The surprise of the west hill-post at Biloel Zuid (2–3 June 1876) was a midnight Atjehnese assault on the Dutch watch post on the western hilltop commanding Biloel Zuid, in which the watch detachment — surprised from three sides — broke and fled down the hill, after which Lieutenant Bonga rallied thirteen Europeans and retook the position at rifle-point. It was described by H. F. Meijer in Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876 (1883).
The neglected post
The main fortification at Biloel Zuid had been completed on 24 May, but of the strengthening of the watch post on the western hilltop — one of the two hills that dominated the work — nothing had yet been done by the beginning of June: the slopes had not even been cleared of their thick undergrowth, so that view along them was completely blocked. The many works at the fortification and the road to Biloel had absorbed all labour; but Meijer expressly blamed the failure to apply, at least, obstacle materials on the hill itself. On the small bare plateau stood only a bamboo hut containing the ammunition chest and shelter for the watch, ringed on the southern, most threatened side by a low stone breastwork. A footpath along the steep northern slope — raked by the enemy from the adjoining hill ridges — connected the post with Biloel Zuid; the watch of about 56 men was relieved every 24 hours, usually marching up at dusk, and stood one-third on post along the plateau’s edge, one-third as support before the stone breastwork, and one-third resting beside the flagstaff.
The surprise
In the night of 2–3 June, at half past three, the quartermaster-sergeant (fourier) Gros was watch commander; Lieutenant of Infantry Bonga lay in the hut, the resting half of the detachment sleeping round the flagstaff. Gros had done his duties properly and noticed nothing suspicious; then, suddenly, shots were fired at the post from the east, south and southwest, at very close range, out of the undergrowth of the slopes — whereupon the Dutch at once lost some killed and wounded. Gros ran to the support and ordered the support commander, corporal Armée, to stand fast, then went to warn Lieutenant Bonga. When he came out again he saw that all the men on watch, together with the resting men, had already withdrawn along the footpath — without waiting for the word of command.
Judging from the sequel, the attackers had used the dark night and the wooded slopes to charge the post-line simultaneously from three sides after a few shots; the panic that arose carried off both the watching and the resting soldiers. The enemy held the position for a moment — but not long. Bonga stopped some thirteen men, all Europeans, near the large stone at the footpath, collected a few more fusiliers around him and advanced, firing, against the lost position, bringing the enemy quickly to flight.
Losses
The position remained in Dutch hands at a cost of 3 killed and 7 wounded. The enemy left 2 dead and 3 blunderbusses; he had looted some goods of the watch-holding officer, but — luckily — not the ammunition chest and weapons. Meijer added: he had again read us the lesson.
Fortification after the event
Immediately afterwards materials and labour were sent from Kota Radja: wooden blockhouses of great defensive power were built on the plateaus, the undergrowth along the slopes was at last cut down, part of the plateaus was ringed with abatis, randjoes, broken glass and wire obstacles, a gun emplacement for an 8 cM. gun was made on the west hillpost, and a fairly broad path was cut in the rocky northern slope, covered on the west by filled gabions. The enemy tried several times later, without success, to repeat his daring stroke: his fire could do the posts little or no more harm afterwards.
Assessment
Meijer placed this event among the classic examples of the war’s price for unfinished fortifying: the post was surprised neither by superior tactics nor by superior force, but through the sheer fact that the watch and its surroundings gave the enemy a covered approach to a few metres. It was, he stressed, the same fault seen at Lemboeq N.O. and at Lampagar — and again within three weeks, at the ambush of 18 June.
See Also
- Bonga (Lieutenant)
- Biloel Zuid
- Biloel Zuid operation (13-15 May 1876)
- Capture of the gun position near Biloel Zuid (24 May 1876)
- Voigt expedition to the IV Moekims (1-3 June 1876)
- Guerilla warfare in Groot-Atjeh
Source
Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876, door H. F. Meijer (Breda: P. B. Nieuwenhuijs, 1883), chapter VII, pp. 192–194.