Rifles for Watie

We hope you are enjoying this tale of civil war adventure from the prospective of a young Kansas teenager, Jefferson Davis Bussey, who enters the fight with high ideals, and comes to know the real meaning of danger, adventure, self-sacrifice, and love.  

The book was written by Harold Keith (1903-1998), a lifelong resident of Oklahoma, and is based on the real movements, politics, and conditions of the civil war.  Keith won the Newberry Award for the book in 1958.  Most of his books are set in his beloved Oklahoma, and Rifles for Watie is his most famous.  It was based on his Master's Thesis in history.

How close is the book to capturing actual history?  There are two characters in the book who were real men in the civil war. Stand Watie was the last Confederate general to surrender at war's end, and James G. Blunt was a real general who struggled to control Indian Territory.

Stand Watie after the Civil War

Brig. Gen. James Blunt in 1862.

These two men are fascinating to read about.  Clink on the links above to read more.  We'll see you at the next SNACKS meeting!  Also, if someone could tell us all why Blunt has his hand in his shirt we would really appreciate it. What's up with doing that?  ;-)