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Tale of the Lantern On August 25th 1814, Major Mercer Brooke lead a portion of the 23rd regiment on a trench raid at Fort Erie, driving back a working party of the British 82th regiment of Foot. That night Major Brooke lead another party into the English lines. Unmolested, the major climbed a tree near an emplacement of a battery of British guns. The covered lantern was hidden in a greatcoat. Once placed in the tree, the greatcoat was pulled off the lantern by means of a rope that the major had attached to the coat for that purpose. The hooded lantern, now exposed and pointing back towards Fort Erie, could be seen by American forces, but not by the British. The party returned to the fort and the lantern was used to pour accurate cannon fire on the British battery, doing considerable damage, until the lantern was discovered by the English and removed. For some time after the 23rd regiment used the question: Who hung the lantern in the tree? as a friend or foe recognition question. The correct answer would be: Major Brooke. |
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