Battle of Wahab's Plantation

The Battle of Wahab's Plantation was a surprise attack on a Loyalist camp, which included elements of the British Legion commanded by Banastre Tarleton (although at the time of the battle Tarleton had yellow fever and was not in command), by Patriot militia under the command of William R. Davie on September 21, 1780. The owner of the plantation was militia Captain James A. Walkup who served as a guide for Davie prior to the attack. Confusion has arisen over the spelling of the name Wahab as there are many spellings of the surname including, Walkup/Wahab/Wauchope/Waughup. The Loyalists were camped on the west side of the Catawba River while General Charles Cornwallis' army had camped on the east side. Davie opportunistically decided to attack the Loyalist camp, and succeeded in driving them back in complete surprise and with heavy casualties. He retreated before the British regulars arrived. The latter, as was customary, burned down Captain Walkup's plantation.^[2]

Battle of Wahab's Plantation
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Date September 21, 1780 Location present-day Union County, North Carolina 34.86084°N 80.76265°W / 34.86084; -80.76265 Result Patriot victory
Belligerents
Patriot militia	Great Britain Loyalists
Commanders and leaders
William R. Davie	George Hanger
Casualties and losses
1 wounded	15 killed 40 wounded[1]

Background

Main article: Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War

Pursuant to the British "southern strategy" for winning the American Revolutionary War, British forces had captured Charleston, South Carolina early in 1780, and had driven Continental Army forces from South Carolina. Following his successful routing of a second Continental Army at Camden in August 1780, British General Lord Cornwallis paused with his army in the Waxhaws region of northern South Carolina. Believing British and Loyalist forces to be in control of Georgia and South Carolina, he decided to turn north and address the threat posed by the Continental Army remnants in North Carolina. In mid-September he began moving north toward Charlotte, North Carolina.

Cornwallis' movements were shadowed by companies of North Carolina militia. One force under Thomas Sumter stayed back and harassed British and Loyalist outposts in the South Carolina backcountry, while another, under Major William R. Davie, maintained fairly close contact with portions of his force as it moved northward.^[1] When he learned that companies of Loyalist dragoons and British light infantry were encamped to the rear of Cornwallis' army, he decided to attempt a surprise attack on one of those camps.

Battle

William Davie, portrait by Gilles Louis Chretien

Riding off on the evening of September 20, he located the Loyalist camp at Wahab's Plantation, not far from the light infantry camp. Sending William Davidson and a company of men through a cornfield to take the plantation house, he began moving up the lane toward the camp. The surprise was practically complete, and the Loyalists took flight, leaving 15 dead and 40 wounded.

Aftermath

Davie did not linger at the Loyalist camp, as the infantry had taken notice and were beating to arms. He took away 96 horses and 120 muskets, and retreated to the north.^[3] Davie again made contact with British forces a few days later when they entered Charlotte, North Carolina.

References

1. Pancake (1985), p. 116
2. "Wahab's Plantation, Battle of | NCpedia".
3. Lee, p. 195

Sources

• Memoirs of Henry Lee
• Pancake, John (1985). This Destructive War. University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0-8173-0191-7.
• Robertson, John. "Wahab's Plantation". Global Gazetteer of the American Revolution. Retrieved 2009-06-22.