That a British detachment of four hundred and fifty infantry and sixty cavalry should be compelled to desist from a foraging expedition and return to Charlotte with only a small amount of provisions and a considerable loss of their number by a handful of patriots, well exemplifies the vigilance, pertinacity and courage of the “hornets” of Mecklenburg in endeavoring to protect their homes, and repel the invaders of their soil.

The country people, early advised of the advance of the foraging party, mounted their horses, rifle in hand, from every direction; and, occupying well protected positions along the main road, also faithfully endeavored to diminish the number of his Majesty’s forces, and hastened the retreat of the British into Charlotte, the survivors swearing after their arrival that “every bush along the road concealed a rebel.”

The names of this gallant band of patriots, of “Hornets’ Nest” notoriety, were:  1.  James Thompson, captain; 2.  Francis Bradley; 3.  George Graham; 4.  James Henry; 5.  Thomas Dickson; 6.  John Dickson; 7.  George Houston; 8.  Hugh Houston; 9.  Thomas McLure; 10.  John Long; 11.  John Robinson; 12.  George Shipley; 13.  Edward Shipley.

REMARKS.—­Tradition says Francis Bradley was a large and very strong man, and a “terror” to the British as well as the Tories.  The British officers were extremely anxious to take him as a prisoner, for his activity in harassing their scouts and foraging parties, and more particularly for the fatal aim of his rifle in picking off their sentries while their army was encamped at Charlotte.  The rifle he carried for six years during the Revolution, and which did such telling execution, was the property of Major John Davidson (now in possession of one of his grandsons,) who, being a staff officer, could not make it perform, as it should, its death-dealing mission upon the enemies of his country.  About three weeks after the gallant affair at McIntyre’s Branch, Bradley was attacked, overpowered and killed by four lurking and base-hearted Tories (said not to be natives of the county).  His mortal remains now repose in the graveyard at Hopewell Church, where also sleep many of his illustrious compatriots in arms.  On his gravestone are sculptured two drawn and crossed swords, and beneath them the motto, Arma Libertatis.  The inscription reads thus: 

“In memory of FRANCIS BRADLEY, A friend of his country, and privately slain by the enemie of his country, November 14th, 1780, aged 37 years.”

The two Dicksons moved to Tennessee; the two Houstons and McLure moved to Kentucky; Robinson settled on Crowder’s Creek, Gaston county.

Doyle, the British commander, before the close of the war was made a Colonel, and afterward a Brigadier-General.  In 1816 he was styled Sir John Doyle, and Governor of the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney and Sark, on the coast of France.  Surely, it could not have been for his gallant behavior at McIntyre’s he acquired such honor and promotion!