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 text presents a fact about the number of soldiers who died in the American Civil War (620,000) and compares it to battle deaths in other wars (more than in all other wars from the Revolution through the Vietnam War). This is a factual statement aimed at showing the magnitude of the loss, which implies the seriousness of the war. There is no mention of three military conflicts (only comparing Civil War to others), no entertainment - related elements (like tales from behind the lines), and no encouragement to visit Appomattox.

Answer:

to persuade readers of the seriousness of the American Civil War