 However, Loison failed to clear Silveira's force away from Soult's planned path of retreat to the northeast, so Soult was compelled to abandon all his equipment and take footpaths over the hills to the north.Soult's and Loison's forces met at Guimarães, but Wellesley's army marched north.The British reached Braga (northwest of Guimarães) before the French, forcing Soult to retreat to the northeast again.