Battle of Wandiwash

01Lally tries to retake the fort

After failing before Madras, Lally was short of money and troops, and his Maratha horse under Bussy’s arrangement was unreliable. Coote, newly arrived from Bengal, took Wandiwash fort in late November 1759. Lally marched to recover it in January 1760 and began to batter the walls. Coote came up to relieve the garrison. On the morning of 22 January the two armies drew up on the plain before the fort, Lally’s French regiments and sepoys against Coote’s British regulars and Company sepoys.

02The battle

Lally opened with a cavalry charge on Coote’s flank, which was driven off by grapeshot. The French infantry then advanced in column and met the British line. A shot struck an ammunition tumbril in a French entrenchment and blew it up, killing many and throwing the French left into confusion. Coote’s men pressed in. Bussy, rallying the Lorraine regiment, had his horse shot under him and was taken prisoner. The French withdrew in good order towards Pondicherry, leaving their siege guns.

Battle · December 1758 – February 1759Siege of Madras (1758–59)Lally came to India to drive the English out, took Fort St David, and then sat down before Madras. Two months of bombardment failed to break Fort St George.Read →