I was continually employed upon the staff; and as General Crawfurd's activity suffered no diminution from the interruption of the campaign, rarely passed a day without eight or nine hours on horseback.
The preparations for the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo occupied our undivided attention.

To the reduction of this fortress and of Badajos, Lord Wellington looked as the most important objects, and prosecuted his plans with unremitting zeal.

To my staff appointment I owed the opportunity of witnessing that stupendous feature of war, a siege; and as many of my friends formed part of the blockading force, I spent more than one night in the trenches.

Indeed, except for this, the tiresome monotony of life was most irksome at this period.

Day after day the incessant rain poured down.
The supplies were bad, scanty, and irregular; the hospitals crowded with sick; field-sports impracticable; books there were none; and a dulness and spiritless depression prevailed on every side.