A. E. van Kappen — Kapitein (Captain) of the K.N.I.L. — was the commander of the Korps Marechaussee (the marechaussée corps) in Groot-Atjeh during the second semester of 1896, in which capacity he commanded the punitive expedition to Batoe-Mengkoerah of 19 November 1896 and participated in the surprise of Ana’ Galoeng of 29 June 1896 and the expedition to Lepong of August 1896. He is the principal marechaussée commander of the second semester of 1896 in ATJEH ‘96 (1913).
Career in 1896
Van Kappen is first mentioned in ATJEH ‘96 as a 1e Luitenant serving as adjutant (1e Luit.-Adj. E. A. van Kappen) on the staff of Kolonel J. W. Stemfoort in April 1896. He was promoted to Kapitein and given command of the marechaussée corps — strength four officers and 221 men — for the expedition to Lepong of August 1896.
The 1896 campaign
The Tweede Deel of ATJEH ‘96 records Van Kappen’s command of the tuchtiging of Batoe-Mengkoerah of 19 November 1896 — a marechaussée operation against the grottoes of the Batoe-Mengkoerah hill in the XXII-Moekim federation — and his participation in the surprise of Ana’ Galoeng of 29 June, where he was wounded in the assault on the benteng (fort). The Tweede Deel also records his role in the expedition to Lepong of August 1896, where the marechaussée corps under his command was the principal manoeuvre element of Lt.-Kol. Van Heutsz’s column.
Significance
Van Kappen is the principal marechaussée commander of the second semester of 1896 in ATJEH ‘96. His command of the tuchtiging of Batoe-Mengkoerah of 19 November 1896 was the principal marechaussée operation of the second half of the year, and his participation in the surprise of Ana’ Galoeng of 29 June 1896 placed him at the centre of the most celebrated Dutch tactical success of the year.
See Also
- ATJEH ‘96 (book by A. Kruisheer)
- Korps Marechaussee van Atjeh en Onderhorigen
- 1896
- Surprise of Ana’ Galoeng (29 June 1896)
- Excursie to Lepong and Lohong (10–14 August 1896)
- Punitive expedition to Batoe-Mengkoerah (19 November 1896)
- Batoe Mergati
- Kolonel Stemfoort
- J. B. van Heutsz
- H. M. Vis
- Aceh War
Source
ATJEH ‘96. 1e Deel, door A. Kruisheer, Kapitein der Infanterie O.I.L. (Weltevreden: N.V. Boekhandel Visser & Co, 1913), Hoofdstuk I, p. 100: Kap. Adjunct J. C. Smits, 1e Luit. Adj. E. A. van Kappen.
ATJEH ‘96. Tweede Deel (2c Deel), door A. Kruisheer (Weltevreden: N.V. Boekhandel Visser & Co, 1913), Hoofdstuk IV, p. 63: Het korps-marechaussee: Commandant Kapt. A. E. van Kappen. Sterkte: 4 officieren en 221 minderen; Hoofdstuk IV p. 150: Batoe-Mengkoerah.