The Battle of Lampoeloe (20 June 1874) was the first Dutch offensive operation since the expedition to Ketapang Doewa four months earlier, launched by kolonel Pel against the Atjehnese positions at Lampoeloe on the northern edge of the old bivouac, just one day after a costly reconnaissance in which luitenant Sloet van Zwanenburg was mortally wounded. Borel hails the action as “den eersten stap op een nieuwen weg” — the first step on a new road.
Background: the failed reconnaissance of 19 June
On 19 June 1874 a column of 150 bayonets with an artillery section had marched from K. Radja to clear the left bank north of Kampong Djawa, while Sloet van Zwanenburg led a patrol from Penajoeng on the right bank. The day was unfavourable. The Atjehneezen held Lampoeloe in force. Sloet was discovered in his ravine, shot up badly, and forced to retire in aller ijl — he died of his wounds days later. The left-bank column could find no position to enfilade and returned empty-handed. The same day the Atjehneezen attacked all along the line at K. Radja and Pakan Atjeh.
The attack
At dawn on 20 June 1874 the enemy shelled K. Radja from the east with unusual violence. The whole garrison stood to arms. Salvoes of Beaumont rifles were needed at K. Podjoct and Pakan Atjeh to drive back attackers pressing the parapet. Major Scharp then marched out with a half-battalion against Lampoeloe. The enemy was driven from his positions, and a half-built benteng (fortification) by the river was captured. The cost was 34 Dutch dead and wounded.
Borel’s verdict
For four months after Ketapang Doewa the bezettingskorps had been nailed to its works by sickness, the broken surf, and the afwachtende houding inherited from van Swieten. Lampoeloe showed that the line could be carried forward again, and that the Atjehneezen, when met by an organised bayonet attack, would give way. It was followed within eight days by the battle of Garouw on 28 June 1874, which cleared the right bank of the Atjeh-rivier below Penajoeng and restored Dutch command of the river — the first permanently held Dutch advance beyond the Kraton since its fall.
See Also
- Generaal Pel
- Majoor Scharp
- Luitenant Sloet van Zwanenburg
- Lampoeloe
- Kota Radja
- Pakan Atjeh
- Penajoeng
- Battle of Garouw (28 June 1874)
- Expedition to Ketapang Doewa (15 February 1874)
- Afwachtende houding
- 1874
Source
Onze vestiging in Atjeh, critisch beschreven, by G. F. W. Borel, Kapitein der Artillerie. ‘s-Gravenhage: D. A. Thieme, 1878. pp. 153–155.