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).