Colonel John Boyd, Tory Commander

From American Battlefield Trust.

He commanded the Tories at the Battle of Kettle Creek, Georgia.

Information about John Boys id unfortunately extremely sparse.  It is also possible that his name might have even been James.

In any event, he was probably a landowner in South Carolina.  After the British capture of New York City, Boyd traveled north  and met with Sir Henry Clinton, receiving a commission and orders to form a Loyalist regiment in the South.

In November 1778, Boyd accompanied British Colonel Archibald Campbell's expedition to Savannah, Georgia, which was captured by British forces on December 29, 1778.  After Campbell followed up his victory by moving inland and capturing  Augusta, Georgia, Boyd was dispatched north to raise a force of Loyalists in the Carolinas.

He was attacked at Kettle Creek on his return journey after completing his recruitment expedition.  Boyd was buried in an unmarked grave on the Battle of Kettle Creek site.

It has not been located.

--Brock-Perry