The Battle of Boyd's Creek took place on 16 Dec 1780, only two months and six days after the Battle of King's Mountain. The battle was fought, not against the British, but their sometime-ally, the Cherokee. A number of East Tennessee's and Southwest Virginia's leaders had been calling for an expedition against the Cherokee for some time. British agents, led by John McDonald, had allegedly been encouraging the Indians to attack the white settlements for some time. Regardless of the outcome, the British would benefit since either way, the number of white frontiersmen able to fight the British would be reduced. Major Joseph Martin, Virginia Cherokee Indian Agent and husband of Betsy Ward, daughter of Cherokee chieftainess Nancy Ward, had been relatively successful in restraining the more mature Indian chiefs, but younger chiefs were ultimately able to convince Dragging Canoe to join them. According to Pat Alderman's The Overmountain Men, Nancy Ward was able to get word by way of Isaac Thomas, Ellis Hardin and William Springstone, white traders who were able to alert the settlements, with Thomas and Hardin reporting at Nolachucky and Springstone to Col. Arthur Campbell of Washington County, Virginia—prior to King's Mountain. The Indians retreated running into a swamp therefore escaping the destruction for which they would otherwise been doomed. The loss of enemy amounted to 28 killed and very many lay on the ground wounded.

On the side of Sevier‘s troops not a man was wounded. The victorious then returned to the big island and waited there the arrival of reinforcements that promised to follow. The prompt collection of troops and rapid expedition of Col. Sevier saved the frontier settlements from a bloody invasion.The Indians were laying in ambush in the grass and brush in a half-moon formation. John Sevier planned his attack carefully. He sent an advanced guard forward under Capt. James Stinson, accompanied by two scouts Joseph Dunham (Duncan) and Joseph Gist. Of the main force Sevier commanded the center. Major Jesse Walton the right wing and Major Jonathan Tipton the left wing. The orders were that the advance guard should go forward until it contacted the enemy, They were to fire on the enemy, then quickly fall back on the main body, Sevier thought the Indians would come out of their position and pursue the advanced guard, and he was correct. His plan was that the center of the line should bear the attack, while the left and right wings, completely surrounded the Indians. The loss of the enemy amounted to 28 killed on the ground, and very many wounded who got off without being taken. Major Tipton apparently had misunderstood his orders. If he had moved his troops as instructed it is doubtful if any of the natives would have escaped death or capture.