Republic of Winston The " Republic " of Winston ( Winston County , Alabama ) was one of several places in the Confederate States of America where disaffection during the American Civil War was strong . In Winston County , this opposition became violent and had long - lasting political consequences — deep enough to generate a legend after the war that the county had seceded from Alabama . Background . Winston County is located in the hilly terrain of North Alabama . Its shallow soil is highly unsuitable for plantation - style agriculture , and thus the county was never home to very many slaves . The 1860 US Census shows there only 3 , 450 white residents in the underpopulated county , and just 122 slaves . Winston ' s residents were mainly poor farmers who viewed the Confederacy with suspicion , fearing it was meant to maintain the political control of the wealthy planter class . Winston County ' s representative at the January 1861 Alabama Secession Convention was Charles Christopher Sheats , a 21 year old school teacher . He refused to sign Alabama ' s ordinance of secession , even after it had been passed by a vote of 61 to 39 . Sheats became so vocal in his opposition that he was finally arrested . On his release , he became a leader of a pro - neutrality group . Later , he would become an open supporter of the Union and spend most of the war in prison . Many Winston County residents refused induction into the Confederate Army , and some spoke openly of organizing troops to support the Union . The worried state authorities moved to enforce obedience through conscription and loyalty oaths , which only made matters worse . A meeting was held at Looney ' s Tavern , where a series of resolutions were passed . These stated that the people of Winston County had no desire to take part in the war and intended to support neither side . One resolution declared that if a state could secede from the Union , then a county could secede from the state . Richard Payne , a pro - Confederate , laughed with delight . " Winston County secedes ! " he shouted . " Hoorah for the Free State of Winston ! " From Payne ' s remark was born the legend of the " Republic of Winston " . In April 1862 , the Union Army invaded north Alabama . Many of the pro - Union Winstonians enlisted in Union Army ' s new 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment . While the Union 1st Alabama Cavalry would play a heroic part in the war , they did so generally outside of Alabama . Winston County itself was suffering from its own internal war . Confederate Home Guard s in the county were poorly disciplined and often used their uniforms as excuses to settle old grudges . The Union men responded by forming their own irregular bands , and by the end of the war Winston County had been largely devastated by its own people . After the war , Winston County became a bastion of the Republican Party in Alabama , in sharp contrast to the overwhelming support for the Democrats in the rest of the state . Winston ' s unique history has become the basis of a small tourist industry , which includes an outdoor drama loosely based on the events . A passenger boat named the " Free State Lady " plies the waters of nearby Smith lake . " Dual Destiny " , a memorial statue of a young soldier dressed half as a Union troop and half as Confederate , is frequently photographed .