Siege of Madras

Coordinates: 13°05′24″N 80°16′12″E / 13.0901°N 80.2701°E / 13.0901; 80.2701
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Siege of Madras
Part of
Madras, Madras Presidency, India
13°05′24″N 80°16′12″E / 13.0901°N 80.2701°E / 13.0901; 80.2701
Result British victory
Belligerents

 Kingdom of Great Britain

 Kingdom of France

Commanders and leaders
Nawab of the Carnatic
Kingdom of France Comte de Lally
Kingdom of France Marquis de Bussy-CastelnauStrength 3,900 total
2,200 sepoys
1,700 Europeans 8,000 total
4,000 Europeans
3,400 sepoys
600 native cavalryCasualties and losses 1,200

The siege of Madras was a siege of

Madras, which was then under British rule, between December 1758 and February 1759 by French forces under the command of Comte de Lally during the Seven Years' War. The British garrison was able to hold out until it was relieved.[1]

The British victory helped contribute to the

Annus Mirabilis of 1759
.

Background

Great Britain and France had been struggling for control in

Tanjore hoping to raise revenue there. By the time he was ready to launch his assault on Madras it was December before the first French troops reached Madras, delayed partly by the onset of the monsoon season. This gave the British extra time to prepare their defences, and withdraw their outposts - boosting the garrison to nearly 4,000 troops.[4]

Siege

The French commander at Madras, Lally, depicted at the later Siege of Pondicherry by Paul Philipotteaux.

First skirmishes

Madras in 1758 was divided broadly into two distinct parts. The "Black town", or "Great Parachery", where the majority of the native Paraiyar population lived and which was unfortified - and the "White town" where the smaller European population lived, which was dominated by

sortie with 600 men under Colonel William Draper attacking the scattered French. Bloody street fighting broke out which left 300 dead on each side, before Draper's men withdrew into the fort.[5] While the result had been indecisive, and casualties even, the fight had a devastating effect on French morale. The two French commanders, Lally and Bussy, began arguing over the failure to cut off and trap Draper's raiding force. Lally fiercely criticised Bussy in public, but did not dismiss him from his post as second-in-command.[6]

Bombardment commences

As the French took up their positions around the city, ready to besiege Fort St George, they were unable to open fire as they were still waiting for artillery ammunition to be brought up for the major

siege guns. For three weeks the guns stood silent, until on 2 January 1759 they began firing on the citadel. In spite of an intense five-day bombardment and several infantry assaults, the French failed to make the breakthrough they were hoping to - as the British defences remained largely intact. A large mine was detonated under the fortress, but this also made little impact on the defences.[7]

French morale fell further as they realised how little effect their attacks had had on the defenders. Many of the soldiers grew disgruntled and deserted, including 150 who switched sides to join the garrison. Lally was also facing an attack on his lines of supply by

Madras upon the approach of the French. Lally managed to beat off the British attack, but they still remained in the vicinity menacing his rear, stealing much needed supplies and blocking the passage of many to his forces.[8]

Major assault

William Draper who commanded the British defenders during the siege.

After several weeks of heavy bombardment, the French were at last starting to make headway against the town's defences. The main bastion had been destroyed, and a breach opened in the walls. The heavy exchange of fire had flattened much of Madras, with most of the town's houses gutted by shells.[9]

On 30 January a

Calcutta. When Lally discovered this news he became aware that he would have to launch an all-or-nothing assault to storm the fortress before Pocock arrived. He convened a council of war
, where it was agreed to launch an intense bombardment on the British guns, to knock them out of action.

French withdrawal

On 16 February, six British vessels carrying 600 troops arrived off Madras. Faced with this added threat, Lally took the immediate decision to break off the siege and withdraw south.[10]

Aftermath

The British fired 26,554 cannonballs and more than 200,000 cartridge rounds in defence of the town.[11] The failure to take Madras was a huge disappointment for the French and a massive setback to their campaign in India.

The British victory at Madras was considered part of the

eventual British strategic supremacy in India. British forces went on the offensive in India, decisively defeating a French force at Wandiwash and then capturing Pondicherry
in 1761. The string of battles were a major turning point in the battle for dominance on the subcontinent between Britain and France.

See also

  • Great Britain in the Seven Years War

References

  1. ^ McLynn p.181-82
  2. ^ Harvey p.236
  3. ^ Anderson p.417
  4. ^ McLynn p.174-80
  5. ^ McLynn p.180-81
  6. ^ McLynn p.181
  7. ^ McLynn p.181-182
  8. ^ McLynn p.182
  9. ^ McLynn p.182-83
  10. ^ Harvey p.239
  11. ^ McLynn p.165

Bibliography

  • Anderson, Fred. Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766. Faber and Faber, 2001
  • Harvey, Robert. Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor. Sceptre, 1999.
  • Keay, John. The Honourable Company: A History of the English East India Company. Harper Collins, 1993
  • McLynn, Frank. 1759: The Year Britain Became Master of the World. Pimlico, 2005.