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Rhetorical Analysis: The First American Civil War

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Thomas states in his work that Lee was always searching to seize the initiative and keep his opponent off balance. Grant may have been the master of the calculated risk, however Lee could be characterized as the master of the uncalculated risk. Lee more likely than not saw an aggressive plan as the only way to stand against the North’s seemingly endless resources. He expresses that Lee may have thought if he bloodied the Union forces seriously enough, often enough, the people of the North would grow tired of war. Thomas also goes on to write that Lee’s strategies went nearly too far, particularly when he divided his outnumbered troops, as he did both times the Army of Northern Virginia marched north of the Potomac. Thomas remarks on the battle at Antietam, where only good luck and a few minutes spared Lee’s battered army from annihilation.

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