My referance as to an army of 60,000 is an estimation of the force that was at the Battle before the gate itself. Sauron certainly had many more soldiers throughout his land.
But in Return of the King, the Lords of the West mustered 7,000, 6,000 foot and 1,000 horsed.(see the last debate). They left men behind at various points, and came to the gate with 6,000 soldiers. Sauron's retribution is described as 10 times and more than 10 times the Lords of the West had.
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There long the golden leaves have grown, upon the branching years, while here beyond the sundering seas, now fall the Elven-tears...
but if of ships I now would sing, what ship would come to me, what ship would bear me ever back, across so wide a sea?
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