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The Naval & Military Gazette

Fly-By-Night Neutral Press, Inc.

"All the News That Fits, We Print"

(Est. Goa, January 1640; Re-Est. Goa, January 1782)

Vol.4, No.8 -- 1 March 1783

(from Campaign For India ®, a Close Action ® Campaign Game)




Siege of Cochin Begins, Two Blockades---(30 Nov 1782)
COCHIN -- Generaal-Majoor Nicolaas Wilhelmus Petrus van Diepen, Goeverneur-Generaal of Ceylon, just landed 8 Transports of troops, approximately 1500 European troops plus supporting native formations, and immediately started to besiege this until recently Dutch port--in fact it was the Dutch VOC capital on this Malabarcoast. This "Gallo-Batavian Army" is composed of the French Regiment d'Aquitaine, the 2e Bataillon, Regiment d'Ile-de-France, and the Regiment de Royal Rousillon, plus the siege train with detachments of the Regiment de Artillerie Besançon and the Regiment de Artillerie Metz. The Dutch VOC contribution is their elite Lijf Jagers, the German mercenary Wuerttemberg Regiment and a detachment of the Swiss mercenary Regiment de Meuron. In addition to the European formations are the supporting native troops: the Bataillon de Sipayes de Batticaloa, the Bataillon de Sipayes de Columbo, the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de l'Aquitaine, the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment d'Ile-de-France, and the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de la Royal Rousillon.

Assisting this operation are no less than two squadrons of warships of the Bourbon French Navy. The first squadron, under Vice-Amiral Henri Laurent de Toucheville, is composed of 6 SOLs blockading this same port of COCHIN in direct support of the siege operations being conducted against it. The second squadron, under the command of Capitaine-5 de Nova, contains 3 SOLs, a Frigate and a Corvette, and is blockading CALICUT for the purpose of keeping the British army sitting there bottled up. As there are so few bullocks available to transport supplies to armies on the march, land forces are very dependant on coastal lighters transporting food from ports to shore near an army. However, no boat captain would risk his life against major warships blockading the coast to prevent just that.


British Malabar Brigade Reaches Tellicherry---(1 Dec 1782)
TELLICHERRY -- Major General John Begone's force, composed of most of the 73rd (Macleod's Highland) Foot Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, Bombay European Regiment, accompanied by the supporting 1st, 3rd, and 11th Bombay Native Infantry Battalions, totalling approximately 500 European troops, marched south from this long held British port. This was an immediate departure following their arrival here yesterday, after getting the latest port reports for this coast to maybe better evaluate what they might be marching into.


Mysore Troops Reinforce Porto Novo---(4 Dec 1782)
PORTO NOVO -- Nearly 1400 Mysore Sepoy Infantry troops marched into this port which was held by the British, after defeating an Indian army, for less than half a year before being taken back by the Allies. The two Mysore battalions joined the small French garrison left here, composed of detachments of the French employed German mercenary 1er Bataillon, Regiment de la Mark along with part of the supporting 2e Bataillon de Sipayes de Pondicherri.


British Fleet Departs Bombay---(4 Dec 1782)
BOMBAY -- The entire present British Line-of-Battle in this theater of 7 SOLS, along with 3 Corvettes and 4 Transports carrying a fresh detachment of the 1st Marine (Smedley's Rangers) Battalion of India newly recruited in this port, weighed anchor and sailed from this port today. One Corvette, the Carnatic, was left in the port to revictual and careen. Two very interesting things were noted by our correspondant in the British headquarters base of the Bombay presidency. First, that given what had to have been a quite depleted supply state of the British fleet when they arrived here a mere 10 days ago, they could not have fully resupplied in such a short period of time, despite this being the best revictualling station on this coast. Second, they still haven't careened the fouled and now very slow 70-gun SOL Burford. While it hardly matters while escorting wallowing Transports, it can later be a tactical liability. Given these two facts, one must figure that Vice Admiral Sir James Washbuckle, Bt. sees a real need to be someplace else quickly.


French Brigade Arrives in Negapatam---(4 Dec 1782)
NEGAPATAM -- Lieutenant-Général de la Mod has marched back into this retaken Dutch port, which now stands as a bastion against the only two British field armies, both of which are on the other coast, and who don't have a naval force to sea-lift them around the horn of the sub-continent for "a while". His small "brigade" of about 300 troops, marching from the victory at PORTO NOVO, is composed of detachments of the 1er and 2e Bataillons de Regiment d'Austrasie, the Volontaires de Bourbon, and detachments of the 3e Legion de Volontaires Etrangers de la Marine and the 1er Battalion, Regiment de la Mark, along with the supporting Native Infantry formations of the 1er and 2e Bataillon de Sipayes de Pondicherri, and the Bataillon de Sipayes de Trincomalee. They join the garrison force of the 3e Legion de Volontaires Etrangers de la Marine and the Indian troops of two Mysore Sepoy Infantry battalions from Hyder Ali.


Cochin Falls to Gallo-Batavian Army---(6 Dec 1782)
COCHIN -- The British garrison here of about 400 troops, composed of a detachments of the 73rd (Macleod's Highland) Foot Regiment and the1st Battalion, 1st Madras European Regiment along with the supporting troops of a detachment of the 1st Bombay Native Infantry Battalion and the 18th Carnatic (Native Infantry) Battalion, capitulated to an Allied army composed of the French Regiment d'Aquitaine, the Regiment Royal Rousillon and a detachment of the 2e Bataillon, Regiment d'Ile-de-France, plus the Dutch VOC Lijf Jagers, the Wuertemberg Regiment, and a detachment of the 1er Bataillon, Regiment de Meuron, along with the supporting Native Infantry formations of the Bataillon de Sipayes de Batticaloa, Bataillon de Sipayes de Columbo, the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de l'Aquitaine, the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment d'Ile-de-France, and the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de la Royal Rousillon. 2e Bataillon, Regiment d'Ile-de-France, Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment d'Ile-de-France

This "Gallo-Batavian Army" was commanded by Generaal-Majoor Nicolaas Wilhelmus Petrus van Diepen, Goeverneur-Generaal of Ceylon, and took back this former Dutch VOC headquarters port after a siege of only a week, despite the fact that the garrison had been reinforced almost exactly a month ago by Brigadier General Mark Bassett. The garrison was just overwhelmed by the approximately 1500 troops brought to bear, along with the siege train handled by the French detachments of the Regiment de Artillerie Besançon, and Regiment de Artillerie Metz. Of course an immediate call for allied troops from Hyder Ali of Mysore was sent inland, to help hold this port from future depredations by the British.

This siege was ably assisted by the blockading squadron of ships presently under the command of the usually scouting Capitaine-12 Toulouse Turpitude Sur la Monde, commanding the Frigate Fine, who was carrying intel from the fleet and found himself senior officer on this station. It should also be noted from the previous issue of this Gazette, a British relief force was successfully bottled up in CALICUT by another French blockade, thus preventing this garrison from being relieved. Normally splitting a fleet into small squadrons for operations like this puts it at great risk, but in this case the British fleet had been routed from the area, and is presently still revictualling in their naval base at BOMBAY. As soon as the garrison fell, Fine sailed into the port along with 8 Transports, putting the stalwart Capitaine-18 Krzystof Krzyzanowski of the captured SOL Worcester back in command offshore here, though the force at sea now is not quite large enough to effect a blockade (now it would be against coastal craft carrying supplies for a marching enemy land army coming here).


Parched French Ships Make Landfall---(7 Dec 1782)
TRINCOMALEE -- Commodore-4 Jean-Michel de Lanois entered this strategic Allied port yesterday with a Frigate and Corvette, both in a supply state so critically low as to be about to induce their crews to mutiny! They joined the SOL and Frigate already in this port, and Commodore de Lanois shifted his flag from the very large Frigate Pourvoyeuse to the large Frigate Bellone. The Corvette Subtile was immediately beached and heaved over on her side for careening. In the meantime, it appears that Commodore de Lanois plans to occupy his time with merchant raiding with the well supplied ships he found, while his own ships are being brought back to a fully ready state.


British Malabar and Coromandel Brigades Join---(7 Dec 1782)
CALICUT -- Major General John Begone's "British Malabar Brigade", composed of the 73rd (Macleod's Highland) Foot Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, Bombay European Regiment, accompanied by the supporting 1st, 3rd, and 11th Bombay Native Infantry Battalions, quick-marched under the French blockade into this British port today. Waiting for him was Brigadier General Mark Bassett's "British Coromandel Brigade", composed of the 23rd Light Dragoon Regiment of Horse, the 2nd Battalion, 42nd (Royal Highland) Foot Regiment, the 78th (Seaforth Highland) Foot Regiment, and part of the 1st Battalion, 1st Madras European Regiment along with the supporting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Nawab Cavalry Regiments, the 24th and 25th Bengal Native Infantry Battalions, the 16th and part of the 18th Carnatic (Native Infantry) Battalions, and the Carnatic Grenadiers. This brought the combined "British India Army" here to over 1600 infantry troops--an impressive number even if they didn't have the mounted troops support to take local cavalry superiority away from the Allies.

Yet they are still being blockaded by a French fleet--of no less than 8 SOLs and a Corvette--preventing victuals from reaching a marching force, since there are not nearly enough bullocks for a field force to supply itself. The "British Malabar Brigade" itself suffered some losses in men, from desertions as well as victims to small ambushing parties of Indians while foraging the countryside for supplies while marching here. The blockade effect on land supplies doesn't last very far out from a port before coastal craft from the next port can perform the job--provided they aren't also blockaded from the next port on the coast.


British Reinforcements Join Fleet---(9 Dec 1782)
ARABIAN SEA -- The British reinforcements, composed of the 74-gun SOL Defence, the 64-gun SOLs Asia and Africa, the 32-gun Frigate Greyhound and the 12-gun Corvette Spy, along with 4 Transports loaded with approximately 800 British Army troops of the newly raised 100th (Humberston's) Foot and 101st (Sandford's) Foot, just arrived in the theater under the command of Commodore Barrows. In an amazing concidence, they immediately ran into the British fleet, which had just sailed out from Bombay. This brings the British fleet here to 10 SOLs, 3 Corvettes (Spy was immediately detached again), 8 Transports (average of about half load in troops/marines), and a new and very important Frigate--the only Frigate the British have in the theater at present.


British Army Braves Blockade, Withdraws---(9-12 Dec 1782)
CALICUT -- The "British India Army" of approximately 1400 troops plus cavalry left this day to march South and hopefully relieve the siege of Cochin. This "army" is being led by both Major General John Begone and Brigadier General Mark Bassett, Commanders-in-Chief of the Madras Presidency Army and Bombay Presidency Army respectively. The force is composed of 23rd Light Dragoon Regiment of Horse, the 2nd Battalion, 42nd (Royal Highland) Foot Regiment, the 73rd (Macleod's Highland) Foot Regiment, the 78th (Seaforth Highland) Foot Regiment, part of the 1st Battalion, 1st Madras European Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, Bombay European Regiment, accompanied by the supporting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Nawab Cavalry Regiments, the 24th and 25th Bengal Native Infantry Battalions, the 16th and part of the 18th Carnatic (Native Infantry) Battalions, the 1st, 3rd, and part of the 11th Bombay Native Infantry Battalions, and the Carnatic Grenadiers.

This "British India Army" braved the short period of time without supplies, due to the fairly large French blockading force offshore of this port. As they hoped, their re-supply by coastal lighters resumed after a day's march south, indicating that there was not also a blockade of COCHIN. That might have been a clue that maybe it had already capitulated. They continued marching south, and then their advance cavalry scouts reported the bad news--that COCHIN had fallen to the enemy, who now had their similarly large army safely ensconced within those fortifications. The British could also see that there was a small squadron of French warships scouting the coast, and more French ships in the port (however they were just Transports, the Frigate having left days ago). General Begone ordered a strategic withdrawal back to CALICUT.

However, the French had been tracking their own deployment schedule, having so many small squadrons acting in pretty such concert with each other, and split their fleet blockading CALICUT into two squadrons, sending one south to immediately blockade the COCHIN coast and cut off the British field force's supply from that region. That plan was quite successful, the lack of the blockade earlier having lured the British farther afield. This British "army" now has to march back north without any supplies reaching them


Herculean Logistical Efforts of French Fleet---(12-15 Dec 1782)
COCHIN -- Vice-Amiral Henri Laurent de Toucheville entered this port on the 12th, on the quarterdeck of his flagship Orient, to get a personal view of the exact situation on land. Then there proceeded a cycling of warships in and out of the port, maximizing their presence offshore while also taking full advantage of the re-supply capabilities of this roadstead. While the retreat of the British Royal Navy fleet on this Malabar coast to their distant northern base of BOMBAY is probable, it seems that the Royal Bourbon Navy is being prudent in not taking any more risks than they really have to to maximise their prosecution of this campaign in the meantime.


Retreating British Army Suffers Attrition---(12-16 Dec 1782)
COCHIN -- Having found they were too late to save this port and catch the Allied army in a field battle, the British "India Army" here is being lowed by the trap of the Bourbon French Navy, and forced to retreat in ignominy back north to CALICUT. Troops are going missing left and right as a result of the combination of the multiple naval blockades being prosecuted and the natives of this region who are rising up to lynch straggling English troops in their time of trial.


Merchant Raiding Streak---(15 Dec 1782)
MADRAS -- Capitaine-16 Dumaitz de Goimpy manage to snatch up his fifth merchant ship capture in a single fortnight, making a new time record for this theater in this war. Tongues will no doubt be wagging from the amount of prize money he is racking up for both himself and his commander-in-chief. The Madras branch of Lloyd's of London has also posted a bounty for this French officer--though there appears to be little chance of anyone collecting it.


British Army Returns to Calicut Very Hungry---(16 Dec 1782)
CALICUT -- The "British India Army", under Major General John Begone and Brigadier General Mark Bassett, has finally returned back north to this port after finding their mission to the COCHIN garrison they hoped to relieve to have been thwarted by the very fast fall of that port. The French double-blockade was very effective, resulting in the British losing approximately 300 troops to desertions and ambushes of foraging parties during their march south and then back north--a considerable loss for no return.


Allied Army Marches South---(16 Dec 1782)
COCHIN -- Generaal-Majoor Nicolaas Wilhelmus Petrus van Diepen, Goeverneur-Generaal of Ceylon, has started the majority of this "Gallo-Batavian Army" marching south towards ANJENGO. This army is composed of the French Regiment d'Aquitaine, Regiment Royal Rousillon, a detachment of the 2e Bataillon, Regiment d'Ile-de-France, and most of the Dutch VOC Lijf Jagers, and a detachment of the 1er Bataillon, Regiment de Meuron, along with the supporting Native Infantry formations of the Bataillon de Sipayes de Batticaloa, the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de l'Aquitaine, the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment d'Ile-de-France, and the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de la Royal Rousillon. In keeping with the importance of this VOC headquarters port, and the fact that there is a large British force nearby, a detachment of the Dutch VOC elite Lijf Jagers troops was left behind in garrison, accompanied by the entire Wuertemberg Regiment of German mercenaries in Dutch VOC service; along with the supporting Bataillon de Sipayes de Columbo. In addition, they are awaiting the Mysore infantry reinforcements that have been called for from the interior of this sub-continent.

At the same time, the siege train, handled by the French detachments of the Regiment de Artillerie Besançon and the Regiment de Artillerie Metz, was loaded onto one of the eight Transports in this roadstead, escorted at anchor by a pair of SOLs under the command of Capitaine-18 Krzystof Krzyzanowski of the Worcester.


British Fleet Calls In At Goa---(17 Dec 1782)
GOA -- The entire British Royal Navy East Indies Station Line-of-Battle arrived on this day, being 10 SOLs, along with 3 Corvettes, and 8 (approximately half-) loaded Transports, all under the command of Vice Admiral Sir James Washbuckle, Bt. The troops aboard the Transports are the newly raised 100th (Humberston's) Foot and 101st (Sandford's) Foot, and a newly recruited detachment of the 1st Marine (Smedley's Rangers) Battalion of India.

Given the recent announcement (in the previous issue) of the newly formed League of Armed Neutralities in the East Indies, and of the considerably earlier news of the secret treaty between the Portuguese East India Company and Hyder Ali of Mysore (who is allied with the French against the British), relations were decidedly cool and communications kept to the minimum allowed by protocol. It appears that the fleet will be here for at least some time, as preparations are obviously being made for revictualing of ships and the careening of the 64-gun SOL Monmouth.

The Portuguese Royal Navy has based at GOA the Ship-of-the-Line Santo Francis Havier, the Frigates Crusario, Penha de Franca, Santo Miguel, Santo Antonio, Leão, Elefante, Tigre, Leopardo, Pantera, and Enguia, the Corvettes Antílope, and Veado, plus 15 Gallivats. The Danish Royal Navy has some new arrivals bringing up it's strength -- the Ship-of-the-Line ze Fabulous, the two East Indiamen Copenhagen and Nicobar, and the Corvette Princess Sophie. The latter East Indiaman just arrived with a cargo of about 8 tons of plate money picked up from the Swedish Riksbank, to be used primarily for shipbuilding and armaments, plus more copper bullion for the Tranquebar mint (the only Danish mint outside of the mother country) to make into local currency.

On the Portuguese East India Company's army list are the European troops of the Regiment da Henriques, the Regiment da Britto, and the Regiment da Souza, the guns of a double strength Regiment da Artilharia, and the exceptional horses of an Esquadrão da Cavalaria, supported by the native Legion do Sepoys.


British Army Splits, Brigade Heads North---(18 Dec 1782)
CALICUT -- Brigadier General Mark Bassett is being left in this port with a "Malabar Brigade", about 800 troops, composed of the 73rd (Macleod's Highland) Foot Regiment, the 78th (Seaforth Highland) Foot Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, Bombay European Regiment, accompanied by the supporting the 1st, 3rd, and the 11th Bombay Native Infantry Battalions, and the Carnatic Grenadiers. This is apparantly a strong force to prevent Allied depradations from reaching any farther north than they already are.

Major General John Begone has continued his march (or retreat?) north with a "Coromandel Brigade" -- about 600 troops plus the cavalry, the latter mainly being really useful in an offensive role. An interesting development, which is sure to spark considerable debate. This force is composed of the 23rd Light Dragoon Regiment of Horse, the 2nd Battalion, 42nd (Royal Highland) Foot Regiment, and part of the 1st Battalion, 1st Madras European Regiment, accompanied by the supporting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Nawab Cavalry Regiments, the 24th and 25th Bengal Native Infantry Battalions, the 16th and part of the 18th Carnatic (Native Infantry) Battalions.

But whatever the intentions, it must be fairly important, as there was still an effective blockade of this port, so some more losses of troops before escaping out from the induced zone lacking logistical support was inevitable. The French squadron of 3 SOLS and a Corvette is under the command of Capitaine-5 de Nova, of the Argonaute.


French Frigate Careening---(19 Dec 1782)
TRINCOMALEE -- The large French Corvette Subtile, having been finished careening some days ago, has been replaced with the large French Frigate Pourvoyeuse, now heaved on her side for the same hull scraping process. There are no feast preparations being made, and there is not that much growth on her hull, so indications are that this is a preventative careening, making sure that she stays clean and fast for at least the next several fortnights.


British 'Hound Loosed---(21 Dec 1782)
GOA -- Given the fact that this is an open and neutral port, it is understandable that information from here is quite good. This morning the British Greyhound, their only Frigate in this theater, weighed anchor with the tide and made it's way out to sea alone. There is much speculation as to it's destination and mission, but the lack of social graces on the part of the British officers with the inhabitants of this port has also had the effect of preventing straining ears from getting near loose lips.


Gallo-Batavian Army Starts Another Siege---(22-24 Dec 1782)
ANJENGO -- Generaal-Majoor Nicolaas Wilhelmus Petrus van Diepen, Goeverneur-Generaal of Ceylon, has reached this British stronghold anchoring the southern Malabar Coast. The approximately 1000 Allied troops of this polyglot "brigade" are composed of the French Regiment d'Aquitaine, the Regiment Royal Rousillon, a detachment of the 2e Bataillon, Regiment d'Ile-de-France, and most of the Dutch VOC Lijf Jagers, and a detachment of the Swiss Mercenary 1er Bataillon, Regiment de Meuron, along with the supporting Native Infantry formations of the Bataillon de Sipayes de Batticaloa, the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de l'Aquitaine, the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment d'Ile-de-France, and the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de la Royal Rousillon.

That same day, Capitaine-18 Krzystof Krzyzanowski of the Worcester arrived with a blockading squadron of 3 SOLs and a Corvette, plus four Transports. The following day, the Transport Lauriston (named for Jean Law de Lauriston, twice recently Governor of French India) landed the French siege train, handled by the French detachments of the Regiment de Artillerie Besançon and the Regiment de Artillerie Metz. With all the assets in place, this port was immediately besieged.


Mysore Reinforcements Arrive on Malabar---(24 Dec 1782)
COCHIN -- Two battalions totalling approximately 1200 Mysore Sepoy Infantry troops streamed into this port from inland. They join the already substantial approximately battalion-sized Dutch garrison stationed at this important VOC trading station, composed of a detachment of the Lijf Jagers, along with the Wuertemberg Regiment, and supported by the Bataillon de Sipayes de Columbo, along with the just reformed native troops of the Cochin Sipaayers.


British Brigade Continues March North---(24 Dec 1782)
TELLICHERRY -- Major General John Begone, Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Presidency Army, with his "British Coromandel Brigade" of infantry and cavalry, marched through this long held British port enroute for the most northerly port on this Malabar Coast--the formerly Indian port of MANGALORE. A shame that the men weren't given a day off to rest on the high Holy day of Christmas.


French Fleet In Port For Christmas---(25 Dec 1782)
COCHIN -- Vice-Amiral Henri Laurent de Toucheville, Commander-in-Chief of His Most Christian Majesty's Royal (Bourbon) Navy on the East Indies Station, was kind to his very hard working sailors, and took his local fleet of 8 SOLs and 1 Corvette into this port on this very important Christian feast day.


British Fleet Catching Up on Careening---(27 Dec 1782)
GOA -- After too long neglecting the fouled state of the hulls of the fleet, the British yesterday finished careening the 64-gun SOL Monmouth and now today have the presently very slow 70-gun SOL Burford beached and heaved up on it's side being careened. Meanwhile, revictualing of the rest of the fleet is proceeding apace.


French Coromandel Forces Conference---(30 Dec 1782)
NEGAPATAM -- Commodore-4 Jean-Michel de Lanois has arrived off the southern Coromandel Coast, joining with Capitaine-16 de Goimpy for a respectable combined squadron of 1 SOL, 3 Frigates and a Corvette. They are presently conferencing on future plans and intentions with Lieutenant-Général de la Mod, who has a substantial garrison here.


British Brigade Arrives At Northern Port---(1 Jan 1783)
MANGALORE -- Major General John Begone marched into this former Indian port on this New Year's day, to find that the British Frigate Greyhound, Captain-13 Ian MacEwan commanding, had just arrived a couple days before him. There was much discussion between them, as this was the first time in many months that the Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Presidency Army had gotten direct information about plans and intentions from the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy on the East Indies Station, even if only by courier.


French Fleet Sails On New Years---(1-2 Jan 1783)
COCHIN -- The 8 SOLs and 1 Corvette of this Royal Bourbon Fleet sailed out of this port recently restored to the Allied cause, and were immediately joined by two other French forces, adding another 2 SOLs and 2 Frigates to this naval force. One Frigate was immediately dispatched on a mission. While the fleet sailed southward the following day, it immediately sighted and joined with the blockade of 9 more ships there.


French Coromandel Brigade On The March---(3 Jan 1783)
NEGAPATAM -- After a couple days of conferencing with the French naval officers also here, and no doubt some celebrating of the New Year, Lieutenant-Général de la Mod, Commander-in-Chief of the French Army in India, started marching north from this port with the entire European garrison, being approximately 400 troops. The force marching northward is composed of the 1er and 2e Bataillons de Regiment d'Austrasie, the Volontaires de Bourbon, the 3e Legion de Volontaires Etrangers de la Marine and most of the 1er Battalion, Regiment de la Mark, along with the supporting Native Infantry formations of the 1er and 2e Bataillon de Sipayes de Pondicherri, the Bataillon de Sipayes de Trincomalee, and the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment d'Austrasie.

At the same time, the French Frigate Coventry sailed into this port and offloaded about 150 sailors drafted from the squadron into a Corps Royal de l'Infanterie de la Marine ("naval brigade"--meaning merely a force combined from several different units, in this case from several different ships) to act in place of the army troops, and maintain control of this port. They are still being reinforced by the two battalions totalling approximately 1200 Mysore Sepoy Infantry troops sent here by Hyder Ali under the terms of the Franco-Mysore Treaty of 1780, which allies them in their common cause against the British.


British Coromandel Brigade Marches Back South---(3 Jan 1783)
MANGALORE -- After concluding extensive consultation with the Royal Navy courier, Major General John Begone started his long march back south mostly with the same troops. The well exercised force is composed of the 23rd Light Dragoon Regiment of Horse, the 2nd Battalion, 42nd (Royal Highland) Foot Regiment, and part of the 1st Battalion, 1st Madras European Regiment, accompanied by the supporting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Nawab Cavalry Regiments, the 24th and 25th Bengal Native Infantry Battalions, the 16th and part of the 18th Carnatic (Native Infantry) Battalions. Added to them, and slowing the march down, is the Honorable East India Company Artillery Corps, composed of detachments of the Bengal European Foot Artillery, the Madras European Foot Artillery and the Madras Sappers and Miners, along with the supporting Tanjore Grenadiers as infantry support.


British Fleet Sails from Portuguese Port---(4 Jan 1783)
GOA -- At nearly the same time as the departure of General Begone's "British Malabar Brigade", the British East Indies fleet departed this neutral port for the open sea, Burford having finished careening yesterday. The departing fleet is composed of 10 SOLs, 3 Corvettes, and 8 Transports carrying troops (about half full), under the command of Vice Admiral Sir James Washbuckle, Bt.


French Coromandel Brigade Passes Danish Port---(9 Jan 1783)
TRANQUEBAR -- Lieutenant-Général de la Mod, with his modest "French Coromandel Brigade" marching north past this neutral port, has received reports from his scouts confirming to him the continued presence of the small detachment of British sailors "stranded" in the port by the scuttling of the 74-gun SOL Superb almost three months ago. They are still under the command of Captain-19 Frederick Dixon, whose endeavors are related in more detail in the Local Interest section of this edition.


British Fleet Intercepts Courier---(10 Jan 1783)
ARABIAN SEA -- In a noteworthy case of beating the odds, the British fleet actually managed to intercept the Frigate Greyhound out in the open ocean. The Frigate apparantly stayed back in MANGALORE for a while for revictualing after the "British Coromandel Brigade" had marched south. This was a most unusual convergence, as there have been many instances of missed rendezvous in specific locations just off the coast at what was supposed to have been coordinated times. This has allowed the British Royal Navy to hear about the plans and intentions of the British Army in India fast enough for the opportunity of real coordination.


Allies Capture Southmost Malabar Port---(12 Jan 1783)
ANJENGO -- The Allied "Gallo-Batavian Brigade" has achieved another victory, with the capitulation of this large British garrison, of approximately 600 troops, after besieging this port for nearly three weeks. This garrison had been reinforced to anchor this coast from attack either by sea or an army marched around the horn, but obviously it wasn't enough, at least without active naval support. The brave lads who surrendered were large detachments of the 98th Regiment of Foot and the 1st Battalion, Bombay European Regiment, along with the supporting 1st Circar (Native Infantry) Battalion, 3rd Bombay Native Infantry Battalion and the Trichinopy Grenadiers.

The Allied force, under the command of Generaal-Majoor Nicolaas Wilhelmus Petrus van Diepen, Goeverneur-Generaal of Ceylon, is composed of the French Regiment d'Aquitaine, the Regiment Royal Rousillon, a detachment of the 2e Bataillon, Regiment d'Ile-de-France, and most of the Dutch VOC Lijf Jagers, and a detachment of the Swiss mercenary 1er Bataillon, Regiment de Meuron, along with the supporting Native Infantry formations of the Bataillon de Sipayes de Batticaloa, the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de l'Aquitaine, the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment d'Ile-de-France, and the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de la Royal Rousillon. Along with them is the French siege train, handled by the detachments of the French Regiment de Artillerie Besançon and the Regiment de Artillerie Metz. Of course an immediate message was sent inland for Indian allies to be sent by Hyder Ali of Mysore.

It was no surprise that immediately upon the securing of the port, the large French fleet here dropped anchor to take on supplies. There are presently 13 SOLs, 1 Frigate, 2 Corvettes, and 5 Transports, under the command of Vice-Amiral Henri Laurent de Toucheville, Commander-in-Chief of His Most Christian Majesty's East Indies Station.


Swelled French Brigade Continues North---(15-21 Jan 1783)
PORTO NOVO -- Lieutenant-Général de la Mod, Commander-in-Chief of the French Army in India, arrived here on the 15th with his modest "French Coromandel Brigade" after the long march up the coast. Waiting for him was Commodore-4 Jean-Michele de Lanois' squadron of ships, both offshore and in port, the latter revictualing as well as offloading. After some more discussion, Général de la Mod was again marching northwards with his army strengthened by all of the detachments of European troops that were in this garrison now totalling approximately 600 troops, plus about half that number of Marines landed from the ships of this squadron, and further reinforced by a small detachment of sailors. The formations represented are the 1er and 2e Bataillons de Regiment d'Austrasie, the Volontaires de Bourbon, the 3e Legion de Volontaires Etrangers de la Marine and the 1er Battalion, Regiment de la Mark, along with the supporting Native Infantry formations of the 1er and 2e Bataillon de Sipayes de Pondicherri, the Bataillon de Sipayes de Trincomalee, and the Bataillon de Sipayes de Porto Novo; these are reinforced by the marines and sailors of a French Corps Royal de l'Infanterie de la Marine ("naval brigade"). Again, the Royal Bourbon Navy deployed another small detachment of sailors to stand in for the regular garrison here, which is also supported by the two battalions with more than 1300 Mysore Sepoy Infantry troops of their Indian allies.


Two British CinCs Finally Reunite---(16-19 Jan 1783)
TELLICHERRY -- Both Vice Admiral Sir James Washbuckle, Bt., Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy East Indies Station, and Major General John Begone, Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Presidency Army, finally met up again after most of a year of seperation. There ensued much discussion clarifying the points each was trying to convey to the other earlier by the Royal Navy courier.

General Begone continued his march southwards with his now more mobile "brigade" of approximately 600 infantry, plus cavalry. This "Coromandel" force is composed of the 23rd Light Dragoon Regiment of Horse, the 2nd Battalion, 42nd (Royal Highland) Foot Regiment, and part of the 1st Battalion, 1st Madras European Regiment, accompanied by the supporting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Nawab Cavalry Regiments, the 24th and 25th Bengal Native Infantry Battalions, the 16th and part of the 18th Carnatic (Native Infantry) Battalions.

To greatly speed the progress of the marching army, the Honorable East India Company Artillery Corps siege train, composed of detachments of the Bengal European Foot Artillery, the Madras European Foot Artillery and the Madras Sappers and Miners, along with the supporting Tanjore Grenadiers as infantry support, were loaded onto one of the eight Transports with the fleet here. They join on the water the newly raised British Army regiments of the 100th (Humberston's) Foot and the 101st (Sandford's) Foot. The next day, the British fleet went to sea, detaching the Frigate for independent operations.


Allied Brigade Redeploys With French Fleet---(19-20 Jan 1783)
ANJENGO -- Yesterday, onto the remaining 2 Transports with this fleet, was boarded the French siege train, handled by the detachments of the French Regiment de Artillerie Besançon and the Regiment de Artillerie Metz, along with small detachments of the French 2e Bataillon, Regiment d'Ile-de-France, most of the Dutch VOC Lijf Jagers, and a detachment of the Swiss mercenary 1er Bataillon, Regiment de Meuron, along with the supporting Native Infantry formations of the Bataillon de Sipayes de Batticaloa, and the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment d'Ile-de-France. The Dutch Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Dutch VOC India and Ceylon, plus his Aide-de-Camp, accompanied those troops onto the transports. Also, most of the French Regiment d'Aquitaine was loaded into the French Corvette Diligent.

Then the large French fleet, of 13 SOLs, 1 Frigate, 2 Corvettes, and 2 Transports, sailed together out of this port under the command of Vice-Amiral Henri Laurent de Toucheville. They left behind a garrison composed of a detachment of the French Regiment d'Aquitaine, plus the entire French Regiment Royal Rousillon along with the supporting Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de l'Aquitaine, and the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment de la Royal Rousillon.


Allied Troops Reinforce Garrison---(22 Jan 1783)
COCHIN -- The French Corvette Diligent came into this port and dropped anchor. She then proceeded to offload a sizable detachment of troops, who were temporarily crewing this ship. The troops of the Regiment d'Aquitaine joined the garrison here, which includes the Dutch elite Lijf Jagers, the Wuertemberg Regiment of German mercenaries in Dutch VOC service, along with the supporting Bataillon de Sipayes de Columbo; plus the reinforcing two battalions of Mysore Sepoy Infantry troops from Hyder Ali.


British Army Assembles in Calicut---(22-24 Jan 1783)
CALICUT -- The British fleet detached the 8 Transports with them under the escort of Captain-6 Benjamin Bush, commanding the Corvette Chaser. The troop convoy immediately dropped anchor in the roadstead here, and proceeded to offload the newly raised 100th (Humberston's) Foot and 101st (Sandford's) Foot, the newly raised detachment of the 1st Marine (Smedley's Rangers) Battalion of India, as well as the Honorable East India Company Artillery Corps siege train, composed of detachments of the Bengal European Foot Artillery, the Madras European Foot Artillery and the Madras Sappers and Miners, along with the supporting Tanjore Grenadiers as infantry support.

They joined the Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Presidency Army already here, Brigadier General Mark Bassett. The garrison under his command is composed of the 73rd (Macleod's Highland) Foot Regiment, the 78th (Seaforth Highland) Foot Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, Bombay European Regiment, accompanied by the supporting the 1st, 3rd, and the 11th Bombay Native Infantry Battalions, and the Carnatic Grenadiers. The additional troops about doubles the force residing here now.

The following day, the Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Presidency Army (and senior army officer in this theater), Major General John Begone, marched in with his troops. These are composed of the 23rd Light Dragoon Regiment of Horse, the 2nd Battalion, 42nd (Royal Highland) Foot Regiment, and part of the 1st Battalion, 1st Madras European Regiment, accompanied by the supporting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Nawab Cavalry Regiments, the 24th and 25th Bengal Native Infantry Battalions, the 16th and part of the 18th Carnatic (Native Infantry) Battalions. This now united "British India Army" now totals more than 2000 European troops, plus some marines, plus cavalry and a siege train. One doubts this is a defensive formation collected here.

After detaching the escorted Transports, the British fleet of 10 SOLs and 2 Corvettes proceeded south.


Troops Offloaded In Galle---(25 January 1783)
GALLE -- Capitaine-14 Henri Bon Hom de Cameburt un Fromage, commanding the Frigate Consolante, detached 2 SOLs to escort 2 Transports into Galle. Generaal-Majoor Nicolaas Wilhelmus Petrus van Diepen, Goeverneur-Generaal of Ceylon and Commander-in-Chief of Dutch forces in India, offloaded the troops to join the garrison here. The troops were composed of a detachment of the Dutch VOC elite Lijf Jagers, a detachment of the Swiss mercenary De Meuron Regiment in Dutch VOC service, a detachment of the French 2e Bataillon, Regiment d'Île-de-France, and the French siege train, handled by detachments of the Regiment de Artillerie Besançon and the Regiment de Artillerie Metz, along with the supporting Native Infantry formations of the Bataillon de Sipayes de Batticaloa, and the Bataillon des Sipayes du Regiment d'Ile-de-France. They join another detachment of the De Meuron Regiment that was already stationed here, a now sizable Recrutenwacht -- which is a recruiting and training unit, along with the supporting Malabar Sipaayers, and the Bataillon de Sipayes de Galle. There is also a group of sailors that got stranded here earlier.


British Army Stopped In Its Tracks---(25 January 1783)
CALICUT -- In what appeared on the part of this "British India Army" to have been a surprise move by the French fleet, there was established a French naval blockade of this port by no less than 11 SOLs and 1 Corvette, under the command of Vice-Amiral Henri Laurent de Toucheville, the very next day after the British fleet sailed away. The British Corvette Chaser, commanded by Captain-6 Benjamin Bush, was nearly caught while departing this port on another mission, but managed to evade back into the roadstead under the protection of the shore batteries.

There had been obvious preparations for this now very large British army to march, obviously southward. This turn of events predictably led to some very excitable discussion as to what to do now. Captain Bush was quite vociferous about his having predicted exactly this situation when discussing contingencies with his commander-in-chief's chief-of-staff (and the only more senior British captain in this theater), Captain-5 Cleophus Thomson. The trapped Royal Navy captain was very publicly explicit about his orders:
    "Fleet Captain Cleophus Thomson (writing the orders for VADM Washbuckle) didn't consider this possibility worth considering, but thankfully he humoured me by at least providing a single guideline (not really an order) in my detachment orders mentioning the possibility: "I VERY seriously doubt you'll get blockaded into Calicut the day after we leave, as you have worried. If it happens, use your best judgement as to how to proceed. A small blockade does offer a reasonable chance of being run.""
Apparantly, given that it's his own hide at risk from such an attempt at blockade running, and that instead of a small blockade it appears to be the majority of the French fleet in this theater, Captain Bush is choosing to exercise prudence. Also, especially given the size of the French force, he predicts the British fleet that just went southwards will presently hear rumors of their passing, and so should return northwards soon to engage in battle.

Given the serious drain on troops that the previous march southward of this port had inflicted when under blockade by the Royal Bourbon Navy, and given that there are more than enough French Frigates available to have a second blockade established farther south, the two British Army Commanders-in-Chief have apparantly decided to sit tight here and wait out news of developments before making any move. It was also noted that Brigadier General Mark Bassett had delayed marching ahead of Major General John Begone's force with a proposed force composed of the siege train and a large infantry escort--the idea being to not fall so far behind the faster marching force led by General Begone upon approaching COCHIN. That failure to start marching earlier just saved this force quite a few more casualties from blockade attrition again.


Newly Captured Dutch Port Blockaded---(25 January 1783)
COCHIN -- Nearly the entire British Royal Navy fleet on the East Indies Station, 10 SOLs and 2 Corvettes, established a blockade of this port on this day. This newly recaptured headquarters port of the Dutch VOC on the Malabar Coast of India was also observed through spyglasses to have a pretty sizable garrison manning it, as well as a Corvette, the latter exciting considerable speculation amongst the English officers. The French having proven to be very exacting in their naval logistical planning, apparantly the thinking is that it's likely this ship has more significance than just spreading revictualing assignments up this coast.


French Fleet Intercepts British Fleet---(27 January 1783)
COCHIN -- Reacting to the gathered rumors about the passing of a large French fleet, the British fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral Sir James Washbuckle, Bt., has lifted it's blockade of only a couple days and is proceeding northwards slowly (against the prevailing monsoon winds), seeking the French fleet it missed in passing only days ago.

Vice-Amiral Henri Laurent de Toucheville decided that the British fleet would soon be following their rumors back north to CALICUT, and preferred to fight them off a friendly port. So, the blockade there was lifted and the French fleet quickly rode the monsoon winds southward, seeking battle. Given the large size of both forces, it wasn't surprizing that they encountered each other (this time), and so the French got their strategic wish of fighting off an allied port.


Battle Off Cochin---(27 January 1783)
COCHIN -- Due to technical difficulties, this will only be a very brief report, until there is time to flesh it out. One can see the un-edited turn-by-turn pictures of the battle in Gazette Supplement L.

The French Fleet formed to windward of the British fleet. The British fleet immediately turned away downwind, with the French matching the maneuver, reforming the lines at extreme long gun range. The French continued to crab in, while the new British rear "refused" the end of their line. The British ran downwind faster than the French, and started to hook their line around to catch the head of the French line in an arc of fire. Just as they did that the wind backed and put them directly downwind of the French, but that wasn't all that bad as it allowed the new British van to curl up farther than it otherwise would have been able to. The British maneuvering was quite good, while the French had some ships in their van doubled (blocking fire), and the four SOLs of the rear were still lagging behind. However, the range was still too long, so this wasn't too important, yet.

Just as the French were starting to reform their line more neatly, the British executed another coordinated reverse. They were taking advantage of the fact that an upwind force needs to be more careful in their approach, as they can't back off upwind again; while a downwind force can always quickly maneuver for more room between the lines later.

The French reversed their line, and appeared to head their new van and center straight at the British line. However, this wasn't as coordinated as the British, and resulted in Vengeur colliding into Illustre, causing the former a fair amount of rigging damage. In the course of extricating themselves and maneuvering to maintain good distance from each other, Illustre found itself the closest ship to the British line. As the French were settling into a new line fairly well (excepting the two ships previously mentioned), the British line executed another reversal, which masked their broadsides from immediately punishing the closer French ship, and was also coincidentally timed with the wind starting to veer to the original direction again (British Rear Admiral Duff was not happy with this reversal order, as he was about to try to tack and head the French line, but if he had tacked at that time instead of wearing, he would have been caught in the wind change and stranded from the rest of his fleet).

The French line reversed, including Illustre--who probably should not have, to maintain as much distance from the enemy as possible instead of closing more. While the French were in the middle of their evolution, the British reversed again, while the wind speed fell off some. The two lines were now passing each other in opposite directions. At this same time, just as Illustre lost her bowsprit to cumulative damage, she also suffered her previously undamaged foremast snapped off, crippling her maneuverability and no long able to make any way upwind anymore.

Just then, the wind backed again. This put the British directly downwind again, except both lines were diagonal to the wind, and the British were further upwind on their diagonal. The downwind part of the French fleet was now downwind of most of the British fleet, and the French appeared to be in different phases of turning their line around. Argonaute attempted to establish a tow on Illustre, which would have seriously impeded her maneuverability as a virtually undamaged Ship-of-the-Line; that is a task for Frigates or Corvettes (the French unfortunately having only one small Corvette at this battle).

Through these line reversals, the French line-of-battle slowly worked it's way closer to the British, so the fighting was finally heating up at this time. As the French reversed to match the enemy, the British line reversed again, now pointing downwind, and possibly looking to concentrate fire on the French downwind section. The French maintained their heading, letting their line work it's way upwind again, and the French van turned in to very close range on the British (upwind) rear. As this was happening, the wind speed fell off again, so that maneuvering went to dead slow.

Soon after, the wind backed again, now putting the two lines parallel to each other, and both aligned with the wind, so that the battle lines went directly downwind (British) or upwind (French). The French wore downwind to reverse their line, taking them directly towards the very close British line. Some of the leeward ships of the French fleet appear to have tried to cut the British line, about in the middle of the British line. The lead French ship appeared to have slowed, which allowed the British to tighten the hole and concentrate fire. After a turn or two, with the wind just freshened a little, the slowing of the French penetration was probably no longer voluntary, and the rest of the French ships turned away to parallel the British downwind half that was trying to curl itself around the downwind end of the French line, appearing to essentially abandon the two lead French ships of that failed thrust.

The upwind part of the French line appeared to have been left behind by the British, so most of the British ships were engaged while a couple French ships were disengaged, Illustre was crippled, and Argonaute was essentially lost deep in the British line (though distracting to them). The British were effectively curling the downwind part of their line around the French, and then the wind backed again. This time it put the British directly upwind of the French, and while a British attempt to break the middle of the French line was successfully thwarted, the French fleet no longer had a desire to remain, having suffered too much (including the unconfirmed claim of the French having lost 8 of the first 9 morale checks, and failed 11 of 15 total; though it might be noted that the same officer claimed the wind shifted 5 times in the first 15 turns, when in fact it shifted only 5 times in 38 turns, and by turn 15 the previous single wind shift had just come back to the original direction).

While the French claim cowardlyness on the part of the British constantly turning away from engaging, there are rumors that the British captains judiciously spent their time in port working on coordinating their maneuvers for the next battle. The French, on the other hand, were apparantly too busy being split up and blockading half the Malabar coast to have much time to work on similar coordinating maneuvering for the eventual fleet battle. Training tells. It should be noted that there was a valient attempt by Capitaine-17 Maximillian de La Creme to make a correspondence course of battle tactics, with more details to be posted in the Local Interest section of this edition, but the timing was just too late for the other captains to be able to properly utilize it, let alone for lessons to be learned from it and better understood coordination plans to be disseminated.

As for the end results of the battle, the French lost 5 SOLs: 74 Illustre, 74 Orient, 64 Argonaute, 64E Ajax, and 56 Flamand (the latter three were immediately scuttled by British).


British Fleet Reestablishes Blockade---(28 January 1783)
COCHIN -- While hampered with two tows as a result of battle damage, the British fleet, now numbering 12 SOLs and 2 Corvettes, re-established their blockade of this port, anticipating the French fleet trying to escape in to this port to repair. The blockade is also to support the large British "army" that is supposed to be enroute to besiege the port, and should soon be seen coming over the hills.


British Admiral Dies, New Commodore---(29 January 1783)
COCHIN -- While there didn't appear to be any obvious wounds from the Battle off Cochin on his person, Rear Admiral Alexander Duff was found swooning soon after the battle, and was taken to his great cabin on the Hero. After a couple days where his condition swayed back and forth, his health took a turn for the worse and he died. Given his appearance, the rate at which he tossed back the prodigious amounts of beer his ship carries from the brewery he founded, and the fact the British don't want this to appear to be a battle casualty, the official ruling of cause of death put down on the certificate has been called "consumption".

Given that Duff had no male proginy, it appears that his beer dynasty will be handed off to his cousin, Vice Admiral Robert Duff, who is presently the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Station. Command of the 74-gun Hero will likely be left to it's first lieutentant, Rupert Duff, Vice Admiral Robert Duff's second son.

As for the Royal Navy's East Indies Station, there are supposed to be three flag officers in the theater, so Fleet Captain Cleophus Thomson will have the local brevet rank of Commodore for the duration of this conflict. As, now Commodore-5 Thomson, has been acting as the Chief of Staff for the Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies station, Vice Admiral Sir James Washbuckle, Bt., the transition should be fairly painless for the British fleet.


French Fleet Repairs, Allies Enroute---(30 January 1783)
ANJENGO -- The surviving French squadron of 6 SOLs and 1 Corvette entered this more southerly port captured just over two weeks ago. Making good time, the arriving French naval officers were able to hear the scouting reports announcing the imminent arrival of the standard two battalions of Mysore Sepoy Infantry troops sent by Hyder Ali from the interior of the sub-continent.


Scout Paths Cross, Missed Battle---(31 January 1783)
GALLE -- Both sides have single scouting ships in the waters around southern Ceylon whose paths have crossed, so they are both aware of the presence of the other. Given that both ships are quite noteworthy, and with the time delay to publication, the identification of each is pretty sure now. The French warship is the 40-gun Frigate Consolante, Capitaine-14 Henri Bon Hom de Camembert un Fromage commanding. The British ship is their only Frigate in this theater, the 32-gun Greyhound, Captain-13 Ian MacEwan commanding. A one-on-one battle between these two ships would be spectacular, and we hope we will be able to publish about just such an event soon. There are several standing insulting letters from French Frigate captains to British captains, remarking on the reversal of "traditional" roles on their parts--the French seeking fair combat, while the British flee from it. The most noteworthy of these letters can be found in Gazette Supplement B.


Another British Port Under Siege---(31 January 1783)
PONDICHERRY -- The Commander-in-Chief of the French Army in India, Lieutenant-Général de la Mod, arrived at this British port yesterday leading a French mixed "brigade", teaming up approximately 600 French troops, about half that number of French Marines landed from the ships of the squadron on this coast, and further bolstered by a small detachment of sailors. The formations represented are the 1er and 2e Bataillons de Regiment d'Austrasie, the Volontaires de Bourbon, the 3e Legion de Volontaires Etrangers de la Marine and the 1er Battalion, Regiment de la Mark, along with the supporting Native Infantry formations of the 1er and 2e Bataillon de Sipayes de Pondicherri, the Bataillon de Sipayes de Trincomalee, and the Bataillon de Sipayes de Porto Novo; these were reinforced by the marines and sailors of a French Corps Royal de l'Infanterie de la Marine ("naval brigade"). Preparations for a siege were obvious, and this port was scheduled to be under blockade just at the predicted time of arrival of the land force, though this particular day suffered a late and far too rare storm in this monsoon season, temporarily driving any ships off station and preventing communication with the force on land. No doubt the squadron under the very capable Commodore-4 Jean-Michel de Lanois will be on station and blockading the port come the morrow, supporting the siege operation about to be initiated.

Refreshed after the victories in retaking two ports on this coast (NEGAPATAM and PORTO NOVO), morale in this "French Coromandel Brigade" was observed by our Gazette correspondent as extremely high. In fact, an indiscreet subaltern was observed to portend that PONDICHERRY was merely the first in a further series of likely conquests. "The British shopkeepers have neglected this coast during the monsoon, and they will pay!", observed Sergeant Gavin of Lyon. "Sadras, even Madras, are not beyond the reach of our brave Général de la Mod and my compatriots in arms."

One might speculate on the frustration of Captain-19 Frederick Dixon of the British Royal Navy, marooned for the season in neutral Tranquebar and observing this unexpected French secondary offensive through rumors and the press, but unable to respond as his duty dictates, due to the scuttling of his Ship-of-the-Line Superb and having only a hand-full of seamen with him.

Local Interest

Celebration of Feast Day of Saint Barbara---(4 Dec 1782)
GOA -- At the Church of the Lady of the Mount was held a special Mass celebrating this feast day of Saint Barbara, the Patroness Saint of Artillerists. The legend of the lightning bolt which struck down the persecutor of Saint Barbara caused her to be regarded as the patroness saint in time of danger from thunderstorms and fires. Due to the tendency of early artillery cannons exploding, Saint Barbara's patronage was expanded to include artillerists. This is the biggest religious feast for the military, and while the Cathedral of Goa is the largest church in Asia (with the largest bell in the world), the selection of this particular church was for the spectacular view of the entire surrounding area and harbor for the event after the Mass.

The Mass was presided over by Dom Antonio Joze de Nourontia, Bishop of Halicarnassus, with the four most prominant celebrants being Foderico Guilhorme de Souza, Portuguese Vice Roy of India and Captain-General of Goa; Rear Admiral Sir Haakon Dazs, Governor-General of the Royal Danish Colony of Tranquebar and the Anderman Islands; Brigadier General Henriques, Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Army in Goa and Commanding Officer of the Regiment da Henriques; and of course Colonel Theodofio de San Raboxa, commanding officer of the double-sized European artillery unit Regiment da Artilharia, which this celebration is focused on. Lieutenant Colonel Gustavus Adolphus Hercules de Chermont, that regiment's second-in-command, is not present as he is personally overseeing the preparations for the event after the church service.

Following the Mass, the congregants came out of the cathedral to observe the prepared display. After signals were made indicating the readiness of the observers, three signal rickets were launched in timed succession from Aguada Fort -- the most strategic of the forts, located to control entry into Mandori River and containing a natural spring which is used to supply water to ships. At the time of what would be the fourth signal rocket, there was a mighty crescendo. All the guns of Aguada Fort, Cabo Fort (on the peninsula jutting into the Arabian Sea), Chapora Fort (the former stronghold of the previous Muslim rulers), and distant Terekhol Fort (at the northernmost tip of Goa's shoreline) fired reduced charge signal loads (mostly) simultaneously. In addition, a dozen special decorative pyrotechnic "firework" rockets (specially shipped in from northern Italy for this occasion) launched from each fort, exploding into huge expanding blooms of fiery stars, lighting up the entire sky. Also coordinated with the forts, all the guns of the numerous warships at anchor, of both the Portuguese Royal Navy and the visiting Danish Royal Navy joined in with reduced charge signal loads in all the guns of their landward facing broadsides. The combined barrage was a truly awesome visual display, along with the succession of punctuating concussions.

After the "firework" display, there followed the traditional Military Ball of Saint Barbara -- one of the most important military social occasions of the year.


Académie de la Marine des Classe Courrier
TRINCOMALEE -- Seeing the difficulties of getting all the ship captains in one place to exercise their maneuvering and coordinating tactics together for the major naval battle everyone was anticipating while they were scattered along the coast in multiple blockading operations, Capitaine-17 Maximillian de la Creme, commanding officer of the 64-gun SOL Sphinx, came up with an innovative approach. He designed a series of hypothetical battle situations, giving all pertinent ship information and identification for the French side, wind, damage, previous movement, et cetera, included a chart of all ship positions for both sides, and posed the tactical problem. While a seperate set was made for each captain of the main battle fleet, all of these first went to the Commander-in-Chief for him to insert the signal flags he would hoist for each particular situation/problem to coordinate the fleet maneuver. Then these completed letters were sent to the individual captains, for them to fill out how they would maneuver their ship in those conditions and with that signal flying from the flagship. Four problem scenarios were sent out by Capitaine de la Creme, giving different stages of the battle and different (also changing) wind conditions and battle damage. Also included, to be sure everyone had the latest editions, were the Signal Books and signal book addendum to the Fighting Instructions. It's a real shame that it got issued just a little too late to be able to fully help prepare for the Battle off Cochin, though it would still be extremely useful to pursue to prepare for a possible future battle.

Capitaine de la Creme, a recent arrival to this theater commanding the first French reinforcements, is a member of the "theoretical" school of "nouveau" French Captains (a product of the Age of Enlightenment) as opposed to the old-style "experience" or "ship-learned" school of Captains, who only want to lay their ship alongside and fire away until the matter is decided. The "new" school of captains from the Académie de la Marine ("naval academy") are already used to pushing bits of paper and wood around the Admiral's cabin all night prior to a battle (or exercise), while the old salts in the fleet are bitterly complaining about such long hours wearing people out and how only experience in actual battles really counts.

This novel exercise in designing a "correspondence course" format for training purposes has caught the eye of the Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies station here. Rumor has it that copies of these tactical scenario exercises have already been forwarded back to France, to the attention of both the Minister of the Marine and the Commandant of the Naval Academy. One should not be surprised that this might well bring thoughtful notice on the head of Capitaine Max de la Creme by people who can make careers.


Famine Averted By Fish Guild
NEGAPATAM -- The Honourable Guild of Fishermen and Fishmongers in the Orient has really come through in this time of need. The southern Coromandel Coast is suffering terribly with the drought due to this North-eastern Monsoon season having failed. Famine would have run rampant if it weren't for the extra efforts at fishing and shipping that surplus into this blighted region. This organization is truly living up to the spirit of it's motto of carpe piscis carpe diem ("seize the fish, seize the day"), rather than the cowed appearance of the supporters on the guild coat-of-arms -- two carp, in what is traditionally depicted as an affected pose of "hauriant regardant" (and referred to as the "coy koi").


British Navy in Tranquebar
TRANQUEBAR -- The new Gazette correspondent in this port, in ferreting out the rumor mills and tavern spots reeking in newsworthy sources, cannot but notice the British presence in this neutral Danish roadstead. Nearly sixty forlorn British seamen, each dealing with the situation of being isolated in a foreign port in their own way -- typically not very well. You will recall the story from the previous Gazette of the scuttling of the British liner Superb under the joint threat of Commodore-4 Jean-Michel de Lanois' squadron and the impending monsoon season (the latter of which turned out to be more idle threat than anything, to the extreme detriment of the population of this part of the Coromandel Coast). Warrant officer Carpenter Nigel Curuthers has used the hours productively, building a small jollyboat for transporting his captain about the roadstead out of scraps of driftwood and begged fittings...but sadly the resources are insufficient to build a boat of enough size and seaworthness to sail to another British-held port (especially considering the French offensive on this coast). Other seamen, including Able Seaman Bruce Roberts, Foretopman, are reduced to begging in the streets for coin to spend in the taverns on drink. Captain-19 Frederick Dixon has held up the best, working to maintain some semblence of naval discipline in a difficult situation, though seeing man after man slip away from his command, deserters. Captain Dixon is also reportedly frustrated to observe the successful activities of Lieutenant-Général de la Mod and Commodore de Lanois on this coast. It is rumored that Général de la Mod even had the cheek to send a letter to the marooned captain when passing with his "Coromandel Brigade" headed for the north and likely further conquests. Captain Dixon, in an attempted interview with this correspondent, maintained the proverbial British "stiff upper lip" and in fact refused comment to this reporter. But the haunted look in his eyes as he peered towards the eastern horizon, and as he measured his chances in a 16-foot jollyboat this season, will not soon be forgotten.


SOL "ze Fabulous" New Danish Flagship
GOA -- This 70-gun Ship-of-the-Line, newly appearing in this theater, has both apparantly weathered some tough times and been the recipient of a lot of recent work. Quite a lot of the woodwork topside is obviously newly replaced, and it appears that all the paintwork is fresh. The coppering of the hull is also obviously brand new, likely the first in the Danish fleet so sheathed, easily paid for from the many tons of bullion brought from Copenhagen and the Swedish Riksbank by the also newly arrived East Indianman Nicobar. In notable contrast, the figurehead on the bow can be seen to be pretty old and well weathered, and coincidentally very similar to the buxom mermaid figurehead that Rear Admiral Sir Haakon Dazs, Governor-General of the Royal Danish Colony of Tranquebar and the Anderman Islands, brought from his original command to his headquarters here in India, in Fortress Dansborg. Apparantly there was considerable damage to the ship enroute from it's last port, as quite a lot of sails have been procured since her arrival here, as well as very large quantities of gunpowder -- these might imply storm damage, from wind and water. Her sailor crew seemed to have suffered badly in the long voyage here, but that has been pretty easily rectified through recruiting efforts in this major shipping port. In surprising contrast, the marine compliment appears to have been very full, which will greatly help in maintaining discipline amongst so many sailors new to this large warship.


Local Births
GOA -- Our central office is very glad to report the major personal events of the senior officers in the East Indies Station here. I have the pleasure to report a happy birth to a French captain during the reporting period of this edition of the Gazette.

Nicole Leah was born on 22 December to Capitaine-7 Richelieu de Josef, commanding the 74-gun SOL Annibal, and his beautiful wife Shari.

Lloyd's List Of Merchantmen Losses:

Look here for the list of areas suffering losses of merchantmen, and for any adjustments to the insurance premiums for vessels venturing into those areas.

British: Coromandel 6, Coromandel 5, Providian, Dondra Head, Cape Cormorin, Malabar 2, Malabar 3, Malabar 4.

French: None.

NOTE--Due to the totally out of control maurauding of merchant ships by French warships, especially in the seas off the Northern Coromadel Coast, Lloyd's of London has raised insurance premiums in that zone an additional 100 per cent (now at 500% over peacetime rates!!), and the Madras branch has posted a special bounty for Capitaine-16 Dumaitz de Goimpy--though there appears to be little chance of anyone collecting it.

Given the total lack of effective merchant raiding by the British, the Compagnie d'Assurances sur la Mer, or "Pierre's of Paris", has reduced insurance premiums by another 50%. This brings the French shipping insurance down to less than 100% over peacetime rates! These are the lowest wartime insurance premiums in the world at this time!

A Complete and Accurate List of Warships in Indian Waters as of 1 February 1783

British (19 warships: 12-SOL, 1-F, 6-C)

  • 74 Defence (reinforcement)
  • 74 Hero
  • 74 Sultan
  • F74 Illustre (captured 27 Jan)
  • F74 Orient (captured 27 Jan)
  • 70 Burford
  • S68 Monarca
  • 64 Africa (reinforcement)
  • 64 Asia (reinforcement)
  • 64 Inflexible
  • 64 Monmouth
  • 50 Bristol

  • 32 Greyhound (reinforcement)

  • 16 Carnatic
  • 16 Chaser
  • 16 Nymph
  • F14 Sylphide
  • 12 Alert
  • 12 Spy (reinforcement)

  • F64 Argonaute (captured 27 Jan, scuttled 27 Jan)
  • F64E Ajax (captured 27 Jan, scuttled 27 Jan)
  • F56 Flamand (captured 27 Jan, scuttled 27 Jan)


    • French (18 Warships: 9-SOL, 6-F, 3-C)
  • 74 Annibal
  • 74 Heros
  • 64A Artésien
  • 64 Bizarre
  • 64 Sévère
  • 64 Sphinx
  • 64E Vengeur
  • B64 Worcester
  • B50 Petit Hannibal

  • 40 Consolante
  • 40 Pourvoyeuse
  • 36 Bellone
  • 36 Fine
  • B32 Active
  • B28 Coventry

  • 20 Subtile
  • 14 Coquette
  • 14 Diligent

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    Please e-mail comments and suggestions to Steve Becker at g-m@cfi-game.org

    © Copyright 2002 by Steven S. Becker.