The Enquirer

Translated for the N. York E. Post.

Lisbon, Feb. 20.

Extract of a Dispatch from his Excellency Marshal General Lord Wellington to his Excellency Don Miguel Pereira Forjaz from his head-quarters at Cartaxo, 16th Feb. 1811.

The division of General Claperede belonging to the ninth corps remained in the City of Guarda on the 10th which is the date of the last accounts that I have received from that quarter.

Notwithstanding I have heard of and even observed several movements in the interior of the enemy's position I do not perceive upon the whole any material alteration and am of opinion that these movements have been principally with intention to seek for supplies of provisions. The difficulty of obtaining them daily increases and even the inhabitants of Torres Novas and Thomar the ones who remained in their houses at the time of the invasion of the enemy have retired to this part of the country almost dying with hunger.

By this opportunity I have the satisfaction of making known to your Excellency by means of the inclosed copy of a letter the account which I have received relative to the conduct of Ensign Sterubitz belonging to the regiment of Hussars No. 1 who during the night of the 9th with a small detachment of his corps surprised an enemy's picquet taking a greater number of prisoners more than his own detachment amounted to without losing a single man.

Feb. 27.

Extract of a dispatch from his Excellency the Marshal General Lord Wellington to his Excellency Don Miguel Pereira Forjaz from his head-quarters at Cartaxo dated 23d Feb. 1811.

The division of General Claperede belonging to the ninth corps still continues in the City of Guarda having its advanced guard at Belmonte according to the late accounts that I have received from those places. They had endeavored on the 12th instant to possess themselves at Covilha but they were repulsed with some loss on their part by Colonel Grant who had previously occupied the town with a body of militia from the lower province of Beira.

I inclose to your Excellency a copy of a letter on the subject sent to me by Marshal Beresford and likewise of the report made on the occasion by the said Colonel Grant.

Your Excellency will also find inclosed copies of the reports made by General William Erskine who commands the advanced posts of the left wing of the army; they confirm the account of the capture of the Adjutant General Clausels on the 19th inst. with a detachment of the enemy's cavalry and infantry. This capture was made by Ensign Sterubitz belonging to the regiment of Hussars who is worthy of your Excellency's attention as I stated in my former dispatch; in this recent affair he behaved with great skill and bravery.

The operations of the partizans continue in the interior of the country; and I have sufficiently strong proofs that the hostility of the inhabitants of Spain towards the enemy continues to increase and becomes more inveterate.

Don Julian Sanchez whom I have frequently mentioned to your Excellency has recently taken a large convoy of biscuit which was on its way from Ledsma to Ciudad Roderigo. Another body of partizans has also lately caused to the enemy considerable losses at Puente del Arzobispo and it is said that General Laboussaye was killed in a skirmish at that place.

The enemy has made no movement of importance in front of this army since my dispatch to your Excellency of the 15th inst. A considerable quantity of baggage has been sent out of Santarem; but I am inclined to suppose that it belongs to the officers and soldiers who are sick and removed from that town to the rear of the army.