Siege of Madras
Siege of Madras | |
---|---|
Part of Madras, Madras Presidency, India 13°05′24″N 80°16′12″E / 13.0901°N 80.2701°E | |
Result | British victory |
Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau
2,200 sepoys
1,700 Europeans
4,000 Europeans
3,400 sepoys
600 native cavalry
The siege of Madras was a siege of
The British victory helped contribute to the
Background
Great Britain and France had been struggling for control in
Siege
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
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
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
Major assault
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
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
See also
- Great Britain in the Seven Years War
References
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.