Pausch tells his audience this because he wants them to know that
e are
he has chosen not to focus on his cancer
time
he is only interested in things he has never talked
about
they will get what they are expecting from the
speech
speeches about cancer are not interesting.

The information  Van Lew relayed to Union army commanders were:

1. where the prisoners had been (she talked to the men about where they had been)

2.  who commanded which rebel armies (They recognized who commanded which rebel armies)

3. the morale of rebel (insight into the morale of the rebel troops)

4. where the rebel troops were headed (Alert federal soldiers took notice of rebel troop strength and movement)