Verhofstad was a Dutch second lieutenant of infantry in Atjeh in 1876, who on 15 February 1876 escorted a munition transport — carried by about 150 Chinese coolies — from Kota Radja to Biloel through the threatened south-east line.
15 February 1876
A day after Major B. E. Mekern had marched from Pagar-Ajer to Atoë and Kajoe-Lē, Verhofstad marched with 44 armed men as escort of the munition transport. Near Atoë the transport was attacked: first fired upon, then pressed by the enemy, so that the coolies twice dropped their loads and fled into the kampong. By effective measures the lieutenant kept his men together and the enemy off; the fled coolies returned and were collected, and the detachment — supported by a patrol from the post at Atoë — delivered the munition and returned without loss to Pagar-Ajer that same afternoon.
The feat — one of the few fully successful escort actions of the month — is recorded by H. F. Meijer in Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876 (1883).
See Also
Source
Atjeh van 26 December 1875 tot 4 September 1876, door H. F. Meijer (Breda: P. B. Nieuwenhuijs, 1883), chapter VI, pp. 118–119.