The National Register.
London, England, 1811-03-17 00:00:00

174

THE NA'

TUESDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE.

DOWNING-STREET, MARCH 11, 1811.

A Dispatch, of which the following is an extract, was received
yesterday at the Earl of Liverpool's OfOce, addressed to his
Lordship by Lieutenant-General Lord Viscount WeUingtcur,
K. B. dated Cartaaol Wh February, 1811.
Since I addressed ytTur Lordship on the 9th inst. I have re-
eeived further details of the afrairs at and near Badajoz, from
which it appears that the Pnrtuguese cavalry having been un-
supported in their passage of the Evora on the 6th instant, were
obliged to retire across the Evora, in Which operation they suss
tanned some loss. The whole of the_ cavalry and infantry were
then drawn into the fort of Badajoz ; and, on the 7th instant,
they made a sortie upon the enemy, in which they succeeded
in obtaining possession of one of the enemy's batteries, but they
were obliged to retire again, and, unfortunately, the guns
in the battery were not spiked or otherwise destroyed or
ihjured.
[heir loss was not Tess than eighty-five officers and five hun-
dred soldiers killed and wounded as I am informed, including
the Brigadier-General Don Carlos D'Eapagne among the lat-
ter. It apears that the Spanish troops behaved remarkably well
upon the occasion.
While the troops were in Badajoz, the French cavalry again
crossed the Evora, and interrupted the communication between
that place and Elvas and Campo Major. They came out of
Badajoz, however, on the morning of the 9th instant, and the
French cavalry were obliged to retire across the Evora. The
Troops have since taken up a position on the heights between the
Caya, the Evora, and the Guadiana, by which they will keep
open the' communication between adajoz and the country on
the right of the latter river.
The enemy have continue] the siege ; and, on the night of
the 11th instant, they attacked the redoubt of Pardalleiros,
which they carried ; but they had not, on the 13th, been able to
establish themselves within the redoubt, on account of the ere
fronrahe body of the place. They have likewise constructed a
work on the left bank of the Guadiana below the place, to fire •
loam the bridge of communication with the right bank, but the
fue of this work had had but little effect.
'A great number of the inhabitants have taken advantage of
the communication being opened, to leave the place, and I tut-
darstand that it is not ill supplied with provisions.
Gen. Claparede's divisions of the 9th corps was still upon
Guarda, on the 10th instant, when I.last heard from that part of
the country. •
Although I have observed and heard of various movements
gf the-enemy in theinterior of their position, I have nut found
von the whole any material alteration ; and I imagine that
these movements have been made principally to endeavour to
ohtain sabaistence ; the difficulty in finding any increases daily,
and the inhabitants of Torres Novas and Thomar, who alone
had generally remained in their habitations upon the enemy's
invasion, are unav coming into this part of the country nearly
starving.
I have the pleasure to forward a report which I have received
of the conduct of Cornet Strenuwitz, of the Ist hussars, who sur-
prised a picket of the enemy on the night of the 9th instant, with
a small detachment of hussars, and brought in more prison-
ers than his detachment consisted of without the loss of a
man.

St. Joac de Ribeira, Feb. 19, 1811.

Stß—lt is with great pleasure! have the honour to report to
veil the gallant conduct of Cornet Strenuwitz, of the Ist hussars.
1-Eying previously reconnoitered all roads and ways, and being
Wheel- of the Malhaquijo picquet, he went last night at twelve
o'clock, with two non-commissioned officers and eighteen men,
to surprise the enemy's picquet in front-of Alcanhede ; after
a march of three hours he came unperceived to their dismounted
double centinel.; they challenged him, when he answered, that
he was an orderly (for he had gone round, and came in their
rear) ; they were now taken care of, and he had his way open
to the picquet itself. Having detached several side-posts and a
small suppoet, he charged the cavalry picquet, that tried to
mount their horses, consisting of an officer and twenty men,
witii only about nine or ten of his men. The greater part were
cut down, and many horses taken ; but now he was informed
by one of the prisoners, that an infantry picquet was in their
rear to support ; he collected what men he could, advanced and
found them formed in line ; he charged while receiving a vol-
ley, cut down about eight or ten, and made the rest pri-
sellers.
Thr third picquet of the enemy, consisting as they say of fifty
infantry, took to their heeli, and Cornet :Arenuvvi:z says the
drum and trumpets sounded in Alcanhede exceeded all be-
yood beiirf ; he then withdrew, and had the satisfaction to find
that he had 109 t no man or horse, nor even one wounded. He