perambulating veterans strolling troops.
philippic a bitter verbal attack.
pickets soldiers stationed at an outpost to guard the troops from surprise attack.
private an enlisted man of the two lowest ranks in the U.S. Army.
ragamuffin interest the soldiers' uniforms were tattered and torn (a ragamuffin appearance), yet the soldiers still had a keen interest in overhearing the conversation between the colonel and the general.
ragged line the regiment's condition after repelling the enemy's charge.
rebel army the Confederate Army.
red eyes (also described as red blossoms) the campfires of the enemy as seen across the river.
red rage great anger.
red speeches Henry's angry arguments with nature.
Regiment a military unit consisting of two or more battalions and forming a basic element of a division. (U.S. Army A battalion is a tactical unit made up of three or more companies, batteries, or analogous units: it is normally commanded by a lieutenant colonel and is the basic building unit of a division. Mil. A division is an army unit larger than a regiment and smaller than a corps, to which various numbers and types of battalions can be attached as required.)
returning with his shield or on it a reference to the ancient Greek idea that the only honorable way to return from battle is to be holding your shield or to be carried back on it .
Richmond the capital of Virginia and of the Confederacy.
