Battle of Seringham

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Battle of Seringham
Part of Second Carnatic War
Tritchinopoly during the second carnatic war.jpg
Island of Seringham During Second Carnatic War
Date12 April – 8 June 1753
Location
Srirangam, near Trichinopoly, India
Result British victory; Surrender of French and Chanda Sahib
Belligerents

Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain

Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Maratha Empire

Pavillon royal de la France.svg France

Flag of the principality of Carnatic.gif Nawab of Arcot
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the British East India Company (1707).svg Stringer Lawrence
Flag of the British East India Company (1707).svg Robert Clive
Flag of the British East India Company (1707).svg Captain Dalton
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Murari Rao
Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg Manoji (Thanjavur)
Drapeau du regiment de la Compagnie des Indes en 1756.png Law
Drapeau du regiment de la Compagnie des Indes en 1756.png d'Auteil
Flag of the principality of Carnatic.gif Chanda Sahib
Strength
1,000 troops 620 troops (French), 700 sepoys (French)
Casualties and losses
758 French soldiers, 2000 sepoys
Chanda Sahib killed after surrender

The Battle of Seringham was fought on the island of Srirangam between 1,000 troops of the British East India Company commanded by Stringer Lawrence and a confederacy of French East India Company troops and Chanda Sahib.

Contents

Prelude

Following their victory at Bahour, the British East India Company troops entered the city of Trichinopoly and took position there. Contrary to the orders from Dupleix to fall back on Pondicherry, French troops under the Scotsman Law retreated at once to the island of Srirangam to the north of Trichinopoly and planned to attack and oust the British from Trichinopoly.

On 12 April 1753, Lawrence sent a detachment of 400 men under Captain Dalton to attack Chanda Sahib's troops and drive them out. But with scanty knowledge of the place and the terrain, Dalton and his men were caught unaware by Law who, however panicked, allowed them to retreat safely. Law, then decided to implement his strategy of retreating to Seringham, also known as Srirangam.

Events

Soon after the retreat of the French forces, the British troops advanced and on 17 April 1753, captured Samayapuram to the north of Srirangam. The French troops were now completely encircled.

On 10 April 1753, d'Auteil set up at the head of 620 troops to relieve Law. On 25 April, he reached Utatur, 50 miles (80 km) north of Samayapuram. d'Auteil proceeded to the Coleroon river avoiding Clive's army and sent a messenger to inform Law of his movements but the messenger was captured by Clive who forced him to retreat to Utatur. Taking advantage of Clive's departure from Samayapuram, Law sent a force of 80 Europeans and 700 sepoys to take Samayapuram but was repulsed.

Following this incident, the Thanjavur Maratha allies of the British East India Company took Coiladdy on 7 May 1753. On 20 May 1753, Stringer Lawrence sent an army of 1050 troops under Captain Dalton to Utatur forcing d'Auteil at fall back on Pondicherry. Law attacked Dalton's troops but was repulsed and retreated to Srirangam once again. On 8 June 1753, Clive attacked d'Auteil at Volcondah and forced him to surrender along with his army.

With the situation turning desperate, Law and Chanda surrendered 758 French soldiers and 2000 sepoys. Chanda had agreed to pay the commander of the Kingdom of Tanjore, Manaji, for safe passage. However, immediately upon reaching the Manaji's camp, Chanda Sahib was seized and eventually beheaded. [1]

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References

  1. Naravane, M.S. (2014). Battles of the Honorourable East India Company. A.P.H. Publishing Corporation. pp. 157–158. ISBN   9788131300343.