Siege of Madras (1758–59)

01Lally before Madras

The Count de Lally landed at Pondicherry in April 1758 with orders to end the English presence on the Coromandel coast. He razed Fort St David at Cuddalore within weeks, but a failed raid on Thanjavur and a shortage of money slowed him. He recalled Bussy from Hyderabad to strengthen his army, a decision that cost the French their hold on the Deccan. In December 1758 he marched on Madras, occupied the Black Town and opened trenches against Fort St George.

02The fleet comes in

The garrison under Pigot and the veteran Stringer Lawrence held the walls through weeks of fire. Outside, Company sepoys and the cavalry of Muhammad Yusuf Khan harried the French supply lines. Lally’s troops went unpaid and his officers quarrelled. A breach was made, but it was too steep to storm. On 16 February 1759 Admiral Pocock’s squadron appeared off the coast with reinforcements, and the next night the French broke up their camp and retreated to Arcot.

Battle · 22 January 1760Battle of WandiwashUnder the walls of Wandiwash fort Eyre Coote defeated Lally’s army in a set battle of European-trained troops. It decided which company would rule the Carnatic.Read →