Haringman (journal) is the contemporaneous diary kept by the Dutch naval officer Haringman during the December 19–25 expedition against rebel forces in the interior of Acheh. The journal provides a day‑by‑day account of naval movements, encounters with “negro” rebels, the burning of sugar plantations such as Prosperiteit and Peereboom, and the fatal mis‑communication at the landing on Wikkie creek on 25 December.
Content
The entries describe the deployment of patrols from the bark “Zeven Provinciën”, the use of “tent‑boats” for landing, and the capture of a Surinamese border detachment at Beresteyn plantation. Haringman also records the testimony of enslaved Africans about rebel activities and the involvement of the “Indian guides”.
Historical Value
As a primary source, the journal is frequently cited in studies of Dutch colonial military tactics in Acheh and illustrates the challenges of riverine warfare in the early nineteenth century.
See Also
- Captain Van Oyen
- Captain‑lieutenant Smit
- Zeven Provinciën
- Dutch naval expedition to Acheh (December 19–25)
- Surinamese border detachment
Source
De geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Korps Mariniers van 1665‑1945, OCR text, pp. 345‑347.