Harold Keith wrote many books throughout his career. He was born on April 8, 1903 ans passed away on February 24, 1998. Keith received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Oaklahoma. While there he did extensive research on the Civil War. His love of history is what began his writing career.  He began writing children's fiction in 1949 with Shotgun Shaw.  In 1958 Mr. Keith wrote Rifles for Watie which received the Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to literature.

    The book is about a young boy named Jeff Bussey who in 1861 left his home in Linn County, Kansas and walked to Fort Leavenworth to join the Union volunteers in the fight for the North. During his course serving the Union he had to endure hunger, foraging for food, walking 25+ miles a day and then fight in a battle. He made friends and enemies. He saw death first hand, some were his friends, others were people he hardly knew. He even met a rebel beauty named Lucy Washbourne. The Union soliders had a second fight going on in Indian country, his name was Stand Watie. Stand Watie was admired by the rebels and hated by the Union. He led the Cherokee Indian Nation on savage raids behind enemy lines (Amazon.com).
    This novel is rich with history about the Civil War and a boy who becomes a man. A man who will witness the war from both sides. I really enjoyed the novel and I have read wonderful reviews from students who have read the novel as well. I am going to try to integrate this novel in Language Arts while I teach the Civil War in Social Studies during my student teaching experience in the spring of 2003.

Book Reviews:
Review of Rifles for Watie
Book Review from Amazon
 Newbery Award 1958
Teen Review of book
Barnes and Nobel Reviews

Resources:
Teacher Created Materials that can be used with this unit
Civil War Basics
Civil War project
American Civil War
Civil War Times Illustrated Magazine