Sevier's three sons had been killed two years previously by a raiding party under the Chickamauga Indian leader, Doublehead, whose band was based at the head of Muscle Shoals.

Afterwards he often operated with the mixed group of warriors led by Doublehead out of Coldwater Town at the head of Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee River.

In 1830, the state government funded dredging projects that made the river navigable from Knoxville to Decatur, Alabama (at the head of Muscle Shoals), bringing increased river traffic to Blair's Ferry.