Taken from MISSISSIPPI VOL I by Dunbar Rowland
DANIEL BEASLEY, was a Virginian, who settled in Greenville, Jefferson county, in the early Territorial period, and practiced law. He was also sheriff of the county, an intelligent and popular man, with many personal friends. He had an affair on honor with a Mr. Fry, a rising member of the bar, of the same county. They fought opposite [of] Rodney, and the latter fell. It was peculiarly distressing, for he was on the eve of marriage with a most beautiful woman. This rendered Beasley very unhappy.
He wrote to General Claiborne to obtain a commission in the army. The general appointed him his aide, and Colonel Wood, resigning about this time, Major Joseph Carson became colonel, and Beasley was appointed (by President Madison) major on February 15, 1813. In command of two companies he was stationed at Fort Mims, where, through lack of vigilance, he was surprised about noon on August 30th, the Indians rushing through an open gate into the fort. Judge Toulmin wrote "Major Beasley was shot through the belly near the gate. He called to the men to take care of the ammunition and to retreat to the house. He went himself to a kitchen, where it is supposed he must have been burned."