Cadet of the Military Academy, Oct. 20, 1806, to Dec. 12, 1808, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to First Lieut., Light Artillery, Dec. 12, 1808
Served: in garrison at Atlantic Posts, and on S. W. Frontier, 1808-1812; (Captain, Light Artillery, May 2, 1810) and in the War of 1812-1815, on the Niagara Frontier, in 1812, participating in the Attack on “Queenstown Heights”, U. C., Oct. 13, 1812, on Inspection
(Major, Staff – Asst. Inspector-General, Apr. 2, 1813) (Colonel, Staff – Inspector-General, July 13, 1813) duty, 1812-1814
In the campaign of 1814 on the Niagara Frontier, being engaged in the Defense of “Fort Erie”, U. C., Aug. 3-Sep. 17, 1814, including its Bombardment, Aug. 13-15, Repulse of the enemy’s (Colonel, 4th Rifles, Feb. 21, 1814) Assault, Aug. 15, and Sortie from it upon the British batteries and siege works, where he was Killed, Sep. 17, 1814: Aged 33.
p90 and where, in the language of the official dispatch, he “fully sustained the high military reputation which he had before so justly acquired.”
Two officers said to be Wood and Col.” James Gibson” are shown in a painting done in 1840 by E. C. Watmough “Repulsion of the British at Fort Erie, 15th August 1814”. At this battle Colonel Wood and Gibson were distinguished.
However, a recent description of the painting describes Lieutenant John Watmough, later brevetted for his “gallant and meritorious” conduct at Fort Erie as being one of the two pictured. [5]
For What They Gave on Saturday Afternoon 