Whatever happened to Kentucky and West Virginia?
The time period from 1861-1862 was a divisive time for many, but none more than Kentucky and Missouri. Kentucky, was a border slave state and was deeply divided. Whilst many Unionist Kentuckians had no problem with slavery, they did not share the violent defense of it more common in the deep south. When war broke out, Kentucky pursued a course of neutrality, as many in the state still believed that a compromise could happen. Negotiations were held between Pro and Anti Union Kentuckians at the highest levels of governance involving Breckinridge and others. However, the state’s militias had divided loyalties. Simon Bolivar Buckner led the State Guard whom were sympathetic to the Confederacy while a rival “Home” guard was largely pro Union.
Confederate Leaders, upon agreement on their plan to seize Kentucky,allowing them to attack Missouri and even the Midwest at large , began planning for laying the seeds of revolt. Buckner’s Troops were bolstered by arms, artillery, and skilled officers. The timetable for the Kentucky Campaign was that in early 1863 Buckner and his troops would march on Frankfort, force the Unionist assembly as Bayonet point to allow Confederate Troops to march through, and eventually take over. However, as with many things in the war, it didn't turn out the way they expected.
Western Virginia unlike Virginia at-large, Voted almost entirely against secession and upon Virginia’s Entry into the Confederacy, sent members to the US congress petitioning for annexation. While Congress was perfectly fine with an Independent West Virginia, Bismarck disagreed, believing that the Government should instead function as an “government-in-exile” and wanted to give the confederacy not even a single whiff of legitimacy. While that was a bitter pill to swallow, the West Virginians accepted and created the State of Virginia, acting as a continuing government. before secession.
