Question

read the excerpt from the dark game: true spy stories from invisible ink to cia moles. yet, by the time robert e. lee surrendered to ulysses grant at appomattox, virginia, some four years later, about 620,000 soldiers had died on the battlefields, more than american battle deaths in all other wars from the revolution through the vietnam war. what is the authors primary purpose for including this detail? to inform readers about the differences between three military conflicts to persuade readers of the seriousness of the american civil war to entertain readers with tales from behind the lines of battle to encourage readers to visit battlegrounds in appomattox, virginia

Explanation:

The author uses the statistic of 620,000 soldier deaths and compares it to deaths in other wars (from the Revolution through the Vietnam War). This comparison is a persuasive technique. By highlighting the large number of deaths in the American Civil War relative to other major conflicts, the author aims to convince readers of the war's seriousness. The text does not focus on differences between three conflicts (only mentions the Civil War and others), there are no entertaining tales, and no encouragement to visit Appomattox.

Answer:

to persuade readers of the seriousness of the American Civil War