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Author Topic: Tar Heel State  (Read 1136 times)

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Offline Shorty

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Tar Heel State
« on: February 22, 2005, 12:42:03 PM »
I never heard how North Carolina came to be called the Tar Heel State.  I assumed it had something to do with the Tar River, or maybe even Uncle Remus' Tar Baby.  :)

Todays paper informed me that:

"The nickname for the "Tar Heel State" came during the Civil War.  North Carolina soldiers threatened to smear tar on retreating Confederate soldiers so they would "stick" better in the next fight".   :eek:
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Offline IntrepidWizard

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Tar heel
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2005, 12:44:37 PM »
NC sailors put Tar on their feet on board ship so they would not slip in the blood and gore.
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Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is
a dangerous servant and a fearful master. -- George Washington

Offline Shorty

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Tar Heel State
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2005, 01:24:19 PM »
Wizard,
Only NC sailors did that?  :eek:  :lol:
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Offline IntrepidWizard

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Tar Heel State
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2005, 01:29:57 PM »
No but that is how NC got it.
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Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is
a dangerous servant and a fearful master. -- George Washington

Offline flintlock

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Tar Heel State
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2005, 04:15:54 AM »
Actually, none of the above...NC was known for its naval stores..or exports of sap (tar)  from pine trees for sealing the seams on boats before the Civil War...
During one of the battles (I don't remember which one) ..the NC troops stood their ground instead of retreating like some other units...the Confederate General in charge made a comment after the battle that he wished he had more troops like those from NC..."They held their positon like they had tar on their heels"...The name "stuck"....LOL
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Offline Shorty

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Tar Heel State
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2005, 02:10:56 PM »
flinlock,
Now, THAT'S much more complimentary!   I like it.  :-)
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Offline El Confederado

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Tar Heel State
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2005, 08:41:00 PM »
The battle my brothers was 1st Manassas .
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Un-Reconstructed Confederate

Offline Shorty

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Tar Heel State
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2005, 12:52:38 PM »
El confederado,
You're saying that the SC soldiers were found wanting at 1st Manassas?  'Must be a story there.
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