Burgoyne, who took the Spanish base at Valencia de Alcántara two months earlier then marched against forces preparing to cross the River Tagus into Alentejo.

On 3 October 1762 Count of Lippe in anticipation of a Spanish offensive across the Zêzere River against the Portuguese headquarters at Abrantes instructed George Townshend to march to the Beira Baixa country, marching along the left bank of the Zêzere river, to make a junction with Lord George Lennox's forces and to threaten the Spanish lines of communication with Almeida and Ciudad Rodrigo by advancing on Belmonte and Penamacor.

This new march was promptly executed, and Townshend's Portuguese soldiers endured the greatest privations, but his men successfully attacked a French force escorting a convoy near Sabugal, capturing many supplies.

The same day, the Spanish force, who had taken Vila Velha on the 2nd, advanced on Porto Cabrão, leaving behind eight artillery pieces guarded by 200 grenadiers and 100 horses.

The taking of Vila Velha effectively ended the Spanish and French invasion campaign[1] By the middle of October, the Franco-Spanish army decided to retreat into Spain with Lippe and Townshend pursuing them.