Aquela breve e fracassada experiência demonstrou a Soult duas evidências:
a) os portugueses iriam oferecer grande resistência;
b) não era aconselhável seguir o caminho do litoral, como fora planeado. (1)

The first point is certainly something Soult had not been led to expect, and his army suffered considerable losses on the way in and on the way out as a result. The second point requires further elaboration in that, in addition to being inadvisable, it was also quite impossible given the resources Soult commanded.

Beyond the Minho there are three further substantial rivers to cross namely: the Lima, Cávado and Ave. Although, as we know, there is an excellent bridge inland from Viana do Castelo at Ponte de Lima albeit with limited defences on the left bank. That this stone built bridge has 15 arches provides an indication of the difficulties these river crossings posed. The crossing at Barcelos is almost as difficult, although the Cávado is not so broad, but the left bank is dominated by a strongly built, fortified manor house.

Perhaps the few marins that Soult had at his disposal, was one of the reasons why Masséna was furnished with a whole battalion which, to a certain extent, he did not utilise to its fullest.

Best wishes
A