Analyze the following passage in terms of the related stylistic theory.
Son: Father, a Union regiment has arrived at Grafton. I am going to join it.
Father: Well, go sir, and whatever may occur, do what you conceive to be your duty. Virginia, to which you are a traitor, must go without you. Should we both live to the end of the war, we will speak further for the matter. Your mother, as the physician has informed you, is in a most critical condition; at the best she cannot be with us longer than a few weeks, but that time is precious. It would be better not to disturb her.
(Ambrose Bierce, A Horseman in the Sky)
Stylistics is a branch of linguistics which studies the features of situationally distinctive uses (varieties) of language, and tries to establish principles capable of accounting for the particular choices made by individual and social groups in their use of language. The relationship between father and son is one of the closest relationships in the world. The father and the son in the passage live together and they should choose intimate style in communication. However, the father and the son in Virginia during the civil war went separate ways because they held different political views. Therefore, the passage chooses the formal style and employs a lot of formal words. This conventional use of language style strongly demonstrates the solemn atmosphere of their departure and the sadness of the father and the son.