... “Deeming that ‘a local habitation and a name’ may be affixed to my friend the ‘Major,’ and that he may be considered responsible for inaccuracies for which others alone are accountable, I hasten to say, that in the description of the battle at Lundy’s Lane, (with the exception of some of the personal anecdotes,) the title is retained merely as a _nom de guerre_ to carry the reader through the different phases of the action. The description of the night attack on Fort Erie, as well as that of the character and personal appearance of Lieutenant-Colonel Wood, is, however, almost literally that given at the fireside of my friend. The information received from the British camp on the following morning, through a flag, was, as near as could be ascertained, that Colonel Wood had been bayonetted to death on the ground; and my impression was that his body had been subsequently identified and returned. But as your correspondent, apparently a brother officer, speaks so decidedly, I presume he is correct. Far more agreeable to me would it have been to have remained under the delusion, that the bones of that gallant and accomplished soldier slept under the green plateau of West Point, than the supposition that even now they may be restlessly whirling in some dark cavern of the cataracts. The account of the battle at Lundy’s Lane was compiled from one of the earlier editions of Brackenridge’s History of the Late War, (I think the third,) the only written authority that I had upon the subject, and from conclusions drawn from rambles and casual conversations on the battle-ground. In how far a rough sketch, which was all that was aimed at, has been conveyed from that authority, the reader, as well as your correspondent, can best determine by referring to the history alluded to.” The desperate bayonet charge is thus described in that work, fourth edition, p. 269-270. ... “The enemy’s artillery occupied a hill which was the key to the whole position, and it would be in vain to hope for victory while they were permitted to retain it. Addressing himself to Colonel Miller, he inquired whether he could storm the batteries at the head of the twenty-first, while he would himself support him with the younger regiment, the twenty-third? To this the wary, but intrepid veteran replied, in an unaffected phrase, ‘I’ll try, sir;’[4] words which were afterwards given as the motto of his regiment.