Siege of Pondicherry 1761
| Siege of Pondicherry 1761 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of 3rd Carnatic War Seven Years War | ||
| Date: | 4 September 1760-16 January 1761 | |
| Location: | Pondicherry, Puducherry Union Territory | |
| Presidency: | Madras | |
| Co-ordinates: | 11.845116°N 79.875241°E | |
| Result: | British victory | |
| Combatants | ||
| East India Company | French | |
| Commanders | ||
| Lt Gen Sir Eyre Coote Rear-Admiral Charles Steevens |
Comte de Lally | |
| Strength | ||
| Casualties | ||
| 32 officer and 500 other ranks | ||
This was an event during the 3rd Carnatic War
Summary
After a series of military successes, Eyre Coote moved to blockade Pondicherry with reinforcements from Britain. In September Major Monson was promoted colonel and took over command. He mounted an assault on the redoubts in the boundary hedge which formed the outer defence of the city. This was successful though Monson was wounded and had to relinquish command to Coote who completed the capture of the redoubts. In October batteries were constructed and bombardment began in November. In January 1761 the British blockading naval squadron under Rear-Admiral Charles Steevens was hit by a hurricane and severely reduced. Despite this set back the siege continued and the French garrison surrendered on 16 January.
Monson's assault force
1st Column under Col George Monson
- Draper's 79th Foot (500 men)
- Coote's 84th Foot (500 men)
- Marines (200 men)
- Morris's 89th Highlanders (150 men)
- Sepoys (500 men)
2nd Column under Maj Joseph Smith
- Madras European Regiment (800 men)
- Foreigners (120 men)
- Bombay European Regiment (350 men) under Capt Gore
- Sepoys (600 men)
- HMS Norfolk (74) also under Captain Richard Kempenfelt carrying Rear-Admiral Stevens
- HMS Panther (60) also under Captain Philip Affleck (dismasted)
- HMS America (60) also under Captain Robert Haldane (dismasted)
- HMS Medway (60) also under Captain John Bladon Tinker (dismasted)
- HMS Falmouth (50) also under Captain William Brereton (dismasted)
- HMS Newcastle (50) also under Captain Digby Dent (drove ashore and wrecked)
- HMS Queenborough (24) (drove ashore and wrecked)
- HMS Duc d'Aquitaine under Captain Sir William Hewitt (foundered with all hands)
- HMS Sunderland (60) also under Captain The Honourable James Colville (foundered with all hands)
- HMS Protector (fireship) (drove ashore and wrecked)
- HMS Drake (store ship) (foundered with all hands)
Biographies
Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906
Eyre Coote (1726-83)
Comte de Lally (1700-66)
George Monson (1730-76)
Joseph Smith (1733?-90)
Charles Steevens (1705-61)
External Link
Carnatic Wars Heritage History
3rd Carnatic War Wikipedia
Seven Years War www.historyofwar.org
The Siege of Pondicherry www.historyofwar.org
Capture of Pondicherry Google Books -