The Bereden-artillerie — also written mounted or horse artillery — was a mounted artillery unit of the Oost-Indisch Leger attached to the overall staff in Atjeh during the spring of 1896, commanded by Luit.-kol. W. Boetje. Unlike the bergbatterijen (mountain batteries) whose vuurmonden were dismantled for mule transport, the bereden-artillerie was organized as a horse-drawn field battery for rapid deployment along the roads and trails around Koeta Radja. The unit was attached to the overall staff during the 16–17 June 1896 expedition under Lt.-Gen. Vetter’s overall command.
Background and Formation
As a bereden (mounted) battery of the colonial artillery, the bereden-artillerie was equipped with horse-drawn field guns capable of rapid tactical movement. Its colonel, Luit.-kol. W. Boetje, was attached to the overall staff during the spring 1896 operations, suggesting that the unit’s role was as much staff coordination of all artillery in the Atjeh theatre as direct tactical employment of a single battery. The bereden-artillerie is distinct both from the bergbatterijen (mountain batteries) and from the vestingartillerie (fortress artillery, which provided stukcommandanten for the post guns).
Role in the Atjeh War
The bereden-artillerie, under Luit.-kol. W. Boetje, was attached to the overall staff during the 16–17 June 1896 expedition against the V Moekims Montassik and XIII Moekims Toengkoeb regions, the last major operation of the spring 1896 campaign. The expedition was commanded overall by Kolonel J. W. Stemfoort with three colonnes: 1e Colonne (Lt. Col. Bisschoff van Heemskerck: marechaussée + 3e and 6e Bataljons, 4de Bergbatterij, Genie); 2e Colonne (Lt. Col. Van Heutsz: 7e and 9e Bataljons, 2e Bergbatterij, Genie); Reserve-Colonne (Lt. Col. Soeters: 12e and 14e Bataljons + mixed battalion (Steinmetz), 1e Bergbatterij, Genie). The combat of 16 June 1896 ranged across Tjot Maraja, Balik Angin, Toei Selimbing, Aloer Lintang, Lam-Nga, Lam-Pasei, and Lam-Bada; the Panteh Karang redoute was stormed; on 17 June 1896 Lam-Soet was burned and the Kroeng-Kali benteng stormed by the compagnie of Kapitein Linck of the 5e Bataljon.
Composition and Strength
The bereden-artillerie was commanded by Luit.-kol. W. Boetje, attached to the overall staff. The unit’s strength and exact number of vuurmonden are not separately recorded in the strength return of 1 June 1896; it is listed alongside the bergbatterijen and the vestingartillerie in the overall artillery of the Atjeh garrison.
Significance
The bereden-artillerie’s role in the spring 1896 campaign was that of a staff-coordinated mounted battery, distinct from the operational mountain batteries that supported each colonne. Its attachment to the overall staff during the 16–17 June 1896 expedition reflects the Dutch practice of holding a horse-drawn battery in general reserve for rapid deployment, in contrast to the mule-borne bergbatterijen that could only follow a column at foot pace.
See Also
- W. Boetje
- Bergbatterijen
- Vestingartillerie (Fortress Artillery)
- Tuchtiging der V Moekims Montassik (16–17 June 1896)
- J. W. Stemfoort (Kolonel der Infanterie)
- J. A. Vetter (Luitenant-Generaal)
- 1896
Source
ATJEH ‘96, door A. Kruisheer, Kapitein der Infanterie O.I.L., met 2 kaarten en 4 portretten (Weltevreden: N.V. Boekhandel Visser & Co, 1913). Instituut Kern, Leiden. OCR-filename: 20260715_163243_DLP-89-Atjeh_96_Met_2_kaarten_en4_DOORA_KRUISHEER_Kapiteinder_Infanterie_nemoretriever-ocr-v1_OCR.txt, pp. 245, 292, 323.