bˈɪɹdsli sˈɜːvd ɪnðə wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɛvənθ ɹˈɛdʒɪmənt ʌvðə nˈuː jˈɔːɹk stˈeɪt məlˈɪʃə dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə wˈɔːɹ ʌv wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛlv, hiː ɹˈoʊz θɹuː ðə ɹˈæŋks tə bɪkˌʌm ðə ɹˌɛdʒɪmˈɛntəl ˈædʒuːtənt wɪððə ɹˈæŋk ʌv kˈæptɪn.
Beardsley served in the 157th Regiment of the New York State Militia during the War of 1812, he rose through the ranks to become the regimental adjutant with the rank of captain.