The inflation rate in 1861 was 6.02%.
I do not know what the inflation rate was in 1861, and it would take a great deal of data and math to convince me that anyone has a good idea of what was the inflation rate in 1861. Certainly the price of cotton went way up, and i'm sure a lot more than 6.02%.
I have come to distrust information that favors the narrative of the ruling class. I've seen the ruling class lie too often to simply accept what they claim as true.