University of Virginia Library

The 38th Virginia camped at winter quarters in Kinston, North Carolina from October 8, 1863 through January 30, 1864, except for a brief period in November (Gregory, 46).

"Rag" seems to be a derogatory slang term for a worthless person, a rag-and-bone collector or thief (OED).

General Seth Maxwell Barton, an 1849 graduate of West Point, was made Brigadier General in March of 1862. He commanded the 1st Brigade, Stevenson's Division at Chickasaw Bluffs and surrendered at Vicksburg. He was released in a prisoner's exchange and went on to command Armistead's Brigade, Ransom's Division in the Wilderness campaign. See http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html for more about Civil War Generals.

Here Booker quotes the third stanza of "Amazing Grace."