Battle of Wahab's Plantation

Battle of Wahab's Plantation
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Date September 21, 1780 Location present-day Union County, North Carolina 34°51′39″N 80°45′46″W / 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]

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]