When the Civil War started, the standing army consisted of about 16,000 men in a few regiments. Many were in the West. About half of the officers joined the Union cause, and about half the Confederates. Most of the enlisted men stayed with their regiment.
Aside from the army, there was the navy and marines. Nearly all of the naval officers stayed with the Union, even Southerners, so the Confederates were at a major disadvantage. The marines numbered a thousand or so men, and most stayed with Union. Despite this, the Confederates actual had a couple of impressive showings in naval battles, though the Union forces generally won those.
After Fort Sumter Lincoln called for 75,000 militia, with each state given a quota. Those men would be trained by the Federal government. Southern states refused to send troops, but Northern states agreed. In June Congress authorized 500,000 more volunteers. Technically these men were state troops, but since they were under Federal control, they were treated as United States soldiers for the duration of the conflict. Throughout the war, Lincoln and Congress would ask the states for more volunteers, though eventually a draft was created.
Was this system the best compromise between the isolationist/federalist views of most Americans and the need to respond to rebellion, or could there have been improvements? Was the fact that most of the professional troops stayed with the Union a factor in its eventual victory, or was it more about manpower?
Aside from the army, there was the navy and marines. Nearly all of the naval officers stayed with the Union, even Southerners, so the Confederates were at a major disadvantage. The marines numbered a thousand or so men, and most stayed with Union. Despite this, the Confederates actual had a couple of impressive showings in naval battles, though the Union forces generally won those.
After Fort Sumter Lincoln called for 75,000 militia, with each state given a quota. Those men would be trained by the Federal government. Southern states refused to send troops, but Northern states agreed. In June Congress authorized 500,000 more volunteers. Technically these men were state troops, but since they were under Federal control, they were treated as United States soldiers for the duration of the conflict. Throughout the war, Lincoln and Congress would ask the states for more volunteers, though eventually a draft was created.
Was this system the best compromise between the isolationist/federalist views of most Americans and the need to respond to rebellion, or could there have been improvements? Was the fact that most of the professional troops stayed with the Union a factor in its eventual victory, or was it more about manpower?