The Battles of Lembu occurred on 25 December and 26 December 1873 when Dutch forces assaulted fortified Acehnese positions at Lembu southeast of Peunayong.
Detailed Narrative
On 25 December 1873, Colonel G. Wiggers van Kerchem led a reconnaissance force toward a reported open grass plain near Peunayong. Upon reaching Lembu, the column was ambushed by Acehnese forces entrenched behind a 5-meter-thick thorn barrier (bamboe-doeri).
When Colonel Wiggers was wounded, Captain G. van Daalen took command. Adjutant E.C.O. von Bredow and three soldiers forced a gap through the thorn hedges, planting the battalion colors at the base of the parapet under intense fire. Reinforced by Major-General G.M. Verspijck, Dutch infantry stormed three redoutes, killing 54 Acehnese defenders at a cost of 6 killed and 78 wounded.
On 26 December 1873, Colonel K. Schultze led a second column that located the grass plain, establishing positions for heavy siege mortar batteries facing the Mesjid Raya Aceh.
See Also
Source
De expeditiën naar Atjeh 1873-1874, W.W.F. Herfkens, Koninklijke Militaire Academie, 1900, pp. 45-48.