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

Tories vs. Patriots, the Battle of Kettle Creek-- Part 2: A Complete British Rout

Col. Boyd's small Tory detachment fought bravely, but were outflanked and driven back.  Before he could reach the rest of his troops, Boyd was hot several times and fell mortally wounded.

As Pickens' Patriots attacked the Tory center, his flanking forces under John Dooly and Elijah Clarke emerged from swampy ground on the left and right to join  the assault on the main Tory line.  Command of John Boyd's regiment now passed on to Major  William Augustus Spurgeon, Jr.

Eventually, despite outnumbering the Patriots  roughly two-to-one and commanding higher ground, the Tories began giving ground.  They began a complete rout retreat, abandoning horses and supplies and fleeing across the creek.

By the time the fighting had ceased, Col. Boyd's Tory regiment was no more.

From beginning to end, the engagement had lasted about four hours  Of the 700 Tories engaged, casualties were roughly 200.  On the Patriot side, Pickens' force had lost about 32 men killed and wounded.  In addition, about 33 Patriots being held captive by Boyd's were freed when their captors scattered.

--Cooter

It's Tories vs. Patriots in Georgia: The Battle of Kettle Creek-- Part 1

From American Battlefield Trust.

In February 1779, Colonel John Boyd set out with a newly-raised regiment of Tory troops (Loyalist to the Crown) with a goal of uniting with British General Archibald Campbell force, which had  captured Augusta, Georgia, 

During their march south, however, his force had 100 casualties inflicted upon them by pursuing Patriots.

After crossing the Savannah River, Boyd ordered his men to rest and make camp on the north side of Kettle Creek in Wilkes County, Georgia.  Unbeknownst to Boyd and his men, about 350 Patriots, under the overall command of Colonel Andrew Pickens were close by and preparing to attack.

Splitting his men into three columns, Pickens attacked at 10 am on the morning of February 14,1779, and caught the Tories completely by surprise.  The pickets were driven back into camp.

Although the Tories had the larger numbers, the Patriot attack left them little time to organize to resist.  Boyd ordered his main force to take up defensive positions on a hill at the rear of the camp while he advanced with 100 men to a position behind a makeshift breastwork opposite the center of the Patriot line.

--Cooter