Battle of Wandiwash, 1760

Plan of the Battle of Wandewash, Gain’d the 22.d of Jany: 1760, by the English, under the Command of Colonel Coote, / over the French, Commanded by Lieut=, 1760 (Vandavāsi, Tamil Nādu, India) 12°30'15"N 79°36'20"E

A map of the Battle of Wandiwash fought on 22 January 1760 between the army of the British East India Company, commanded by Colonel (later Sir), Eyre Coote (1726-83) and the French, commanded by Thomas Arthur, comte de Lally, Baron de Tollendal (1702-66), resulting in a British victory. Seven Years War (1756-63): Third Carnatic War (1757-63). Oriented with west to top.

The key to the colouring of the troops divides both the British and the French into European infantry and cavalry, and ‘Black Troops’ on either side into ‘Seapoys’ and cavalry.

The attribution to Pleydell is made on stylistic grounds. This is one of fourteen manuscript plans in the collection by Pleydell of fortifications and/or actions during the Third Carnatic War (1757-63), which was part of the Seven Years War. They were all placed, in Cumberland's original collection, in Volume IV/70/1-14. Their current RCIN numbers are 732125, 732126, 733002-8, 733016.a, 733020, 733027, 733028. It is not known when they were drawn but it must have been sometime before Cumberland's death in 1765. The source material for this set of plans is unknown; there is no evidence to suggest that Pleydell ever went to India and, in 1760, he was serving in Germany.

Additional text: [left, down left side of map in rectangular panel, the ‘References’ to the Strength of the British and French troops; a key to the symbols by which they are distinguished on the map; a key to the position of the French on the morning of the 22nd Jan.; and ‘Col:l Coote’s Relation of the Action’; right, down right side of map in rectangular panel, a continuation of Coote’s ‘Relation’.]

Condition: one fold line. Verso: brown discolouration on right half; induced discolouration.