The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-11-30

their saddles and bite the dust. They then reined
their ponies down 1ryon stree, and beat an
honorable retreat; but hotly pursued by the
whole body of Tarlton's Legion. The pursuit
was kept up about four miles from town on the
Salisbury road, where they were met and joined by
Gen. Joseph Graham with the remainder of the
company There, notwithstanding their interori
ty of numbers. they made stand on the road and
opposed the pursuit; and after bloody skirmish
thev were overpowcred and forced to retreat, leay
inc Col Locke dead and Gen. Graham severely
wounded, with thirty others killed. wounded and
taken prisoners. OF the enemy, Major Hunger,
Captains Campbell and Mcdonald were wounded,
and twelve commissioned officers were killed
and wounded
CORVALLIS approached and halted his army at
the Court House The rich gaudy folds of the
Rova standard now foated aloft in the air. and
seemed to flap in proud triumph over that identi-
cal spot where little more than five years before,
on the 10th May, 1775, the unfedged American
Eagle first unfoded his downy wings, and where
that little spark of liberty was first set glow and
glowcd on till it burst forth in universal flame
in the ensuing year-4th July, 177G.
Doubtless Cornwallis had overlonging pride
to place his foot on that 'rcbellious spot, which,
willie on his short visit there, gave him so much
trouble that he dcnom.natcd it the ''HOrnets Nest
of America" Curnwas located his camn in
narrow open valley south OF the Court House.
while he took comfortable quarters in the first
house from the corner Trade street. Here he
and his mcn quietly lay luXurlating on fat beet,
poultry, and other good things, taken as spolls
from the adjacent farms of the "rebels' But his
rcpose was soon disturbed by the active and sly
efforts of Davis and his w;,tchful men, who had
PARTIALLY collected and were lowering around III the
! vicinitv avan@ themselves of every opportunity
of harrassing and cutting off his forag gng parties.
On one occasion Gen George Graham with about
twelve men, seven miles al,ove Charlotte at Nc
Intyre's, (now Hips MEe.) actually i'll their dar-
ing dcsl Grafton put to Il" "ht 40G British Cavalry,
who supposed frcm the fatality Of the fire that
they were being led into amLuscade; and on re-
turning to Charlotte they swore to their command
er that 'cvery bush contained rebel"
We will take one character an illustration OF
that fearless spirit and thirst for liberty which
glowcd in the bosoms of fOretathers Ill the
days that tried mems souls, and which III many IN
stances seemed madness itself. 1t may seem in
credulous to relate but it is nevertheless true, II
the tradition of the last generation is to be believed
The rare exploits of this character entitlc him to a
more prominent notice. His name Robert
O'Flancgan-more commonly known among his
comrades by thequant aprcllation of Long Bob
| He had been reared in the backwoOds OF Mccklcn-
burg measured seven feet in height, raw-boncd
and we'll musted, swarthy complicated, thin Wis
saeed, with piercing grey eye overhunS by dark
heavy brow His rough buckskin trousers, coon
skin cap homcspun shirt and other habllimcnts IN
<cnLloncc, bespoke him hardy pioneer of those
carly times IIewas consequently enured to every
kind of hardship and danger and his wild HE gave
him true idea of freedom and his noble heart beat
true to the cause Of liberty. He had been present
at the memorable Convention Of the 18th Of May,
l775 and on the morning ofthe 10th as Col. Polk
stood on carpenters workbench in front OF the
old Court House and read the serious deliberations
of that convention, he too tossed his rude cap III
the air. and sent up his shout OF approval with the
rejoicing thrOng.
After the defeat and dispersion of the gallant
band of Graham and Davis by the British cavalry
on the Goth, Long Bob repaired to the vicinity O.
Charlotte and kept his haunts among the dense
thckets about mile and half from the village
with his long rifle and rusty hunting knife as hls
only companions. Three sides of the British camp
were skired by tall forests and thick underground
and while lurking around, Long Bob on one oc
casion, approached enough to discover the
position OF the camp and the exact posts OF the
outside sentnels. Adhering to the principle that
every thing is fair in war; he resolved to give his
unwccome visitors a little trouble; and according
y would select bis opportunity and with his ole
rife noiselcssly approach the British camp, anc
marking out one Of the nearest scntlnels, witt
deadly aim would bring him to the earth. 1hr
would cause an intense excitement and draw al
attention to that particular spot thch I'D an ihSIah
l Long Bob would bound away, taking a clrcuitou
route and re-loading as he went, would reach the
opposite point from the place Of eXclteE"nt, ant
in the same manner pop over another, and thcI
| bound away to his dismal hiding place Day at
ter day. to the utmost annoyance and CONSERVATION
t of Cornwas, he would repeat this daring feat
until it was with the utmost reluctance that tn
r sentincls could be kept at their posts; knowing
that they liable at any moment, Ike thcl
unfortunate comrades, to have their brains scatter
ed on the tall grass at their feet. d. B X.
TO BE CONTINUED