The term "tarheels" according to information given by members of the invading North Carolina contingent is derived from two different sources.
Both legends date back to the Civil War when North Carolina troops were at one time stationed at Gettysburg. The outstanding brilliance of the Southern troops in withstanding almost alone the Union attack was jokingly attributed to tarred heels which could not give ground.
A less flattering version comes from the Maryland troopers who are said to have disdanifully remarked that only tar on the heels of the Carolina warriors could keep them on the field of battle.
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