Jefferson “Jeff” Bussey is a 16 year old boy from Linn County, Kansas.. Who later enlists in the
Union Army in 1861. Jeff is the protagonist of Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith. The novel takes place in between the years of 1861 to 1864 during the peak of the Civil War. Jefferson Bussey is a character who has left me with a strong impression. Because of his personnel growth from the beginning of the novel to the end,with the largest reason being the war. Jeff's physical traits in the novel are described as, “ A pleasant face with a wide generous mouth, a dimpled chin, and quick brown eyes”(pg. 2). Jeff’s physical traits affected the character during the war because the older men saw him as young inexperienced and very invaluable member …show more content…
His intelligence is shown many times throughout the novel specially in chapter 3 “Fort Leavenworth”. During this chapter Jeff is traveling from his home to the Union base to enlist. Along the way he is able to intelligently talk to strangers and unknown people to figure out empty spots of what he doesn’t know of the war. He is very Intelligent in way where he can precisely and accurately articulate what he needs to say. His style of speaking is way beyond the literacy level of most adolescence during his time. He was able to find company, David Gardner, through the enlisting endeavor. The amount of natural and taught skill that Jeff posses is an extreme plus to his ability of being a cavalryman. His main skills were adopted from living on a farm all his life. Because of the tedious physical and mental chores he performed on the farm his natural hand skill was higher than most general enlistees. Unfortunately, Jeff's skills hurt him more that helped him. During the march through Grand River Kansas he uses his skill to clean his gun by shooting it in the woods, potentially comprising the location of the company. As his punishment he works very vigorously in the hospital. This situation in the war specifically affected his personalty trait. Another notable personality trait that Jeff had was simply his calm disposition. He merely ignores the fact that he is leaving home for fear of death.
Union Army in 1861. Jeff is the protagonist of Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith. The novel takes place in between the years of 1861 to 1864 during the peak of the Civil War. Jefferson Bussey is a character who has left me with a strong impression. Because of his personnel growth from the beginning of the novel to the end,with the largest reason being the war. Jeff's physical traits in the novel are described as, “ A pleasant face with a wide generous mouth, a dimpled chin, and quick brown eyes”(pg. 2). Jeff’s physical traits affected the character during the war because the older men saw him as young inexperienced and very invaluable member …show more content…
His intelligence is shown many times throughout the novel specially in chapter 3 “Fort Leavenworth”. During this chapter Jeff is traveling from his home to the Union base to enlist. Along the way he is able to intelligently talk to strangers and unknown people to figure out empty spots of what he doesn’t know of the war. He is very Intelligent in way where he can precisely and accurately articulate what he needs to say. His style of speaking is way beyond the literacy level of most adolescence during his time. He was able to find company, David Gardner, through the enlisting endeavor. The amount of natural and taught skill that Jeff posses is an extreme plus to his ability of being a cavalryman. His main skills were adopted from living on a farm all his life. Because of the tedious physical and mental chores he performed on the farm his natural hand skill was higher than most general enlistees. Unfortunately, Jeff's skills hurt him more that helped him. During the march through Grand River Kansas he uses his skill to clean his gun by shooting it in the woods, potentially comprising the location of the company. As his punishment he works very vigorously in the hospital. This situation in the war specifically affected his personalty trait. Another notable personality trait that Jeff had was simply his calm disposition. He merely ignores the fact that he is leaving home for fear of death.