[rockrr]

I have several sources that list March 6, 1861 as the date that the con-feds authorized 100,000 troops, not May 6th.

[BroJoeK]

rockrr: "I have several sources that list March 6, 1861 as the date that the con-feds authorized 100,000 troops, not May 6th."

What everyone needs to understand is, there were several call-ups on both sides:

1. March 3, 1861 Davis authorized preparations for military assault on Fort Sumter.

2. March 4, Lincoln inaugurated, US Army totals 16,000 most scattered in small forts out West.

3. March 6, Confederate congress authorized 100,000 troops.

4. April 15, after Fort Sumter, Lincoln called up 75,000 troops.

5. April 19, more Union troops killed in Baltimore.

6. April 19, Lincoln approved General Scott's "Anaconda Plan" including blockade of Southern ports.

7. April 23, Jefferson Davis sent military aid to Confederates fighting in Union Missouri.

8. April 26, Georgia repudiated debts owed to Northerners.

9. April 29, Confederate Congress authorized war powers to Jefferson Davis.

10. May 3, Lincoln called for 42,000 3-4 year enlistment troops.

11. May 6, Confederate Congress formally declared war on United States.

12. May 9, Davis authorized 400,000 3-year enlistment troops, requests 6 warships from abroad.

13. May 21, Confederate Congress repudiated all debts to Northerners, thus triggering the response from Democrat "Northeastern Power Barons" DiogenesLamp tells us about.

So, by May 9, 1861 Confederates called up 500,000 troops, the Union, all told, about 133,000.
Eventually, of course, Union troops would outnumber Confederates over two-to-one, but in the early months, that was not the case.