The Cherokee first began settling in the Little Tennessee River Valley where they occupied sites previously belonging belonging to the Creek Nation (some believe that the word “Tennessee” is a Cherokee modification of a Creek word). The early historic Creeks were probably descendents of the mound builders of the Mississippian culture along the Tennessee River. The Creeks (or Muskogees) had also been part of the government plan to “civilize” the southeastern tribes. The concepts designed to dismantle clan rule and establish an agricultural society with the replacement of the national council by Indian agents. Threatened by this and the influx of white settlers, the Creeks (ignited by famed Shawnee chief Tecumseh) led to a civil war between the settlers and the warring faction of the Creeks. The traditionalist faction of the Creek, known as the Red Sticks for the red clubs they carried, occasionally carried their war to the white settlers living on the frontiers, including forays into Tennessee. Following the slaughter of 250 men, women and children at Fort Mims in Alabama, the Tennessee legislature called for 3500 troops to fight back the threatening Red Sticks. Led by Andrew Jackson, the excursion marched from Fayetteville to Huntsville Alabama in early October 1813. This became known as the Creek War of 1813-1814, and marked the beginning of the end of the Creek Nation.
http://tennessee.gov/tsla/history/military/tn1812.htm
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnwcogs/famhist/everett01.html
http://www.tennesseenativetribes.com/Common/
http://www.tngenweb.org/campbell/hist-bogan/tennessee.html
http://www.tncia.org/tn-fed-tribes.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creek_(people)