Write a poem that gives an impressionistic description of something happening near where you live, viewing it from a far distance.

Research the guidon flags of different regiments of the Union and the Confederacy in the Civil War and report on the stories behind some of them.

Explain how the last line changes the tone of this poem. Explain how it changes the poem's meaning.

Find memoirs of people who served in the armed forces during recent campaigns, such as the actions in the Persian Gulf or in Bosnia, and compare the ways they describe travel between battles with the way Whitman describes this army.

Some rivers could be crossed on horseback, while others were just too wild. Find out what conditions would apply: what depth is safe to take horses across, what current they can resist, etc. Report your findings.