Sue Myrick: “while Charlotte is proud of its professional basketball teams, the Hornets and the Sting, I would like to share with…”

“while Charlotte is proud of its professional basketball teams, the Hornets and the Sting, I would like to share with Members how the area first became known as the Hornet's Nest. On October 3 of 1780, hungry British soldiers, coming off victories in South Carolina, were driven away by our local farmers. In the commotion, the soldiers knocked over the beehives at McIntyre's farm, and the insects, along with the Charlotteans, swarmed all over the fleeing Redcoats. Four days later, frontiersmen from Georgia, Virginia, and both Carolinas destroyed the left wing of General Cornwallis's army in less than 1 hour of battle. News of the victory revived hopes, and soon patriots like Thomas Sumter, Elijah Clarke, and Francis ``the Swamp Fox'' Marion stepped up their harassment of the British troops. As they say, the rest is history. Cornwallis referred to Charlotte as a ``hornet's nest of rebellion,'' and his stay lasted there only 16 days. I encourage Members to join me and my fellow Carolinians in celebrating the 220th anniversary of both the Battle of the Bees and the Battle of Kings Mountain.”