How did nc get the tar heel name?

The term "Tar Heel" for North Carolinians originated during the American Revolution. As the story goes, British General Charles Cornwallis complained that a group of North Carolina soldiers fighting against him were "as sticky as tar" after they showed an uncanny resilience at the Battle of Guilford Court House in March 1781. His impression of the dogged Tar Heel fighters remained, giving North Carolinians the enduring name as a tribute to their fortitude and fighting spirit.