Recollections of My Military Life

Recollections Of My Military Life by George Landmann is a memoir of a British engineer officer’s experiences in the Peninsular War. The excerpt covers reconnaissance, leadership, and combat across Portugal and Spain, including the 1804 expedition against Spanish treasure ships and the campaigns leading up to and including the battles around Vimieiro, Columbeira, Torres Vedras, and the advance toward Lisbon. Landmann recounts his service in the Royal Engineers, his observations of officers and soldiers, and his role after the death of fellow officers, blending technical military detail with vivid portrayals of logistics, siegecraft, and the hardships of campaigning—dust, heat, thirst, and the constant proximity of danger. The narrative combines reportage, anecdote, and reflection on leadership, discipline, and the ethics of war during the Napoleonic era.