How does Harry Turtledove use imagery in The Guns of the South: A Novel of the Civil War?

Imagery:

"Lee's mouth tightened, ever so slightly; he wished soldiers would stay away from Rivington men, especially since the war was more than a year and a half over. He had contemplated a general order to that effect, but set the notion aside as being unjust and without foundation in fact: the Rivington men troubled him, but on balance had done his country far more good than harm."

"For a moment, he was confused and jolted when he read of the war's ending with the South's surrender. Then he understood, and said quietly, 'So this is how it would have been, had the Rivington men not come back to us.'"