The use of short sentences in this excerpt primarily serves to emphasize the severity and impact of destruction in the South. Each concise statement delivers a stark and powerful image of the devastation. This structure enhances the emotional weight and conveys a sense of urgency and despair, leading the reader to feel great sympathy for the Southerners after the war. Therefore, the best response is:
It gives the reader a great sense of sympathy for the Southerners after the war.