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A. R. Hogue: Chapter XIX, P 54, 55
Beatys at war...
The Revolutionary War.
We are so far removed from the Revolution that it is difficult to ascertain just how
many of our immediate ancestors took part in this immortal struggle. However, we find
among them Andrew Beaty, the great grandfather of Hen. C. Beaty: Benjamin Davis, from whom
W. A. Beaty and others claim ancestry; John Falser Conatser, the grandfather of Uncle
Hickory Conatser; David Gentry, the grandfather of John Gentry, and John Smith the
great-great grandfather of the author of this history.
Family tradition relates that John Smith was blown up in a gunpowder explosion in the
battle of Charleston and severely wounded. It is also related that Andrew Beaty was bitten
by a rattlesnake at the battle of King's Mountain.
Andrew Beaty, Benjamin Davis and John Falser Conatser, fought at Kings Mountain, October
7, 1780. Here a part of Cornwallis' force, under Ferguson, was captured, and the plan of
the British to take a state a time was thus frustrated. This battle is generally regarded
as the beginning of the end of British rule in the Thirteen Colonies.
WAR OF 1812.
As will be seen by reference to the personal sketches, relatives and ancestors of our
citizens did service in the War of 1812. William I. Beaty, Elias Bowden, Wm. Gentry,
Thomas Cooper, David Collier, and perhaps others, were with Jackson at the battle of New
Orleans, January 8, 1815.
Packenham, who was trained under Wellington, led his army against Jackson with almost
incredible loss, when compared with that of Jackson, the British loss being over two
thousand, while the Americans had only thirteen killed. The battle was won mainly by
Tennessee and Kentucky riflemen, who had but little military training. The British were
probably the best trained soldiers in the world, and it is said had never known defeat.
These facts made the victory more wonderful, although it was an unnecessary battle, the
treaty of peace having been signed more than two weeks before. A ship was then bringing
the glad news of peace, but it came too late.
The fame of Jackson and his Tennesseans spread everywhere, and the hero of the battle
became a national character.
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