Our last authentic accounts left Don PEDRO'S forces at Villa
Nova, though report had placed' them censiderably in advance on the road to Coimbra. From the intelligence that has since reached town, it appears that on the 19th, Count VILLA FLOR, the Com- mander-in-Chief, had his head-quarters at Fereiros, some twenty- five miles from Oporto, on the Coimbra road. On that day, he re- ceived information that MIGUEL'S troops in great force were advancing -under the command of General POVOAS. Their- num- ber was estimated at 16,000; of which 800 were eavalry—they were the flower of MIGUEL'S army. The intention of MIGUEL'S 'General, was to get into VILLA FLOR'S rear, and so cut him of _ from the town of Oporto, and his communication with the fleet ; in which case he could hardly have failed to destroy the invading - army. In this, however, he was defeated by the rapid but orderly retreat of VILLA FLOE on Villa Nova, and subsequently across the river to Oporto. POVOAS having left 5,000 men at Villa Nova, with a view to prevent VILLA Erma. from escaping from him a second time, proceeded up the left bank of the Douro for about thirty-five miles, to a place named Passos de Souza ; where having crossed over to the right bank, he advanced upon Oporto. At Vallongo, a position ten or fifteen miles farther down the stream - than Passos de Souza, his advanced guard fell in with the - - valved guard of VILLA FLOE, commanded by our countryman' Colonel HODGES, by whom _it: was driven back at all points, with considerable loss to the enemy, - and at a very_ small expense to himself,—Colonel HonGEs 'having lost 'only Three men' killed • and three wounded-. in the action. -In -the- mean-' titne;tlie main body Of the, invading army, which had changed - its - front, took up a position of great strength to the north- east -of, the city of Oporto ; its right wing resting on the Douro, its left-on the sea, and its centre on the town, which was imme- diately in its rear, and to which in case of check it had an easy
retreat. In this position, an action began, the particulars of which _ are yet imperfectly known, but which is said to have lasted for a -
couple of days, and to have terminated in the entire defeat of POVOAS' army. The detachment of 5,000 men which he had left' in Villa Nova, attempted; as it was meant they should, to pass the river and lend a hand to their. comrades-while engaged ; but the attempt was effectually repressed by the armed' vessels of PEDRO'S fleet.
- "PovoAs is described as MIGUEL'S best general ; but he seems . but a sorry one. It is plain, that if he had contented him- self with the occupation of Villa Nova, he could have effectually - defeated. PEDRO'S plans, by cooping up his forces in the extremity of the kingdom, without friends, without resources, and without comMunications. By passing the stream with his main body not only left the road to Lisbon comparatively open, but posed himself, in case of an-adverse battle, to total ruin. FLOE can now, without much difficulty, drive his defeadTsail ant into the province of Tras-Os-Montes; which is tag
capable of subsisting him, and from which there is no clep. ppy, by flight into Spain. CHIVES, it may be reeollected,S0 defeated in a similar way, was obliged to have recourWZ
expedient. We need not reckon much on FERDINAND'S inclina- tion ; but he is at the present moment so strictly watched, that be dare not stir. The main body of PovoAs troops disposed of, the invading army might either cross the Douro, where their assailants did, and thus take in flank the detachment that oc- cupies Villa Nova, or they might fall back on Oporto, and pass over in front of a force to which they are so much superior —to say nothing of their being flushed with victory, while the enemy are cast down by defeat. It is probable that the battle of Oporto may be the only one that PEDRO will be called on to- fight. The defeat of an army, where the spirit of a nation ie opposed to the victor, may be easily repaired,—in such a case, the vanquished, like the sons of the earth, rise from their fall with renewed vigour; but where the power of the Government is suf- fered, not approved, the loss of the first battle is almost always fatal.
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