Please help me with Tar Heels!

[hcsilla]

I will have to commentate a North Carolina-Virginia Tech NCAA game for the hungarian Sport TV.

I would like to explain the origin of Tar Heel's name. Here is the story:

"What is a Tar Heel?
The University not only uses the nickname "Tar Heels," but the entire state does as well. One version of the nickname's origin has the name first being applied to North Carolinians during the Civil War. One record talks of a battle in Virginia, where their supporting column retreated, but North Carolina troops fought alone. The victorious troops were asked in a condescending tone by some Virginians, who had retreated, "Any more tar down in the Old North State, boys?" The response came quickly: "No, not a bit; old Jeff's bought it all up." The Virginians asked: "Is that so? What is he going to do with it?" The reply: "He is going to put it on you'ns heels to make you stick better in the next fight."

I understand everything except one thing:

"Any more tar down in the Old North State, boys?"

Why are some Virginians asking this? What does "tar" mean in that context?
Is that some slang? Or why North Carolinians should have to have "any more tar"?


Thanks in advance.

 

[Errntknght]

I have long wondered about the 'tarheel' designation. I went to my unabridged dictionary to see if it was any help with your question and it may have given a clue to an entirely different way the name came into use. It said that it was originally applied to those North Carolinians that lived in the 'pine barrens'. Pine pitch is also called 'pine tar' and one can imagine anyone who ran around pine forests barefoot winding up with pine pitch on their heels - on the rest of their feet, too, but that on the heels would be more visible, hence 'tarheels'. I can imagine someone who lived in 'pine barrens' going about unshod a good bit, too.

As someone who has gotten pitch on his feet numerous times I can attest that after you walk around in dirt for a while, it looks for all the world like real tar.

Of course, that does nothing to answer your question about the Virginian's query. A sailor is sometimes referred to as a 'tar' but that doesn't seem to fit.

 

[hcsilla]

Thanks, Errntknght.

I have found the answer:

"In North Carolina's early years, tar was one of the state's major products."