Siege of Coimbatore

Siege of Coimbatore
Part of 3rd Mysore War
Date:	13 June- 3 November 1791
Location:	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Presidency:	Madras Presidency
Co-ordinates:	10.991160°N 76.993902°E
Result:	British defeat
Combatants
East India Company	Kingdom of Mysore
Commanders
Lt Chalmers	Kummer-ud-Deen
Strength
120 Topasses 200 Travancore sepoys 350 Madras sepoys	8000 infantry "many irregulars" 14 guns and 4 mortars
Casualties

Summary

Charles Cornwallis entrusted the defence of Coimbatore province and Palghaut to Major Cuppage who considered Coimbatore fort indefensible. Lieutenant Chalmers (later General Sir John Chalmers) was in charge of the town and decided to defend the fort which was invested on 13 July by Tipu's forces consisting of 200 infantry, a considerable body of cavalry and 8 guns. After a long bombardment, the enemy launched a general assault on 11 August which was repulsed by the determined defenders assisted by a young Frenchman, Migot de la Combe, who was in the service of the Rajah of Travancore and commanded the sepoys. Tipu's general, Kummer-ud-Deen, renewed the siege with greater forces and the garrison was obliged to capitulate on 3 November despite an attempt by Cuppage to relieve the fort.

External Links

Anglo-Mysore Wars Wars Wikipedia
3rd Mysore War Wikipedia
Coimbatore Gazetteer 1857

Historical books on-line

History of British India Vol V by James Mill 1826 Assault on Coimbatore Google Books
Annals of the Wars of the 18th Century Vol IV by Sir Edward Cust 1862 Siege of Coimbatore Google Book
Correspondence of Charles, First Marquis Cornwallis by Charles Ross 1858 Siege of Coimbatore Google Books