The truth of the matter can only be determined by those who were there. See Revolutionary Pension Statement of Samuel Hillis S2314.
Born Rowan, NC 1760 … volunteered in Rowan co under General Rutherford … Rutherford had gone up to the head of Catawba River … 16 July 1776 We marched to a place called Pleasant Gardens 120 miles from Salisbury on Buck creek. I saw four children murdered and lying by the road, children of a Mr. Birchfield murdered by Cherokee Indians … another girl of the same Birchfield family was shot through the groin and left for dead but lived.

The following is the version told in the history books and as you can see it differs from the eyewitness version.
1776 July 16 Chief Dragging Canoe, Cherokee, attacked settlers on head of Catawba river. In a two day period 37 settlers were killed including four children of Thomas Burchfield and Sarah Leatherwood. A fifth child, Lydia, a twelve year old daughter was shot in the head and scalped but lived.

Many people are convinced that another child Mary Birchfield was taken prisoner and married into the tribe. I don't believe this. Put yourself in the Indians place. You are on a fast moving war party out to kill as many as possible, scare the hell out of the rest and get back over the mountain alive. You capture a female prisoner. What do you think they are going to do?