Thank you, sir. A correct relating of the salient facts. By constitutionally seceding, Virginia was invaded by federal troops. They did not join the Confederacy until a largely unfair referendum vote was held in May, 1861. Union troops moved into N. Virginia the day after the referendum to secede. It was then that VA officially joined the Confederacy on the decision of Gov. Letcher. The referendum was not fair and good, but such was the fever of the time.
Virginia’s Unionists met at the Wheeling Convention to set up the Restored Government of Virginia. Francis Pierpont was elected governor. The restored government raised troops to defend the Union, and in 1863 the State of W. Virginia was admitted to the Union. There are many to this day that say W.V. does not have a legal basis for statehood.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Virginia win a court case where West Virginia had to pay reparations to Virginia for its intrastate secession?