Charlotte Facts, Stats and Trivia by Greg Greenawalt Author of Destination Charlotte the book

During the Revolutionary war on Oct 5 1780 British General Cornwallis held the city of Charlotte for two and half weeks deciding to leave after local Militia turned over beehives at the McIntyre Farm which severely stung the Red Coats causing them to retreat. Cornwallis called Charlotte a veritable" Hornets Nest" of resistance and the description stuck. The county seal and the Charlotte Mecklenburg police insignia incorporate a hornets nest in their logos