Final answer:
Lincoln's rhetoric highlighted unity and the permanent nature of the Union, while Whitman's poetry delved into the heroism and human cost of the Civil War, providing a more personal and somber reflection on the conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Abraham Lincoln's rhetoric about the Civil War often focused on the themes of unity and the indissoluble nature of the Union. In his first inaugural address, he emphasized the permanent nature of the Union and the plea for reconciliation, hoping to calm fears and mobilize Unionists. Conversely, poet Walt Whitman's work engages deeply with the Civil War by highlighting both its heroism and its human cost. Whitman did not shy away from the grim realities of war. In his poetry, he often explored the losses and the deep emotional impact of the conflict. To be precise, Lincoln did not highlight the glory of war; rather, he sought to justify the necessity of the conflict to preserve the nation, while Whitman's poems like 'Drum-Taps' focus more closely on the experiences of soldiers and the sorrow of war.