Capture of Pondicherry


 
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Naval History of Great Britain - Vol I

1793

Colonial Expeditions - East Indies

120

possession of the different French factories in this quarter; and Chandernagore, Karica, Yanam, Mahé, and some others, yielded without resistance. Such was not the case, however, with Pondicherry. This important fortress, reputed to be in full as good a state of defence as when attacked at the breaking out of the last war, was, after every requisite preparation, besieged by Colonel Braithwaite, at the head of a powerful force.

On the 1st of August, the governor, Colonel Prosper de Clermont was summoned to surrender, but refused; and the bombardment commenced, slightly on the 20th, and with fall effect on the 22d. In less than two days, the enemy's guns were silenced, and he exhibited flags of truce on all the salient angles. Upon this the fire of the British ceased, and an officer from the fort presented himself, with a letter from Colonel Clermont, desiring to capitulate, and to be allowed 24 hours to reduce the terms into form. This was refused by Colonel Braithwaite, who demanded that the place should be surrendered at discretion by 8 a.m. on the 25th ; until when, he replied, he would cease to fire, but not to work. A second deputation, however, disposed Colonel Braithwaite to accept of terms less rigorous, and, on the 23d, a capitulation was signed; which, while it considered the garrison, amounting to 645 Europeans and 1014 seapoys, as prisoners of war, secured the lives and properties of the inhabitants.

The loss sustained by the British amounted, of the Europeans, to 37 killed and 49 wounded, and of the natives, to 56 killed and 82 wounded. While the siege was carrying on, the British 38-gun frigate Minerva, Rear-admiral the Honourable William Cornwallis, assisted by three Indiamen, effectually blocked up the place by sea, chasing entirely off the coast the French frigate Cybèle, now commanded (owing, we suppose, to the change of dynasty) by Captain Pierre-Julien Thréouart, and accompanied by three smaller vessels, supposed to have on board supplies and reinforcements for the garrison.

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