The journey of the Bugis couriers from Kajoe-Lē (6 March 1876) was the feat of two volunteers — the native artillery-rider (stukrijder) 2nd class Mali and the forced-labourer (dwangarbeider) Mohamad Daëng Matali, both Bugis — who slipped disguised through the hostile lines from the besieged column at Kajoe-Lē and carried Major B. E. Mekern’s report to Kota Radja, thereby setting in motion the relief operation of 7 March 1876. It was described by H. F. Meijer in Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876 (1883).
The besieged column
After the ambush of Lieutenant Buijs’ detachment on 4 March, Major Mekern — commander of the right half of the 13th Infantry Battalion at Kajoe-Lē — judged himself too weak both to hold the post and to keep open the road to Lambaroe and Longbatah-Mesigit. The enemy had established a heavy occupation at Lamrong, Lamsajoeng and Lambaroe, and all communication with Kota Radja was broken. An armed escort strong enough to force the road would only have invited a second attack by the overwhelming enemy; the report therefore had to be carried by a sluippatrouille — a creeping patrol — and, if possible, by volunteers.
The volunteers
Two men of the Kajoe-Lē garrison offered themselves: the native artillery-rider 2nd class Mali (pay-list no. 70412) and the forced-labourer Mohamad Daëng Matali, both Bugis. At three in the morning of 6 March they left Kajoe-Lē, thoroughly disguised and armed only with the machete (kapmes), creeping forward in a stooping posture and pretending to cut paddy. Too many Atjehers were present on the sawah outside the post, and they had to return; but at half past four they marched out again, and this time had the luck to slip unnoticed while the enemy carried the harvested paddy into safety, scattered as he was over the sawah fields.
About two hours later the two men reported to the chief of staff at Kota Radja — Lieutenant-Colonel of the General Staff H. F. Meijer himself — and handed over Major Mekern’s report, which was written in telegraphic style:
“Communication with Longbatah-Mesigit and Pagar-Ajer broken by heavy enemy occupation at Lamrong, Lamsajoeng and Lambaroe; lack of ammunition for field and fortress artillery, also of provisions. Column too weak to break through. Yesterday patrol to bring news engaged; losses: 1 native fusilier killed, 19 wounded, including 5 seriously; also 6 horses, of which 2 destroyed. Atoë too weak to occupy Kajoe-Lē. Strength of column 305 bayonets and 2 sections of Artillery. Request sappers and ambulance, also updated map. Health moderate, no cholera. Acknowledge receipt of this message by two signal rockets at Pagar-Ajer (Mesigit) this evening at 7 o’clock, in the event of no reinforcement today.”
The result
The chief of staff at once reported to the acting civil and military commander, Lieutenant-Colonel of Infantry F. T. Engel — General Pel had died on 24 February — who was with the main force at Koewala Gigiëng, adding: “Speedy help is needed. From here nothing can be done, because only 250 to 275 men of the 5th battalion are available. It is proposed to advance this very day with the troops from Koewala Gigiëng, if possible through to Longbatah-Mesigit, in order to support the Mekern column as soon as possible.” Lieutenant-Colonel Engel answered with his dispositions: the 5th battalion with a section of artillery would advance immediately to Longbatah-Mesigit; Lieutenant-Colonel Meijer would command the whole; communication was to be restored and the post at Lambaroe to be established.
That same evening Meijer marched with the right half of the 5th battalion, the right half of the 8th battalion, one company of the barisan of Soemenēp and two sections of artillery to Longbatah — and on 7 March 1876 took the enemy fortification at Lambaroe by storm.
Assessment
Meijer recorded the two Bugis volunteers among the rescuers of the Kajoe-Lē column: their disguised four-hour journey, in daylight, through swarming enemies, delivered the only channel by which the column’s plight could be made known without the risk of a second massacre on the road. The feat shows also the role played by native allies — Bugis artillerymen and Madurese, Ambonese and Javanese soldiers — in the Dutch conduct of the war.
See Also
- Majoor B. E. Mekern
- Luitenant-kolonel Engel
- Kolonel Meijer
- Ambush of the Buijs detachment (4 March 1876)
- Storming of Lambaroe (7 March 1876)
- Kajoe-Lē
- Dwangarbeiders
Source
Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876, door H. F. Meijer (Breda: P. B. Nieuwenhuijs, 1883), chapter VI, pp. 121–124.