WANDIWASH, BATTLE OF

(Jan. 22, 1760), in the history of India, a confrontation between the French, under the Count de Lally, and the British, under Sir Eyre Coote. It was the decisive battle in the Anglo-French struggle in southern India during the Seven Years' War (1756-63). Lally, cut off from sea support by the withdrawal of Admiral d'Ach's fleet and hampered by lack of funds and dissensions among his troops, tried to recover the fort of Wandiwash near Pondicherry. There he was attacked and routed by Coote with about 1,700 British troops against about 2,000 French. Lally's best general, the Marquis de Bussy, was captured. The French were thereafter confined to Pondicherry, which surrendered after much privation, on Jan. 16, 1761. Lally was later shot, after a trial in Paris, for alleged dereliction of duty.