The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-07-22
YOUNG HORNETS OF THE
"HORNET'S NEST.
AN HISTORICAL STORY OF LOVE
AND WAR.
BY E. p. ROE.
CHAPTER l.
A MIDNIGHT BATTLE.


1t will be remembered that Charlotte i,
the chief town of the "heady high-minded'
and famous county of Mecklenburg, Nortl
Carolina. whose people virtually declared
their independence of England a year be
fore congress followed their example anC
gave US our GLORIOUS Fourth of July.
Lord CORVALLIS, commander of the Brit
ish army, on his retreat from the village
halted at plantation and became the un
welcome guest of Mrs. Robert Wilson, wife
of the owner of the estate. His lordshiE
sought by tiattering words to win this pa
triotic woman to royalistic views.
She replied, II have seven sons, who are
now, or who have been, bearing arms; in
deed my seventh son, Zaccheus, who i.
only fifteen years old, yesterday assisted
to get ready to go and join his father an6
brothers In Sumpter's army. Now, sooner
than see one of my family turn back Il would
take these boys (pointing to three small
sons) and with them would myself enlis
and show my husband and sons how tC
fight, and, if necessary, to die for theil
| country"
"Ah, all, general" said the bloody hand
ed Colonel Tarleton at his elbow, II thinl
you've got into hornets nest"
Either from this remark, or on account
of the unconquerable spirit and fighting
qualities of the people, the region, OF
which the village of Charlotte is the centre,
became known during the revolution as
the Hornets Nest" CORVALLIS ALWAYS
spoke of it under this title. The follow.
ing story, founded upon historical facts
may serve to show how active were some
of the young men like Zach Wilson, in
earning the epithet. In 1880 the British
army was at Charlotte only nineteen days,
but good deal happened in that brief
time.
The scene of my story opens at plan
tatlOn which gave evidence of thrift and
homely abundance. The house also was
for that early day, roomy and comfortable
The family consisted of Mrs. McIntire
her daughter Ella, a blue-eyed lassie of
eighteen, her son Angus, nearly seventeen,
an two little girls. The were Just finish
ing their dinner when they were hastily
summoned to the veranda by the distant
clatter of horses hoofs.
''It's Burton Craige," cried Angus, ''and
1 reckon there's trouble from the way he
rides"
1t was evident that Ella had recognized
the hOrseman also, for her color heighten-
ed and her eyes were full of eager inter
est. Although Burton Craige was but a
year alder than herself he was her acknowl-
edged lover and her mother already loved
him as a son. The same terrible misfor-
tune had drawn them together and cemen-
Burton's father and Mrs. McIntire's hus-
10 -,
troops commanded by the relentless Tarle-
ton. Young Craige's mother had been
feeble at the time and did not long sur
yive the shock of her husbands death.
Burton resided with maiden aunt who,
from temperament. was able to do little
towards replacing those whom he had lost.
The orphan, therefore, had naturally
sought and found sympathy and compan-
ionship at the home to which he was now
so rapidly approaching. He was manly
young fellow whom outdoor life and sports
had developed into fine and vigorous pro-
portions. The heavy down on his upper
lip and his dark, full eyes bespoke the
early coming of manhood and a fearless
spirit.
what Is it?" cried Angus, running for
ward to meet him. SIS the enemy moving
up?"
eyes," replied the youth, hurriedly.
"Cornwallis is on the march and bloody
Tarleton is with him. Graham has sum-
moned volunteers to Charlotte and I'm on
my way there, but reckoned I'd stop and
see if you wanted to go with me.'
"Of course do. Ho, there Joe," shout.
ing to negro at the barn, Saddle my
iol- I'll ~ l.
ready in five minutes!"
30 Angus, what are you going to dor"
cried his mother. Burton, you will not
lead my son into danger?"
The youth had now dismounted and
thrown the reins of his horse to slave
who had fastened forward. He was greet |
ed as if already one of the family, and an
swered with a grim sort of laugh, 81 reck-
on Angus is his fathers son and won't need
much leading" Then he added gravey
and almost tenderly, "Mother, dear, (the |
warm hearted fellow and already given her |
his title), we must look at things as they
Ire. Gus and are your protectors now, |
md we can sight rifle as well as if we |
we're twenty years older. What would our |
fathers say, could they speak, if we should 1
,kulk now that their murderer is coming !
What indeed would you and Ella think of
Is ?"
"But what can you two boys dor"
"We can do as much as men; or, if we
,an't we can learn. Gus and can plant
, bullet where we want to at pretty long
'ange, end our bullets would do the bust
less for Tarleton and his cut-throats as
thoroughly as if fired by a gray'beard.
What's more, can use my sabre and pis-
OILS if much drill has been of any use.
Veil promise to be prudent, mother, but
We wouldn't deserve our names if we hung
Jack until the British came and droveyou
ndmy Ella and the children into the woods.
The whole country side, young and old,
7ill be arming and taking hand in this
anne, and you wouldn't have US hang
ack?"
"No, indeed, mother" cried Ella, al
hough tears dimmed her eyes, "Burton's
light. He and Angus are doing as would
o if 1 were man. Young as they are
hey must act the part of men,"
"And you, sweetheart, are acting the
art of brave little woman. You're the
ind for a soldiers wife. Believe me,
1other, danger would soon find us if we
hunned it, and w6f take the best chance
f escaping by meeting it half way. To
rotect you we must drive our enemy
ack or else make the country too hot for
noro ne onurca xup ara not oo1poy IN r,o | ,