Final answer:
Virginia was divided on the issue of secession in 1863. The northern and western regions formed 'West Virginia' and joined the Union as a free state, while the rest of Virginia joined the Confederacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The state of Virginia was part of Virginia in 1863. However, during that time, the state was divided on the issue of secession.
The northern and western regions of Virginia, where few slaveholders resided, rejected secession. These counties formed 'West Virginia' and joined the Union as a free state in 1863. The rest of Virginia, including the historic lands along the Chesapeake Bay, joined the Confederacy.