This volume contains a long series of articles written by an eminent officer of the Royal Engineers - Colonel Sir Edward T. Thackeray, V.C., K.C.B. - and published in 23 issues of the Royal Engineers Journal between 1914 and 1916. The subject matter - sieges and the defence of fortifications - is particularly the province of the military engineer, and it is for that audience that Thackeray was writing. The coverage includes Asseerghur (1803); Gawilghur (1803), Asseerghur (1819), Blockage of Cadiz (1810), the Lines of Torres Vedras; First, second and third sieges of Badahoz; Burgos; San Sebastian; Bhurtopore (1825); Khelet-i-Ghilzai (1841-42); Ghazni (1839); Mooltan (1848); Sebastopol; Delhi (where the author earned his V.C.); Lucknow; Pekin (1860); Magdala (1860); Kabul (1879) and Ladysmith (1899).