Hornet's Nest a Story of Love and War

9781417900893

141790089x

1886. The Hornet's Nest begins: It will be remembered that Charlotte is the chief town of the heady high-minded and famous country of Mecklenburg, North Carolina, whose people virtually declared their independence of England a year before Congress followed their example and gave us our glorious Fourth of July. Lord Cornwallis, commander of the British army, on his retreat from this village, halted at a plantation and became the unwelcome guest of Mrs. Robert Wilson, wife of the owner of the estate. His lordship sought by flattering words to win this patriotic woman to royalistic views. She replied, I have seven sons, who are now, or who have been, bearing arms; indeed, my seventh son, Zaccheus, who is only fifteen years old, I yesterday assisted to get ready to go and join his father and brothers in Sumter's army. Now, sooner than see one of my family turn back, I would take these boys (pointing to three small sons) and with them would myself enlist and show my husband and sons how to fight, and, if necessary, to die for their country.