While returning from his successful raid on the British supply column near Flat Rock, Major William Richardson Davie and his cavalry rode back to their camp at Waxhaw Creek. One of his own men straggled back and Major Davie was worried that he would be captured and inform any British patrols of their location. Major Davie told his guides to take a route back home that was the least traveled.

The moon was full and the Patriots were able to pass by the left flank of Hanging Rock again to reach a plantation on Beaver Creek. At this location, Major Davie sent a Capt. Petit with an advance force to determine if it was safe. Capt. Petit did not see anything suspicious and Major Davie ordered the rest of the men to follow. When the rear of his column entered the lane, Major Davie's advance force "hailed the enemy concealed under a fence and some standing corn; on challenging a second time he was answered by a discharge of Musquetry, which commenced on their right and passed like a running fire towards the rear of the Detachment."

A major in charge of the advance force ordered men to get through the lane, but they charged back against the Loyalists and were hit with a second volley. Once they caught up with the men who made it through the ambush, the whole body filed off to the right and quickly took up a position on a hill overlooking the plantation.

Lt. Col. William Polk's men were guarding the prisoners taken at Flat Rock, and his men had suffered some casualties. Major Davie's troops suffered light casualties - Capt. Petit and two men wounded and a lieutenant killed. The enemy's fire fell primarily on the prisoners, who were confined two upon a horse and mixed with their guards.

Major Davie could see the Loyalists walking about the plantation with lights, and they did not seem alarmed. His own men were close to a panic and he ordered a retreat. They left the mortally wounded prisoners on the hill and then rode off. Their own guides had fled on the first shots, "but a Tory who was taken from his bed and compelled to serve as guide enabled him to pass the enemy's patroles and regain his camp the next day without any further reverse of fortune."

Independent Corps of Light Horse, led by Major William Richardson Davie (NC), with an unknown number of men

Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Lt. Col. William Polk, with unknown number of men

Unknown

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