Characters
Jefferson (Jeff) Davis Bussey – the protagonist. Originally an infantry private but later his whole company is trained as cavalrymen. After a long secret mission and daring escape he is promoted to sergeant and sent home.
Lee Washbourne – Lucy's brother, a Confederate soldier and scout. Killed by a firing squad in which Jeff unknowingly took a part. Jeff, however, did not shoot and did not realize that it was Lee, whom he had heard about from Lucy and Mrs. Washbourne, until he saw Lee's name engraved on his watch.
Noah Babbitt – an itinerant printer, older than Jeff, and a Union soldier and a lover of nature.
Stand Watie – historical character, the last Confederate general to surrender at the war's end. His forces are described as "using old British one shot Enfield's and double barrel shotguns." The use of Spencer repeaters could mean a victory against Union soldiers.
David Gardner – Jeff's hometown friend who joins the Union Army with him.
John Chadwick – Another of Jeff's hometown friends who joins the Union Army with him.
Captain Asa Clardy – Jeff's commanding officer in the Union Army, and a major antagonist against Jeff. He is the one smuggling the Spencer Rifles to the Rebels. Eventually found killed and exposed postmortem as a traitor.
Heifer Hobbs – company cook and mentor for Jeff in the rebel army of Stand Watie. He stands up for Jeff when Sergeant Fields accuses Jeff of being a Union spy.
Bill Earle – A singer who served with Jeff made in the war, on the Union side
Stuart Mitchell - A Union P.O.W who was able to escape from Watie's men and enlist in Jeff's unit.
Pete Millholland – An older gentleman who is elected as Jeff's squad leader. He's killed by Rebels while cooking supper in Choctaw country
Jimmy - The 14-year-old drummer boy for the Union army. He is critically injured and later dies on Christmas Day
Edith Bussey - Jeff's Mom
Emory Bussey - Jeff's father
Ring - Jeff's dog in Kansas
Dixie - A dog owned by a rebel who is killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Jeff befriends her and keeps her, later leaving her with Lucy Washbourne.
Keegan - A commander for the Confederates.
Lieutenant Orff - Commander of the scout platoon that Jeff and Noah join after becoming cavalrymen. Carries a Spencer 7 shot rifle.
Sully - A "bloodhound" that is supposed to be hunting Jeff when he befriends him. Sully also looks very sad and ugly.
Sergeant Fields - NCO for the company of Confederate cavalry Jeff joins.
Jim Bostwick - a scout that Jeff works with. Killed in a battle while posing as a Confederate.
Sparrow - the chef at the army camp. Killed by Clardy after telling Jeff a secret about him.
Mike Dempsey- Older Irishman who befriends Jeff.
Ford Ivey- One of Jeff's best friends who was severely wounded during the Battle of Wilson's Creek. He eventually has his leg amputated.
Zed Tinney- God-fearing boy who owns a bible that is bound in black leather. Killed during the Battle of Wilson's Creek.
Walter Van Ostrand- A cowardly youngster in Jeff's company who purposely shot his gun off in order to be discharged.
Reception
Kirkus Reviews said of the book: "Stirring, original and always credible, this is distinctly superior."[2] In a retrospective essay about the Newbery Medal-winning books from 1956 to 1965, librarian Carolyn Horovitz wrote of Rifles for Watie, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, The Witch of Blackbird Pond and The Bronze Bow: "All have value, all are told skilfully. If they lack the qualities of greatness, it is largely because their style has a commercial sameness."[3]
Controversial history
After receiving the 1958 Newbery award, the book was scheduled to be reprinted due to an expected increase in sales. This award brought the attention of librarian Charlemae Hill Rollins of the Chicago Public Library, who saw the opportunity to change certain descriptions of African American characters in the book; the period in which these changes were proposed was during the fall of legal segregation and Rollins believed the language should reflect this.[4] After communicating with Rollins, Keith accepted one proposed change but rejected the others, claiming that he used similar language to define other white characters[5] and for that reason it was not race-specific. The changes made in the third printing of the book did not touch on the characters use of language because it was deemed that the author was not pushing his own thoughts into the book but instead attempting to keep them as genuine as possible to the time period.
Awards and nominations
Winner, 1958 Newbery Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1957 (ALA)
1964 James Carroll Shelf Award
Sources
Rifles for Watide on Rifles for Watie. BookRags Study Guides. Retrieved 2007-06-26.
Kingman, Lee, ed. (1965). Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books: 1956-1965. Boston: Horn Book.
References
^Painter, Helen W. (1961). "Rifles for Watie--A Novel of the Civil War". Elementary English. 38 (5): 287–297. ISSN 0013-5968. JSTOR 41385141.
^"RIFLES FOR WATIE by Harold Keith". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
^Horovitz, Carolyn (1965). "Only the Best". In Kingman, Lee (ed.). Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books: 1956-1965. Boston: The Horn Book, Incorporated. p. 160. LCCN 65-26759.
^Willett, Holly G. (2001). "Rifles for Watie : Rollins, Riley, and Racism". Libraries & the Cultural Record. 36 (4): 487–505. doi:10.1353/lac.2001.0074. ISSN 1932-9555. S2CID 161752766.
rifles, watie, children, novel, american, writer, harold, keith, first, published, 1957, received, newbery, medal, following, year, cover, 1991, reissue, hardbackauthorharold, keithcountryunited, stateslanguageenglishgenrehistorical, warpublisherthomas, crowel. Rifles for Watie is a children s novel by American writer Harold Keith It was first published in 1957 and received the Newbery Medal the following year Rifles for WatieCover of the 1991 reissue hardbackAuthorHarold KeithCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreHistorical WarPublisherThomas Y CrowellPublication date1957Media typePrint Hardback amp Paperback Set during the American Civil War the plot revolves around the fictional sixteen year old Jefferson Davis Bussey who is caught up in the events of history Actual historical personages e g Generals Stand Watie and James G Blunt and battles e g Wilson s Creek and Prairie Grove are seen from the viewpoint of an ordinary soldier enabled by the choice of protagonist Harold Keith spent many years interviewing Civil War veterans and visiting the sites depicted in the book resulting in an authenticity that is rare for historical fiction that targets a young adult audience 1 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 other books let alone one found in children s books Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Characters 3 Reception 4 Controversial history 5 Awards and nominations 6 Sources 7 ReferencesPlot summary EditJefferson Davis Bussey marches off to Leavenworth from Linn County Kansas in 1861 on his way to join the Union volunteers He is off to fight for the North his zeal having been fueled by reaction to the guerilla war of bushwhackers that was taking place in eastern Kansas However Stand Watie is on the side of the South We meet many soldiers and civilians on both sides of the war including Watie s raiding parties itinerant printer Noah Babbitt and in Tahlequah Indian Territory now Oklahoma the beautiful Cherokee girl Lucy Washbourne During an undercover mission Jeff finds that Captain Asa Clardy of the Union Cavalry is smuggling new Spencer rifles to the Indian forces of Stand Watie Jeff winds up fighting for both the North and the South while on a special undercover mission during the conflict while making friends on each side The book is also notable for the detailed depiction of contemporary Cherokee life in Indian Territory including various tribal political factions Keith portrays the difficulties Jeff Bussey faces in choosing one side or the other in the midst of huge conflicts Characters EditJefferson Jeff Davis Bussey the protagonist Originally an infantry private but later his whole company is trained as cavalrymen After a long secret mission and daring escape he is promoted to sergeant and sent home Lucy Washbourne Jeff s love interest a young woman living in Tahlequah Oklahoma then Indian Territory Lee Washbourne Lucy s brother a Confederate soldier and scout Killed by a firing squad in which Jeff unknowingly took a part Jeff however did not shoot and did not realize that it was Lee whom he had heard about from Lucy and Mrs Washbourne until he saw Lee s name engraved on his watch Noah Babbitt an itinerant printer older than Jeff and a Union soldier and a lover of nature Stand Watie historical character the last Confederate general to surrender at the war s end His forces are described as using old British one shot Enfield s and double barrel shotguns The use of Spencer repeaters could mean a victory against Union soldiers James G Blunt historical character Union general who battled to control Indian Territory David Gardner Jeff s hometown friend who joins the Union Army with him John Chadwick Another of Jeff s hometown friends who joins the Union Army with him Captain Asa Clardy Jeff s commanding officer in the Union Army and a major antagonist against Jeff He is the one smuggling the Spencer Rifles to the Rebels Eventually found killed and exposed postmortem as a traitor Heifer Hobbs company cook and mentor for Jeff in the rebel army of Stand Watie He stands up for Jeff when Sergeant Fields accuses Jeff of being a Union spy Bill Earle A singer who served with Jeff made in the war on the Union side Stuart Mitchell A Union P O W who was able to escape from Watie s men and enlist in Jeff s unit Pete Millholland An older gentleman who is elected as Jeff s squad leader He s killed by Rebels while cooking supper in Choctaw country Jimmy The 14 year old drummer boy for the Union army He is critically injured and later dies on Christmas Day Edith Bussey Jeff s Mom Emory Bussey Jeff s father Ring Jeff s dog in Kansas Dixie A dog owned by a rebel who is killed at the Battle of Wilson s Creek Jeff befriends her and keeps her later leaving her with Lucy Washbourne Keegan A commander for the Confederates Lieutenant Orff Commander of the scout platoon that Jeff and Noah join after becoming cavalrymen Carries a Spencer 7 shot rifle Sully A bloodhound that is supposed to be hunting Jeff when he befriends him Sully also looks very sad and ugly Sergeant Fields NCO for the company of Confederate cavalry Jeff joins Jim Bostwick a scout that Jeff works with Killed in a battle while posing as a Confederate Sparrow the chef at the army camp Killed by Clardy after telling Jeff a secret about him Mike Dempsey Older Irishman who befriends Jeff Ford Ivey One of Jeff s best friends who was severely wounded during the Battle of Wilson s Creek He eventually has his leg amputated Zed Tinney God fearing boy who owns a bible that is bound in black leather Killed during the Battle of Wilson s Creek Jake Lonegan A squad leader in Jeff s company Jim Veatch Cardplayer in Jeff s company Neely North A breezy recruit from Shawnee Mission Walter Van Ostrand A cowardly youngster in Jeff s company who purposely shot his gun off in order to be discharged Reception EditKirkus Reviews said of the book Stirring original and always credible this is distinctly superior 2 In a retrospective essay about the Newbery Medal winning books from 1956 to 1965 librarian Carolyn Horovitz wrote of Rifles for Watie Carry On Mr Bowditch The Witch of Blackbird Pond and The Bronze Bow All have value all are told skilfully If they lack the qualities of greatness it is largely because their style has a commercial sameness 3 Controversial history EditAfter receiving the 1958 Newbery award the book was scheduled to be reprinted due to an expected increase in sales This award brought the attention of librarian Charlemae Hill Rollins of the Chicago Public Library who saw the opportunity to change certain descriptions of African American characters in the book the period in which these changes were proposed was during the fall of legal segregation and Rollins believed the language should reflect this 4 After communicating with Rollins Keith accepted one proposed change but rejected the others claiming that he used similar language to define other white characters 5 and for that reason it was not race specific The changes made in the third printing of the book did not touch on the characters use of language because it was deemed that the author was not pushing his own thoughts into the book but instead attempting to keep them as genuine as possible to the time period Awards and nominations EditWinner 1958 Newbery Medal Notable Children s Books of 1957 ALA 1964 James Carroll Shelf AwardSources EditRifles for Watide on Rifles for Watie BookRags Study Guides Retrieved 2007 06 26 Kingman Lee ed 1965 Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books 1956 1965 Boston Horn Book References Edit Painter Helen W 1961 Rifles for Watie A Novel of the Civil War Elementary English 38 5 287 297 ISSN 0013 5968 JSTOR 41385141 RIFLES FOR WATIE by Harold Keith Kirkus Reviews Retrieved December 7 2019 Horovitz Carolyn 1965 Only the Best In Kingman Lee ed Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books 1956 1965 Boston The Horn Book Incorporated p 160 LCCN 65 26759 Gale Product Login galeapps gale com Retrieved 2022 09 28 Willett Holly G 2001 Rifles for Watie Rollins Riley and Racism Libraries amp the Cultural Record 36 4 487 505 doi 10 1353 lac 2001 0074 ISSN 1932 9555 S2CID 161752766 AwardsPreceded byMiracles on Maple Hill Newbery Medal recipient1958 Succeeded byThe Witch of Blackbird Pond Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rifles for Watie amp oldid 1125484000, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
