15,832
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Add internal link
|territory=
|combatant1=[[East India Company]]
|combatant2=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanjavur [Tanjore]]
|commander1= [[Stringer Lawrence|Col Stringer Lawrence]]
|commander2=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratapsingh_of_Thanjavur Pratap Singh Rajah of Tanjore]
'''This was an event during the [[2nd Carnatic War]]'''<br>
== Synopsis ==
Following the death of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tukkoji Tukkoji], Rajah of [[Tanjore]] there was a struggle for the succession. The British hoped to extend their influence on the Coromandel Coast and agreed to help Shahuji, one of the claimants, recover the throne of Tanjore. Towards the end of March 1749 they sent Captain Cope with 430 Europeans, 1000 sepoys and some artillery overland and battering cannon by sea to capture the fort of Devi-Cotah. On 14 April a monsoon storm blew away the tents, killed many transport animals and damaged the stores of the land force. Worse befell the naval squadron. Admiral Boscawen's flagship [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Namur_(1697) HMS Namur] was wrecked and 520 crew drowned, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Pembroke_(1733) HMS Pembroke] ran aground with only 12 men saved and the hospital ship Apollo was lost. On approaching Devi Cotah it was clear to Captain Cope that they would not be supported by Tanjore forces and they were not strong enough to assault the fort. The British force then retreated to [[Fort St David]].
Although Sahuji's cause seemed lost, the British determined to seize the fort. On 27 May Major Lawrence Stringer, with Capt Scrimsour, Capt Dalton and [[Robert Clive|Lieut Clive]] left Fort St David by sea on the ships [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Exeter_(1697) Exeter] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Harwich_(1743) Harwich]. They landed opposite the fort and siege batteries were set up which in three days opened a breach in the fortifications. They managed to ferry troops across the river on a raft in the face of fire from the enemy outside the walls. Clive led an assault on the enemy entrenchment which was temporarily repulsed but eventually the breach was stormed and Devi-Cotah was captured. The Company concluded a treaty with Pratap Singh the incumbent Rajah. Under this they kept the fort and pensioned off Shahuji.
