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Tinker Dave Beaty - an excerpt from:The
Patriots and Guerillas
of East Tennessee and Kentucky
The Sufferings of the Patriots Also the Experienceof the Author as an Officer in the
Union Army Including Sketches of
NOTED GUERILLAS AND DISTINGUISHED PATRIOTS
By Major J. A. Brents
New York: J. A. Brents, HENRY DEXTER, PUBLISHER'S AGENT, 113 NASSAU STREET, 1863 -
LOST CAUSE PRESS; Louisville, Ky., 1970
I will mention another Tennessean, who has attracted
attention since the commencement of the rebellion. Tinker Dave Beaty, as he is commonly
called, is a citizen of Fentress county, and has made his mark. He may be called a rough,
uneducated mountain man, or in other words a backwoodsman, who has never forsaken the flag
of his country. His operations have chiefly been in Fentress and Overton counties. Rebel
troops have been in these counties ever since Tennessee seceded, with the exception of
very short periods; but Beaty is so well acquainted with the country, being familiar with
every road and path, it was almost impossible to catch him. If he is seriously menaced he
retires to the mountains. He sometimes has sixty men with him, and again not more than
fifteen or twenty. His men are all mounted. He has no camp, no wagons, tents, or camp
equipage, but stays where he can best conceal his men. At all times, Beaty has out scouts
and pickets; he never permits himself to be surprised. Whenever an opportunity is
presented, he pounces upon a party of soldiers or guerillas, cutting them to pieces,
capturing arms, ammunition, etc. By these attacks Beaty keeps his men supplied with
equipments, and partly with provisions.
The rebels by some means obtained a large quantity of medicine
at Louisville, Ky., and smuggled it through Union lines, via Burksville, Ky. They had
reached Fentress county with the medicine, and thought it entirely safe. But the keen eye
of Beaty detected them. He seized upon their wagons and captured several thousand dollars'
worth of medicine. This was a very severe loss to the South, as medicine with them was
very scarce.
Upon another occasion, the rebels were driving south a large
number of cattle they had taken from the citizens of Wayne and Clinton counties, Ky. Beaty
heard of their movements, and concealing his men by the road side, at the proper moment
attacked them with such fierceness that they fled in confusion, leaving their cattle and
six of their companions, who had been shot. Although the rebel troops have been on every
side of Beaty, and a large army one hundred and fifty miles in his rear (General Bragg's
forces when in Kentucky), yet he remains in his favorite locality. He still continues to
make successful raids upon the rebels, and has become a perfect terror to them. Beaty and
his men have never been mustered into the regular service. They receive no pay, no
clothes, no camp equipage, rations, nor military stores of any kind. They are no expense
to the government, yet render as valuable service as the same number of men anywhere.
Neither does he impose upon Union citizens. He sustains his brave little band upon the
enemy.
I might mention other names, but enough has already been said
to indicate the loyalty, devotion, and sufferings of these people. Probably eight thousand
of loyal Tennesseans are in the Union army. They left their homes and went forth to battle
for their country. Their wives and children and kindred are at home, persecuted, and
suffering great privations. It is the duty of the Government to send aid to these loyal
people. While the men are in the army, fighting under their country's banner, rebels are
burning their houses and turning their wives and little children out of doors. One little
boy said to his mother, while their house was burning, "Mother, where will we stay
to-night?" The mother replied, "I will build a pen, and we will stay in
that." A rebel said, "Not a bit of it; if you are found here after this we will
burn you."
The Kentuckians upon the Tennessee lines have suffered
greatly. They have exhibited as much loyalty as any people that ever lived. When a call
was made, they rushed to arms and filled Kentucky's quota. Let us take Clinton county, for
an example. This county had about nine hundred voters, yet she has furnished six hundred
soldiers for the Union army. They bade farewell to their dear ones at home, and gave their
lives to their country.
This county has been in possession of the rebels for more than
a year, with two or three exceptions, when the Union forces occupied Albany, the counry
town of Clinton. The citizens have been insulted, arrested and imprisoned, and a number of
them murdered in the most fiendish manner. All the property in the county of any value
that could be moved, has been carried off, and the citizens left in a destitute condition.
Slaves have been taken from their owners and conveyed south, and free negroes sold into
slavery; men of character and distinction have suffered the grossest outrage; soldiers'
families have been compelled to flee from their homes and property, and seek refuge among
strangers. This is no fancy sketch. My home is in this county, and having visited it since
these troubles commenced (being a refugee myself), I aver that these are truths.
I will mention the names of a few individuals, and state their
losses and sufferings. Joshua L. Chilton, an industrious and peacable citizen, was not
permitted to remain at home. He was threatened and hunted, but nothing could deter him
from his duty to his country. He was too old to join the army, but had two boys who could
go, and he sent them both--the younger only seventeen years old. the eldest, James L.,
joined the first company raised in the county, and was appointed a sergeant. He greatly
distinguished himself for bravery at the battle of Mill Springs, and has been one of the
best soldiers in the regiment, 1st Kentucky cavalry. The father was quite active, and
rendered the Union cause good service. For this he was hated and driven from his home, and
becamse a refugee. While General Bragg was in Kentucky, a portion of his soldiers killed
Chilton, Ambrose, Huddleston, a Tennessean, and others, at Liberty, Ky. J. P. Pickens, a
merchant of Albany, lost a stock of goods and other property. He was threatened, and
forced to flee across the Cumberland river for safety. His family were also driven from
home, and became refugees. Dr. Elza Beckett, a physician, who has an extensive practice,
and whose professional services were greatly needed, was banished from his home; and his
family, who endured the insults and abuse of rebels for some time, were compelled to leave
their homeand seek protection among strangers. D. P. Wright, a farmer, was chasd and fired
upon, and kept from his home: he lost a large amount of property. Elijah Koger, an old,
peacable, and quiet citizen, who never did any one injury, lost about fifty horses and
mules, and other property: he was compelled to hide in the hills to save his life. Lewis
Wright, an old citizen, who was almost helpless, had no slaves except one negro man, thta
he had bought to attend him in his old age. This man was stolen from him and taken south,
and the old gentleman left in helpless condition. Van Buren Hopkins, a good citizen, was
arrested and sent to Nashville. He was fed upon tainted beef until nearly dead, and was
only released upon the urgent applications of his brother, who was a rebel. John S.
Stockton, the three Dickens, Crezelius, and other citizens, were seized and sent with
Hopkins to Nashville. They did not have the same luck as Hopkins. They had no rebel
relations to intercede for them, and were sent to Salisbury, N.C., where they are yet,
having been closely confined for more than ten months. Soldiers who have been released
from the same prison report them in a half-naked and starved condition. Reuben Wood,
Frogge, the two Johnsons, Elisha Koger, Isaac Story, young Zackary, and other citizens,
have been murdered in the most brutal manner. These are only a few individual cases. All
the citizens have suffered; no discrimination was made between Union citizens. Can the
loyalty of a people be more severely tested? Are they not truly patriotic? Should they not
receive the sympathies of all loyal men and the protection of the Government?
See Also: David "Tinker
Dave" Beaty
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