During the Battle of Porto, also known as the Battle of the Douro, General Arthur Wellesley's Anglo-Portuguese Army defeated Marshal Nicolas Soult's French troops on 12 May 1809 and took the city of Porto,. After taking command of the British troops in Portugal on 22 April Wellesley immediately advanced on Porto and made a surprise crossing of the Douro River, approaching Porto where its defences were weak. Soult's late attempts to muster a defence were in vain. The French quickly abandoned the city in a disorderly retreat. This battle ended the second French invasion of Portugal. Soult soon found his retreat route to the east blocked and was forced to destroy his guns and burn his baggage train. Wellesley pursued the French army, but Soult's army escaped annihilation by fleeing through the mountains. Wikipedia [ - ]

During the Battle of Porto, also known as the Battle of the Douro, General Arthur Wellesley's... [ + ]