So close-minded, and easily misled, that they chose to separate from the rest of Virginia, remain loyal to the Union, and become an independent State.
“they chose to separate from the rest of Virginia, remain loyal to the Union, and become an independent State”
[Wiki] “However most of the pro-Confederate elements no longer considered themselves citizens of the United States; they saw themselves as citizens of another country (the Confederacy) and did not vote in elections sponsored by the United States. Votes from the secessionist counties in the October 24 vote on statehood were mostly cast by refugees in the area around Wheeling, not in the counties themselves. In secessionist counties where a poll was conducted it was by military intervention. Even in some counties that had voted against secession, such as Wayne and Cabell, it was necessary to send in Union soldiers”
The outcome was very close to an even split and had to be bolstered by Union Military intervention, which was in the best interest of the federal government in view of the impending civil conflict.