Excerpt from Journals of Sieges Carried on by the Army Under the Duke of Wellington, in Spain, Between the Years 1811 and 1814, 3 volumes: With Notes

The Journals of the Sieges in Spain were originally penned at the commencement of 1813 for the avowed purpose of drawing general attention to the very inefficient composition and inadequate strength of the siege establishments of the empire, which certainly at that period had the effect of rendering our attacks of fortified places far less certain and less powerful than our natural advantages, great resources, and liberal military expenditure entitled the nation to expect.