JeffBusseywalkedbrisklyuptheruttedwagonroadtowardFortLeavenworthonhiswaytojointheUnionvolunteers.Itwas1861inLinnCounty,Kansas,andJeffwaselatedattheprospectoffightingfortheNorthatlast. IntheIndiancountrysouthofKansastherewasdreadintheair;andthename,StandWatie,wasoneverytongue.Aherototherebel,adeviltotheUnionman,StandWatieledtheCherokeeIndianNa-tionfearlesslyandsuccessfullyonsavageraidsbehindtheUnionlines.JeffcametoknowtheWatiemenonlytoowell. HewasprobablytheonlysoldierintheWesttoseetheCivilWarfrombothsidesandlivetotellaboutit.Amidtheroarofcannonandtheswishofflyinggrape,Jefflearnedwhatitmeanttofightinbattle.Helearnedhowitfeltnevertohaveenoughtoeat,toforageforhisfoodorstarve.HesawthegreenfieldsofKansasandOkla-homalaidwastebyWatie'sraidingparties,homesgutted,preciouscorndeliberatelyuprooted.Hemarchedendlesslyacrossparched,hotland,throughmudandslash-ingrain,alwayshungry,alwaysdirtyanddog-tired. And,Jeff,plain-spokenandhonest,madefriendsandenemies.ThefriendswerestrongmenlikeNoahBabbitt,theitinerantprinterwhoonce
