After a lengthy journey, the fleet of the comte d'Aché, carrying the expeditionary forces whose land commander was the count de Lally, arrived off British-occupied Cuddalore in southern India on 28 April 1758.
Lally disembarked his troops, established a blockade around the town, and then traveled to Pondicherry to organize the delivery of siege equipment.
 On 4 May French forces occupied the town and partially blockaded Fort St. David.
 The siege equipment was delayed in its arrival, but the garrison was eventually compelled to surrender after 17 days of siege operations.
 D'Estaing commanded Lally's left, overseeing the approaches and placing of batteries.
 He continued to serve under Lally in his campaigns against the British in southern India.
 He opposed Lally's decision to lift the siege of Tanjore (the only one in Lally's war council to do so) following the British seizure of Karikal.
 When Lally began to besiege Madras in December 1758, d'Estaing's division was positioned in the center of the French line.
 When the British made a sortie against that sector, d'Estaing advanced alone to reconnoiter their movements.
 He was surrounded by British troops, unhorsed, and twice wounded by bayonet before surrendering.

D'Estaing was taken into Madras, where he was confined by the order of Governor George Pigot.
 Pigot offered to release him on parole, but d'Estaing refused, preferring instead to be exchanged so that he could resume fighting.
 The arrival of a British fleet off Madras in February 1759 convinced d'Estaing to accept the offer of parole, which was conditioned on his not fighting against the British in the East Indies.
 In May 1759 he sailed for Île-de-France (present-day Mauritius).
After a lengthy journey, the fleet of the comte d'Aché, carrying the expeditionary forces whose land commander was the count de Lally, arrived off British-occupied Cuddalore in southern India on 28 April 1758. Lally disembarked his troops, established a blockade around the town, and then traveled to Pondicherry to organize the delivery of siege equipment.  On 4 May French forces occupied the town and partially blockaded Fort St. David.  The siege equipment was delayed in its arrival, but the garrison was eventually compelled to surrender after 17 days of siege operations.  D'Estaing commanded Lally's left, overseeing the approaches and placing of batteries.  He continued to serve under Lally in his campaigns against the British in southern India.  He opposed Lally's decision to lift the siege of Tanjore (the only one in Lally's war council to do so) following the British seizure of Karikal.  When Lally began to besiege Madras in December 1758, d'Estaing's division was positioned in the center of the French line.  When the British made a sortie against that sector, d'Estaing advanced alone to reconnoiter their movements.  He was surrounded by British troops, unhorsed, and twice wounded by bayonet before surrendering.
D'Estaing was taken into Madras, where he was confined by the order of Governor George Pigot.  Pigot offered to release him on parole, but d'Estaing refused, preferring instead to be exchanged so that he could resume fighting.  The arrival of a British fleet off Madras in February 1759 convinced d'Estaing to accept the offer of parole, which was conditioned on his not fighting against the British in the East Indies.  In May 1759 he sailed for Île-de-France (present-day Mauritius).
Charles Henri Hector d'Estaing