At the close of the War with Russia the following communication wasmade to the Horse Guards by the Secretary of State for War:—

War Department,

Sir, 30th September 1856.

I am directed by Lord Panmure to request that you will state toHis Royal Highness the General Connnanding-in-Chief, that Lord Panmure considers it expedient, while the incidents of the Siege of Sebastopol arestill recent, and the Officers who conducted the important operations of theBritish Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers at that Siege are still for themost part within reach, that an official record should be compiled relatingall that is of interest or value to those arms of the Service, whether forfuture instruction or as a matter of history; a record that will be in somedegree similar to those published by Colonel (afterwards Sir J.) Jones of theSieges of the Peninsular War. Lord Panmure apprehends that there willnow be no difficulty in collecting these facts, and preserving the experienceacquired through them, although a short lapse of time may make it difficult;and I am to request that you will move His Royal Highness to call uponthe Inspector-General of Fortifications and the Adjutant-General of Artilleryto compile in a narrative form, with statistical Appendix , and with anyillustrations required, all those particulars relating to their arm of theService which they deem of professional value, and to embody the same ina Report for his Lordship’s information.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

(Signed) John Croomes,

For the Under-Secretary of State.

a 2

The Military Secretary,Horse Guards.