While he was listening to the terrible denunciations of Tarleton’s dragoons on their arrival at the swampy and imperious thicket, and what they would do if they could only see a bush or a cane move, he felt perfectly safe as long as he could remain motionless in his muddy retreat.  But when his fears had somewhat subsided in his place of concealment, still more alarming apprehensions of danger presented themselves, on his espying a venomous moccasin of the largest size, moving slowly along in the water and mud, and directing its course so near that, in all probability, it must strike him.  He could not make the least defence against his ugly approaching visitor, for fear of exposing himself to the pistols of the British dragoons.  All that he could do in this dreadful predicament was to wave his hand in a gentle manner towards the snake, which caused it to stop its course and throw itself into a coil, preparatory for battle.  Fortunately, just at this time, the British dragoons made their welcome departure, and Elliott moved out of the way of his serpentine majesty.

This was the first and last visit of Lord Cornwallis to “Charlotte town.”  He came flushed with victory, and firmly anticipated similar success in North Carolina.  He departed laboring under vexation and sore disappointment; not without bestowing a characteristic name ("Hornets’ Nest”) upon the patriotic sons of Mecklenburg around which appellation cluster many thrilling historical and traditional associations, destined to enshrine their memories in the hearts of their countrymen, throughout all coming time.

SURPRISE AT M’INTYRE’S; OR, THE “HORNETS” AT WORK.

After the British army had been in Charlotte about a week, and having, in the meantime, consumed the most of their forage and provisions, Lord Cornwallis was placed under the necessity of procuring a fresh supply.  He had already experienced something of the stinging propensities of the “hornets” with which he was surrounded, and the fatalities of their attacks upon his sentries near his camp.  In order to meet the emergency of his situation, he ordered out on the 3d day of October, 1780, a strong foraging party, under Major Doyle, consisting of four hundred and fifty infantry, sixty cavalry, and about forty wagons, who proceeded up the road leading from Charlotte to Beattie’s Ford, on the Catawba river, intending to draw their supplies from the fertile plantations on Long Creek.

Captain James Thompson, and thirteen others who lived in that neighborhood, anticipating the necessity the British would be under to forage, had early in the morning assembled at Mitchell’s mill, (now Frazier’s) three miles from Charlotte, at which farm the corn was pulled—­at most other places it was standing in the field.  Captain Thompson and his men were expert riflemen, and well acquainted with every place in the vicinity.  At this place they lay concealed about an hour, when they heard the wagons