served as a great morale boost to the inexperienced troops. The Third Portuguese campaign proceeded with the probing of the Lines in the Battle of Sobral on 14 October. Masséna found them too strong to attack and withdrew into winter quarters. Deprived of food for his men and harried by Anglo-Portuguese hit-and-run tactics, he lost a further 25,000 men captured or dead from starvation or sickness before he retreated into Spain early in 1811. This finally freed Portugal from French occupation except for the fortress of Almeida, near the frontier. During the retreat, several actions were fought, including the Battle of Sabugal. Notes References Further reading In fiction Under Wellington's Command by G.A. Henty includes a section on the Battle of Bussaco (sp. 'Busaco' in the text). Sharpe's Escape by Bernard Cornwell covers the battle. Stranger from the Sea by Winston Graham features a visit to the front line by Ross Poldark, who is on a government fact-finding mission. External links Military Museum of Bussaco Battle of Bussaco Battles of the Peninsular War Battles involving the United Kingdom Battles involving Portugal Battles involving France Battle of Bussaco King's German Legion Battle honours of the King's Royal Rifle Corps September 1810 events Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington