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American History & the West Mr. Cushing Rifles for Watie
Name: Date: Period:
Section I: Chapter Digests
Book #
• Attach sheets of your own notebook paper to this guide.
• Use your pages to record two or three notes about each chapter, focussing on the main story & characters.
• Transfer your chapter notes to the Rifles for Watie Chapter Digests at mrcushing.net .
Section II: Character List
• Jot down a short description each of the following important characters from the book.
Chapter Character Description
1 Jeff Bussey ________________________________________________________________
Emory Bussey ________________________________________________________________
Edith Bussey ________________________________________________________________
Ring ________________________________________________________________
3 John Chadwick ________________________________________________________________
Dave Gardner ________________________________________________________________
4 Capt. Asa Clardy ________________________________________________________________
Sparrow ________________________________________________________________
Sgt. Dempsey ________________________________________________________________
Noah Babbit ________________________________________________________________
8 Dixie ________________________________________________________________
10 Stand Watie ________________________________________________________________
11 Lucy Washbourne ________________________________________________________________
Ms. Adair ________________________________________________________________
12 General Blunt ________________________________________________________________
14 Lee Washbourne ________________________________________________________________
15 Lt. Foss ________________________________________________________________
The Brandts ________________________________________________________________
17 Lt. Orff ________________________________________________________________
18 Jim Bostwick ________________________________________________________________
19 "Heifer" ________________________________________________________________
20 The Jackmans ________________________________________________________________
Section III: Vocabulary Reference
• The vocabulary listed in this section is for your reference only; you are not required to do anything with it.
p. 1 drouth - drought
p. 2 festoon - a string of flowers suspended in a loop or curve
p. 2 clique - A small, exclusive group of friends or associates
p. 6 paregoric - type of medicine taken internally for the relief of
diarrhea and intestinal pain
p. 7 pone - cornmeal bread usually shaped into a flat cake and baked
or fried on a griddle
p.7 hewing - to make or shape with an ax
p. 15 brogans - a heavy, ankle-high work shoe
p. 15 sumac - a variety of shrub or small tree (i.e., poison ivy)
p. 16 smithy -a blacksmith's shop; a forge
p. 19 teamster - one who drives a team of animals pulling a wagon
p. 20 carbine - a lightweight rifle with a short barrel
p. 22 frowsy - unkempt; slovenly; having an unpleasant smell
p. 23 boot-shod - to furnish or fit with a shoe or boot
p. 34 plait - a braid, especially of hair
p. 34 daguerreotype - an early photographic process with the image
made on a light-sensitive silver metallic plate
p. 35 clabber - sour, curdled milk
p. 36 florid - flushed with rosy color
p. 36 brood - the young of certain animals; children
p. 37 incredulous - skeptical; disbelieving
p. 37 dejected - being in low spirits; depressed
p. 39 forlorn - appearing sad or lonely because or desertion
or abandonment
p. 41 serpentine - like a serpent in shape or form
Notes Sheet & Study Guide
p. 41 haversack - a bag carried over one shoulder to transport
supplies, as on a hike
p. 46 persimmon - orange-red fruit from chiefly tropical trees
p. 47 stoic - seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief,
pleasure, or pain
p. 48 vedette – a mounted sentry positioned behind an army
p. 50 staccato - cut short crisply; disconnected
p. 53 quaver - to quiver, as from weakness; tremble
p. 57 plantive - expressing sorrow; mournful or melancholy
p. 58 picket - a detachment of one or more troops held in readiness
or advanced to warn of an enemy's approach
p. 61 bay - a reddish brown
p. 61 chevron - a badge or insignia consisting of stripes worn on
the sleeve of a military uniform to indicate rank
p. 62 commisary - a military store where food and items are sold
p. 63 nettle - to trouble the nerves or peace of mind of, especially by
repeated acts of annoyance or irritation
p. 66 crestfallen - dispirited and depressed; dejected
p. 52 epaulet - a fringed shoulder strap worn on military uniforms
p. 52 peal - a loud burst of noise
p. 68 sowbelly - bacon
p. 69 Sibley tent - large, beige-colored canvas tent
p. 69 big-boled - having a large trunk
p. 70 gangrene - decay of body tissue caused by insufficient blood
supply and usually following injury
p. 71 chloroform - a clear liquid used as an anesthetic
p. 71 catling – a long, double-edged knife used for amputations

p. 72 windrow - a long row of cut hay or grain left to dry in a field
p. 73 reveille - a early morning bugle call used to awaken troops
p. 75 devil - to characterize as a wicked or malevolent person
p. 77 fetter - something that serves to restrict; a restraint
p. 78 genial - having a pleasant or friendly disposition or manner
p. 78 clapboard - a long, narrow board overlapped horizontally to
cover the outer walls of a building
p. 81 tow sack - a sack made of coarse broken flax or hemp fiber
p. 81 windfall - something, such as a ripened fruit, that has been
blown down by the wind
p. 86 inscrutable - difficult to fathom or understand; impenetrable
p. 89 effrontery - brazen boldness; presumptuousness
p. 89 breastworks - temporary, quickly constructed fortifications
p. 90 emancipation - to free from bondage, oppression, or restraint
p. 94 quince - a type of tree having white flowers and applelike fruit
p. 95 infamous - having an exceedingly bad reputation; notorious
p. 96 indolent - disinclined to exert oneself; habitually lazy
p. 96 scobbin’ - a fight
p. 96 aghast - struck by shock, terror, or amazement
p. 98 pilfer - to steal (a small amount or item)
p. 98 dodger - cornbread
p. 101 gigged - to receive a demerit given in the military
p. 102 conciliatory - to regain friendship by pleasant behavior
p. 104 laconic - using or marked by the use of few words
p. 104 prod - a pointed object used to poke with
p. 107 stanch - to stop or the flow of (blood or tears, for example)
p. 125 belligerent - inclined or eager to fight; hostile or aggressive
p. 126 Tory - an American who, during the Colonial period favored
British rule and opposed independence; aka a Loyalist
p. 128 impute - to charge with the fault or responsibility for
p. 129 acrid - unpleasantly sharp, or bitter to the taste or smell
p. 132 greenbrier - a Mediterranean shrub or small tree
p. 132 shinnery - type of Southern shrubbery
p. 136 clout - a blow, especially with the fist
p. 141 edifice - a building, especially one of imposing size
p. 142 conspicuous - easy to notice; obvious
p. 142 intrepid - resolutely courageous; fearless
p. 142 pomade - a perfumed ointment used to groom the hair
p. 144 valise - a small piece of hand luggage
p. 144 dishevel - to loosen and let fall (hair or clothing) in disarray
p. 144 caisson - a horse-drawn vehicle, usually two-wheeled, used to
carry artillery ammunition and coffins at military funerals
p. 145 opiate - any of various sedative narcotics containing opium
p. 146 vellum - a fine parchment made from calfskin, lambskin used
for the pages and binding of books
p. 148 oblique - indirect or evasive
p. 149 guidon - a small flag carried by a military unit
p. 151 hogshead - a large barrel or cask equal to 63 gallons
p. 152 indignation - anger aroused by something unjust or unfair
p. 153 livid - extremely angry; furious
p. 154 levee - an dam built to prevent a river from overflowing
p. 156 cordial - a liqueur
p. 158 amiable - friendly and agreeable in disposition; good-natured
and likable
p. 159 verbena - various plants cultivated for their showy spikes of
colored flowers
p. 160 shoat - a young pig just after weaning
p. 162 beau - the boyfriend of a woman or girl
p. 163 chat walk - ?
p. 163 obstinate - stubbornly adhering to an attitude or opinion
p. 164 truculent - disposed to fight; pugnacious
p. 164 irk - to be irritating, wearisome, or vexing to
p. 164 “Secesh” - (colloquialism) “Secessionist”; a Confederate; rebel
p. 166 tines - a prong on an implement such as a fork or pitchfork
p. 166 “... in a body.” - as a group
p. 167 solicitude - expressing concern for the well-being of another
p. 168 arnica salve - a pigment of dried flowers applied externally to
reduce the pain and inflammation of bruises and sprains
p. 168 setee - a small or medium-sized sofa
p. 170 inalienable - that which cannot be lost or taken from you
p. 172 tremulous - marked by trembling, quivering, or shaking
p. 172 despoil - to sack; plunder
p. 173 prostrate - to make oneself bow or kneel down in
humility or adoration
firearms mentioned in Rifles For Watie
The Springfield Model 1861 Musket is the classic small arm of the Civil War. They were produced at the Springfield armory
and by 20 contract companies for use by Northern troops. The 1861 Springfield improved upon the model 1855 design by removing the
tape priming system in favor of the standard percussion cap. This change reduced both cost and manufacturing time. Over 700,000 '61
Springfields were produced. These were coveted weapons. Once troops got hold of a Springfield, they did not let them go.
The Spencer Repeating Rifle was one of the most technically advanced small arms of the day. It used a tubular magazine that fit
into the butt of the rifle. The magazine held seven internally primed, metal cartridges. The enlarged trigger guard was actually a lever
that when pulled, ejected the spent shell casing, and fed a fresh cartridge into the firing chamber. The last step was to cock the external
hammer, aim, and then pull the trigger. Once in the field, the soldiers fortunate enough to receive one praised it for it's tremendous rates
of fire (7 shots in 12 seconds) and reliability.
The Colt Army Model 1860 Pistol was a streamlined version of the earlier 1848 dragoon (used in the Mexican War). It became
the most popular sidearm in the Union Army. The Colt Model 1860 was a .44 calibre six shot weapon which weighed 2 lbs 11 ounces.
At $13.75, the Colt Army Revolver was much more expensive than those made by Remington or Starr. More than 146,800 Colt
revolvers were purchased during the war, accounting for greater than 40% of all handguns bought by the Union Ordinance Department.