The reader may be curious to know the estimate the British officers placed upon this affair—­the hornets-like reception his Lordship experienced on his entrance into Charlotte.

Tarleton, in his “History of the Southern Campaign in 1780, and 1781,” page 159, says, “Earl Cornwallis moved forward as soon as the Legion under Major Hanger joined him.  A party of militia fired at the advanced dragoons and light infantry as they entered the town, and a more considerable body appeared drawn up near the courthouse.  The conduct of the Americans created suspicion in the British; an ambuscade was apprehended by the light troops, who moved forward, for some time, with great circumspection; a charge of cavalry, under Major Hanger, dissipated this ill-grounded jealousy, and totally dispersed the militia.  The pursuit lasted sometime, and about thirty of the enemy were killed and taken.  The King’s troops did not come out of this skirmish unhurt; Major Hanger, and Captains Campbell and McDonald were wounded, and twelve non-commissioned officers and men killed or wounded.”

Stedman, the English historian who accompanied Cornwallis in his southern campaign, says in his “American War,” Vol.  II, p. 216,

“Charlotte was taken possession of, after a slight resistance from the militia, towards the end of September.  At this period, Major Hanger commanded, Colonel Tarleton being ill.  In the centre of Charlotte, intersecting the two principal streets, stood a large brick building, the upper part being the court-house, and the under part, the market house.  Behind the shambles, a few Americans on horse-back had placed themselves.  The Legion was ordered to drive them off; but, upon receiving a fire from behind the stalls, this corps fell back.  Lord Cornwallis rode up in person, and made use of these words:  ’Legion, remember you have everything to lose, but nothing to gain,’ alluding, as was supposed, to the former reputation of this corps.  Webster’s brigade moved on, and drove the Americans from behind the court-house:  the legion then pursued them, but the whole British army was actually kept at bay, for some minutes, by a few mounted Americans, not exceeding twenty in number.”

Stedman, who is generally accurate and impartial in his narratives, is mistaken in calling the old court-house a “brick building.”  It was, as previously stated, a wooden building, placed on brick pillars ten or twelve feet high, and hence the mistake.  Some allowance should also be made for Stedman’s mistake, as, very near that time, the fierce and buzzing attacks of the “Hornets” greatly obscured the accuracy of his vision.  Upon the whole, the account we have of this skirmish, even under British coloring, and evasion of the whole truth, exemplifies the spirit and bravery of the “handful” of men who actually kept the whole British army in check for some time, and then retreated in good order.

Kendal, in his “Life of Jackson,” chapter 4, in speaking of the military school in which the “hero of New Orleans” was educated, says: