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Second Siege of Trichinopoly

21 bytes added, 22:03, 17 May 2010
typo
|date=3 January 1753 - 11 October 1754
|location=[[Trichinopoly]], Tamil Nadu
|presidency=[[Madras (Presidency)|Madras]]
|co-ordinates=[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=10.833284,78.697513&z=13&t=h&hl=en 10.833284°N 78.697513°E]
|result=British victory
== Synopsis ==
'''Siege begins'''<br>
The Mysoreans occupying Srirangam had professed friendship with the Nawab of Arcot and the British while inriguing intriguing with Dupleix at Pondicherry. Realising the situation Captain Dalton attempted to drive them and the Mahrattas out of Srirangam on 3 January 1753 but was repulsed with considerable loss. Dalton found himself besieged and with only three weeks supplies. An appeal to Fort St David brought Stringer Lawrence and reinforcements which arrived on 17 May.
'''Attempt on Seringham'''<br>
Lawrence made another attempt to clear the enemy out of Srirangam on 21 May but had to retire to Fukeer's Tope 4 miles south of the town (see 1753 map). Astruc managed to occupy raised ground called FIve Five Rocks which allowed him to control the area around the town.
'''Battle of Golden Rock'''<br>
'''Battle of Sugarloaf Rock'''<br>
Lawrence left in search of supplies returning on 18 August not only with a convoy but with 5,000 troops from Tanjore and 170 Europeans & 300 sepoys from Fort St David. M. Brennier, who had replaced M. Astruc, deployed his forces between Golden Rock and Sugarloaf Rock to prevent access to the town. In the action that followed The the French and their allies were defeated and retreated to Weyconda from where they were driven out on 4 September moving Mootchellinoor across the Cauveri River from Seringham. M. Ansruc then returned with 400 Europeans, 2,000 sepoys and six guns with 3,000 Mahratta cavalry and took command once more. The French were then able to retake the Five Rocks, and the Golden and Sugarloaf Rocks, and resumed intercepting supplies.
'''Battle of 2 October'''<br>
'''Dalton's Battery'''<br>
Dupleix sent further reinforcements to Seringham. 300 Europeans and 1,200 sepoys under M. de Mainville arrived on 21 November. At 3 am 3am on 9 December an assault party with ladders surprised the sepoy guards at Dalton's Battery intending to blow in the gate. They gave themselves away by firing two captured guns and were then caught in the narrow passage leading to the gate. Pinned down, they eventually had to surrender. Out of 600 in the attacking force, 41 were killed and 364 taken prisoner.
'''Ambush at Coutpara'''<br>
Once again Duplex Dupleix sent reinforcements and de Mainville determined to intercept an incoming supply convoy. With an escort of 180 Europeans and 800 sepoys with four guns, the supply train set out from Killahcottah about 12 miles from Trichinopoly. De Mainville dispatched 12,000 Mahratta horse to spring an ambush once his 400 French and 6,000 sepoys had made a frontal attack. On 26 February 1754 the plan succeeded and 50 of the escort were killed and 138 taken prisoner. Following this the French re-established their forces around TrichinoplyTrichinopoly.
'''Conclusion'''<br>
The siege was brought to an end when Dupleix was recalled to France and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Godeheu Charles Godeheu] became governor of the French East India Company in August 1754. He negotiated a truce with Thomas Saunders the resident at Madras which resulted in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Pondicherry Treaty of Pondicherry] bringing the 2nd Carnatic War to a close.
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