The battle of Ocana left the central part of Spain wholly undefended; and Soult, Victor and Mortier, forcing the passes of the Sierra Morena, made themselves masters, early in the year of Jaen, Cordova, Grenada, Malaga, and Seville itself.  Cadiz, to which the Central Junta had ere this retired, was now garrisoned by a large Spanish force, including the army of Estremadura, under the Duke D’Albuquerque, and a considerable detachment of English troops from Gibraltar; and Soult sat down before the place in form.  Could he have taken Cadiz, no fortress of importance would have remained with the patriots in the south of Spain:  but the strength of the situation and the ready access to the sea and Gibraltar, rendered all his efforts vain.

On the eastern side of Spain Suchet defeated the Spanish General O’Donnell under the walls of Ostalric; and took afterwards that town, Lerida, Mequineza, and Tortosa.  But Valencia once more repelled the invaders.  After a bloody sally of the inhabitants Suchet withdrew from before the walls.

It was on the Portuguese side, however, that the events of most importance occurred.  It was there that the disgraces of Vimiero and Talaveyra must be avenged; and there accordingly Napoleon had directed his chief force to be set in motion.  Massena (Prince of Essling), second only to himself in reputation, took the command, early in the season, of “the army of Portugal,” at least 100,000 strong, and whose commission it was to drive the English leopards, and the Seapoy General (as, ignorant of the future, Buonaparte at this time called Wellington) into the sea.  To this gigantic army that leader could oppose at most 20,000 British troops; but 30,000 Portuguese had by this time been so well trained by General Beresford, that they were held not unworthy of fighting by the side of Englishmen.  Still Lord Wellington’s whole force was barely half that of Massena:  and his operations were necessarily confined to the defensive.  He had no means to prevent the French Marshal from taking Oviedo and Ciudad Rodrigo—­almost in his sight; but commenced his retreat, and conducted it with a coolness and precision which not a little disconcerted the pursuers.  They at length ventured to attack the English on their march.  On the 27th September, 1810, they charged in five columns, on the heights of Busaco, and were driven back with such terrible carnage that no further assault was threatened.  Massena kept advancing, step by step, as Wellington withdrew, not doubting that his enemy would embark as soon as he reached Lisbon, and leave him in quiet possession of that capital and the rich country around.  His surprise was great when Lord Wellington at last halted on the lines of the Torres Vedras, which had by this time been so strengthened, that even in inferior hands they might have been considered impregnable.