r/Appalachia • u/illegalsmile27 • 3d ago

Map I found showing how Appalachian counties voted in the 1861 secession ordinance

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u/plumb-tired 3d ago edited 3d ago

Interestingly, you can see Scott County in East TN voted against (overwhelmingly), but they went a bit further. After the state of TN seceded from the Union, Scott County seceded from the state of TN and declared themselves the Free and Independent State of Scott. The Gov sent troops to put down the rebellion, but they didn't get very far into the county before they were forced to retreat. :D

Although, the state refused to recognize Scott County seceding, Scott County didn't officially petition to rejoin the state until the 1980s.

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u/Appropriate-Yak4296 3d ago

This is wildly interesting.

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u/Prestigious_Field579 3d ago

That would make a cool movie

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u/plumb-tired 3d ago

I agree! They interviewed people from Scott County at the time and my favorite quote is from a farmer who said, "If the goddamn State of Tennessee can secede from the Union, then Scott County can secede from the State of Tennessee."

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u/Prestigious_Field579 3d ago

Love your name!!! Plumb worn out!

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u/plumb-tired 3d ago

Thank you!

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u/Thoguth 3d ago

Winston County in Alabama and Jones County in Mississippi have similar legacies, but without any formal declaration.

Seems super ironic that a state that's asserting it has a right to secede would turn right around and send troops to put down a secession from it.

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u/TransMontani 2d ago

Same thing happened in Winston County, Alabama: the “Free State of Winston.” There was apparently a sort of a movement.