The Free State of Zandt: Seceding from Texas and the United States...At the Same Time
The interesting history of a county born to relieve debt and their journey through secession from Texas and the United States.
Northeast Texas’ Rebellious County
About an hour southeast of Dallas lies Van Zandt County. If you were to look at a map, you’d likely gloss right over it. You'd notice the Dallas metro area or Tyler (home to Greenberg Smoked Turkeys - a must-have on Thanksgiving).
Though it may look uninteresting, its history is anything but. A history that has earned it the nickname The Free State of Van Zandt. A nickname that the area carries proudly to this day.
Van Zandt County is Born
In 1848, Van Zandt County did not yet exist. In its place was Henderson County. Suffering from exorbitant debt, officials decided to split Henderson County into three smaller counties. Henderson became smaller and Kaufman and Van Zandt Counties were born.
Formed to help reduce the massive debt, it was surprising to many that Van Zandt County received no debt obligations when it was founded. This was believed to be an oversight by the state. Not surprisingly, the citizens and politicians from Henderson Country were bitter. In their bitterness, they began referring to Van Zandt as the “Free State.”
Van Zandt County carried on despite the anger. The young county would then be faced with a decision when they learned that Texas was seceding from the United States in 1861. Though Van Zandt was in a slave state, the practice of slavery of not common in the county. It was so uncommon that slave owners refused to bring slaves to Van Zandt county for fear that they would lose their slaves.
Seceding from the Seceded
Hundreds of Van Zandt citizens protested Texas’ secession. The county’s majority longed to stay with the Union. As they protested the state’s decision, a thought occurred. If Texas could secede from the United States, why couldn’t Van Zandt county secede from Texas?
They began organizing their own government and taking steps to create their own “Free State.” Despite their wishes and initial efforts, the state of Texas threatened military intervention. Though their hopes of secession were quickly dashed, the title of “Free State” returned.
Seceding From Everyone
Following the Civil War, the state of Texas began the process to re-enter the Union. Again hundreds of citizens in Van Zandt gathered to discuss their future. On the courthouse grounds, Van Zandt citizens elected delegates, started a convention and issued their notice of secession. This time they were leaving both the state of Texas and the United States.
This shocking news did not take long to spread. Accompanying the news of Van Zandt’s secession was the rumor that they had even penned their Declaration of Independence. When it reached General Philip Sheridan in New Orleans, his reaction was swift. He viewed it as nothing less than rebellion.
Sheridan sent a cavalry unit to restore order in Van Zandt. Word of the calvary’s approach reached the citizens. They quickly armed themselves and prepared an ambush along what they called their national border. With intimate knowledge of the local landscape, the citizens drove the approaching cavalry back.
Overjoyed and proud of their victory, the town celebrated. The townspeople drank and drank, toasting their success. The celebration was so grand that many of the men who had staved off Sheridan’s troops passed out drunk on the courthouse grounds.
Capturing the Secessionists
During the night, while the Van Zandt men slept off their partying, Sheridan’s troops returned and arrested the rebels. Though they had captured the rebels, Sheridan’s men had nowhere to put the prisoners.
Their best efforts at a makeshift stockade proved inferior. During an intense midnight Texas thunderstorm, a man was able to free himself from his shackles. He then helped the others to free themselves, and the men escaped into the soggy night.
Warrants were issued, but none were served. No trials were held. It was as if the secession was considered over. No real action to continue their independence came from Van Zandt. The United States took no additional measures and set its eyes on reconstruction.
The Free State of Zandt Stands
Today, on the same courthouse grounds, there sits a marker titled “The Free State of Van Zandt.” It shares a summary of how the nickname came to be. The first line on the marker couldn’t be more fitting: “Pioneer nickname appropriate to this area’s many freedoms - particularly from want and fear.”
History for the Hurried:
December 9, 1941: China issues a formal declaration of war against Japan, Germany, and Italy. The declaration occurs a day after the United States declared war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor - an attack they tested out earlier.
December 10, 1989: Czechoslovakia installs its first non-Communist government since 1948. A part of that journey to non-Communism included the Prague Spring.
December 13, 1991: North and South Korea sign a treaty of reconciliation and non-aggression, formally ending the Korean War. Though the treaty ended the war, actual fighting ended in 1953.