Battle of Porto

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Peninsular War: Second French Invasion, 1808–1809
Pancorbo – Valmaseda – Burgos – Espinosa – Tudela – Somosierra – Sahagún – Saragossa – Castellón – Uclés – Corunna – Valls – Villafranca – Ciudad-Real – Medellín – Porto – Gerona – Grijo – Lugo – 2nd Porto – Alcañiz – San Payo – María – Talavera – Almonacid – Tamamés – Hostalrich – Torres Vedras – Ocana – Alba de Tormes

The Battle of Porto took place on March 28, 1809, when the French under Marshal Soult completely defeated the Portuguese under Lima Barreto and Pareiras, outside the city of Porto (traditionally called Oporto by the British). Soult followed up his success by storming the city, with horrible slaughter. It is estimated that 10,000 of the inhabitants perished in the attack. The French lost only 500 men.

Taking command of the British troops in Portugal in April, General Lord Wellesley made a surprise crossing of the Douro. On May 12 he advanced on Porto. Soult retreated, Wellesley took the city and the French lost heavily.

This was another name for the Battle of Douro, though Oporto is the more widely recognized name. The British under Wellesley, could not cross the Douro river. For Soult had ordered all the boats destroyed or moved to the North bank.

Colonel John Waters was reconnoitring the river east of Porto when he was approached by a Portuguese barber who led him to a point on the bank hidden by brush where there was 'a skiff, a prior of the covent and three or four peasants': partly at Waters' entreaties and partly at the urging of the Prior, the peasants leapt in the skiff with the British officer and crossed the river, bringing back three wine barges that were unguarded on the opposite bank.

When informed of this, Wellesley said; 'well, let the men cross.' Immediately a company of the 3rd Buffs, crossed the river and entered a walled convent overlooking the landing. By the time Soult and the French realized that Wellesley's forces were on the north bank an entire battalion under Rowland Hill had been sent into the convent.

General Foy, who first saw the British crossing, requisitioned a battalion and led an attack on the convent, but was beaten back with heavy losses. Reinforced later in the day to four battalions, he attacked again. By this time however, 3 entire battalions were occupying the convent and surrounding buildings. Again Foy was beaten back. Soult withdrew the troops guarding the Porto boats to reinforce Foy. The people of Porto immediately set out in 'anything that would float' and ferryied more British troops over. Four British battalions were brought over immediately.

Murray's brigade with the 14th Light cavalry, was stationed eastward to cut off the French retreat. Murray failed to do so, and contented himself with skirmishing with the French advance guard. The 14th however, sped after the retreating French and both caused and received considerable casualties.