[Non-Sequitur]

When the south rebelled the standing U.S. army was, I believe, about 18,000 men. Desertions to the south no doubt decreased this abount by perhaps as much as 25%. One of the first acts of the confederate congress was to establish a general staff and fund an army of 100,000 men. If the intentions of the south were peaceful then why was their first action to create an army 7 times the size of the U.S. army?

[4CJ]

"If the intentions of the south were peaceful then why was their first action to create an army 7 times the size of the U.S. army?"

I guess they knew how honest Lincoln was.