Hoyt,

Here's something to start with.

George Hoyt Martin

At this stage of maturity the sections of the United States were predominately rural and the inhabitants largely yeoman farmers with limited access to areas outside the vision of their fence lines. Thus, it was natural for people to align themselves with those politicians and authorities most familiar to them and to swear allegiance to their state government over that of the far distance central government in Washington as is witnessed in these words written by Captain Sterling T. Turner, former Sheriff of Roane Co. and later Captain of Company F of the 43rd Tennessee.

"I hope to see every Tennessean rally to the standard with our governor at the head and drive the Northern Vandals from our soil."