One by one the adherents of Franklin dropped away.

The revolt was essentially a frontier revolt, and Sevier was essentially a frontier leader.

The older and longer-settled counties and parts of counties were the first to fall away from him, while the settlers on the very edge of the Indian country clung to him to the last.
Attitude of Neighboring States.
The neighboring States were more or less excited over the birth of the little insurgent commonwealth.

Virginia looked upon it with extreme disfavor, largely because her own western counties showed signs of desiring to throw in their fortunes with the Franklin people [Footnote: Va.

State Papers, iv.