State of Scott
Encyclopedia
The State of Scott was the result of a secessionist movement by Scott County (in the Eastern Division
of Tennessee
), which officially passed a proclamation during the Civil War
to secede from Tennessee and form the Free and Independent State of Scott in protest of the state's separation from the United States
. Although its edict had never been officially recognized by any government, Scott County finally rescinded its act of secession in 1986.
, voted overwhelmingly against Tennessee's referendum on secession from the Union. Later that year, the county court voted to approve the Scott County Assembly's resolution of secession from Tennessee, while allowing the immediate formation of the "Independent State of Scott", an enclave community whose sympathies remained strongly loyal to the Union.
Of little strategic value, the mountainous State of Scott saw no major fighting during the Civil War, instead seeing mostly guerilla war-style fighting and skirmishing.
or the Confederacy
.
, reads:
ever recognized as a national cemetery by the Independent State of Scott. The cemetery, also known as Botts Cemetery, surrounds what is now the Annadale Baptist Church. This land was acquired by a Maude Ellis and her two sons, Murley and John Ellis. It was dedicated as a standing monument
to Jennings, Gason, and Marion Ellis. Jennings and Marion Ellis (the first a son of John Ellis and the second a brother to John and Murley Ellis) were highly decorated World War II
soldiers.
In early 1947 with more than a hundred in attendance, while standing on the Annadale Church House steps in which he was a teacher, John F. Ellis announced that all properties held by his family would be donated to the Independent State of Scott so that it could be turned into a sanctuary for fallen soldiers of Scott County.
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
), which officially passed a proclamation during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
to secede from Tennessee and form the Free and Independent State of Scott in protest of the state's separation from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Although its edict had never been officially recognized by any government, Scott County finally rescinded its act of secession in 1986.
History
Tennessee was the last state to secede from the Union. On June 8, 1861, the people of Scott County, spurred on by a speech delivered 4 days earlier on the steps of the Huntsville courthouse by then senator (and future president), Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
, voted overwhelmingly against Tennessee's referendum on secession from the Union. Later that year, the county court voted to approve the Scott County Assembly's resolution of secession from Tennessee, while allowing the immediate formation of the "Independent State of Scott", an enclave community whose sympathies remained strongly loyal to the Union.
Of little strategic value, the mountainous State of Scott saw no major fighting during the Civil War, instead seeing mostly guerilla war-style fighting and skirmishing.
Aftermath
It was discovered in 1986 that this law was still on the books. The proclamation was repealed by the county, and Scott County successfully petitioned the state of Tennessee for readmission, which was ceremonially granted, even though its secession had not been recognized by the state —nor the federal governments of either the UnionUnion (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
or the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
.
Roadside marker
Today, a roadside marker on Highway 63, near the county seat, Huntsville, TennesseeHuntsville, Tennessee
Huntsville is a town in Scott County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 981 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Scott County.-Geography:...
, reads:
Annadale cemetery
A cemetery in the Annadale community (sometimes called Annadel or Annadell) of Scott County is the only cemeteryCemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
ever recognized as a national cemetery by the Independent State of Scott. The cemetery, also known as Botts Cemetery, surrounds what is now the Annadale Baptist Church. This land was acquired by a Maude Ellis and her two sons, Murley and John Ellis. It was dedicated as a standing monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
to Jennings, Gason, and Marion Ellis. Jennings and Marion Ellis (the first a son of John Ellis and the second a brother to John and Murley Ellis) were highly decorated World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
soldiers.
In early 1947 with more than a hundred in attendance, while standing on the Annadale Church House steps in which he was a teacher, John F. Ellis announced that all properties held by his family would be donated to the Independent State of Scott so that it could be turned into a sanctuary for fallen soldiers of Scott County.