A Circumstantial Journal of the Long and Tedious Blockade and Siege of Gibraltar, from the Twelfth of September, 1779 to the Third Day of February, 1783 Containing an Authentic Account of the Most Remarkable Transactions, in Which the Enemy's Motions, Works, Approaches, Firings, &C. Are Particularly Described. By an Officer, 1st Edn (Manchester: John Eves, 1783), PP. 1, 12–13, 49, 56–7, 71, 75, 126–9, 130–1, 139–40, 150.

In the first edition of the Circumstantial Journal, Samuel Ancell (1755/6–1802) remained anonymous, but its popularity spurred multiple editions to which his name was appended. He enlisted in 1772 and joined the 58th Foot at Gibraltar in 1778. The following year, Spanish and French forces began a siege on the garrison that lasted until 1783. The redcoats’ ability to withstand the hardships of the “Great Siege” and emerge triumphant became a valuable source of esteem for the British Army in the aftermath of its defeat in North America. At the time of writing, Ancell was a private soldier, but was promoted to corporal in 1786 and sergeant the following year. Ancell’s account was published in the form of letters to his father in the first edition, and changed for unknown reasons to letters to his brother. Though the editions of his journal remained fairly consistent, there are a few small differences in its reference to families that have been noted below. Ancell wrote with rare sensibility at a time when memoirs tended to focus on the facts of battle, but he was similar to his fellow military authors in attesting to the veracity of his account. His Journal bore witness to the suffering of the women and children of the garrison along with the men, and it shows the way in which non-combatants’ hardship was especially evocative of sympathy. It also reflects on the grief felt by families at home. Note that a “xebec” is a small sailing ship.