alternatehistory.com

In the aftermath of the CSA invasion of Tennessee, Confederate military authrorities installed a pro sessionist goverment while the rightful Unionist legislature fled the state. The eastern region of the state had been a whig stronghold where slavery had been very rare, and the eastern countries run ahead significantly on the vote against seccesion held on the eve of the war. On these counties pro-Unionist sentiment ran strongest and the great majority of volunteers from the state haled from. A strong jaywalker campaign was held by uninist partisans along the east tennessee-western North Carolina region. Partisans here not only wished to expell confederate forces from the state, but also eventyallt came about to wish to break away from the rest of Tennesee

As stated before, the region had been separte from the rest of the state by political affiliation and economic interests for time, as many yeoman farmers too poor to afford slaves where skeptical of southern democrats and their advance of slavery. Frustrated with what they saw as a quick capitulation to the CSA army, as well as a desire not to be under a new Democratic goverment once the state had been liberated, representatives from all counties meet with General Sherman to announce an official break away declaration. President Douglas promised to allow a state vote on the matter and respect the outcome of it when the war had been won, however he was assasinated before this. A special military disctrict was created out of the future state, and east Tennessee militias where instrumental on the seige of Atlanta. Leaders of the military region abolished slavery within its territory shortly after.

Finally, the state was admited to the union in late 1864 by President Benjamin Wade