Book List: "Rifles for Watie"

Written by Harold Keith in 1957, this book has become my favorite Civil War novel. It's about a young Kansas boy who joins the Union army after his family's farm is raided by bushwhackers. He enlists with several of his friends, looking for glory and action in battle. He gets everything he wanted, and so much more. Throughout the book, he served in the infantry, cavalry, artillery, and as a scout in the Rebel army. He falls in love with a Rebel gal, and although she heartily disagrees with him, she loves him back. He endures hunger, fatigue, and nightmares as every soldier does.

For my American History class, I've had to read several Civil War novels, like Uncle Tom's Cabin, Across Five Aprils, and Harriet Beecher Stowe's biography. Soon, I'll be reading Up From Slavery, Red Badge of Courage, and Around the World in 80 Days as part of the same class. So far, Rifles for Watie is my personal favorite!

This book goes in-depth in describing the hardships of war. Where Across Five Aprils tried to chronicle the events from someone at home reading the newspapers, Rifles for Watie goes into the battle and shows the lives of the soldiers. It displays why the Union army fought, and gives a great Rebel perspective as well-- they are both simply fighting for what's best for their own homes and families, and willing to die for what they want. It enlightens both sides of the Civil War with a positive perspective-- no one is the 'bad guy' or the 'good guy,' they are all just normal people, fighting for their beliefs.

I liked Rifles for Watie because even though it was a longer book, it was lighter on the facts and more focused on the characters and people in the Civil War. It gave a fair and equal perspective to  everyone in the war-- the devastation of army raids, the home life for the women and children on broken farms, the infantry, cavalry, and artillery of both sides, and even people that crossed the lines for their own selfish profit. The book has executions, best friends, personal enemies, brothers and sisters, battle deaths, firing squads, and everything you could hope for in a Civil War novel and more.

For anyone remotely interested in the Civil War, or anyone interested in historical fiction, I would strongly recommend this book. It has a fair view of both sides, and you'll learn so much about why it happened, and what happened to the people during the war. Surprisingly, I really liked it!