Blang Tjoet was an Atjehnees kampong between Pendetti and Longbatta-Mesigit on the left bank of the Atjeh-rivier, conquered and garrisoned on 18 January 1875 in the conquest of Blang Tjoet by overste Ruempol. The new post, built on an abandoned Atjehnees benteng about 400–500 paces from the Mesigit, made transport between the Mesigit and Pendetti practically safe and was the scene of sharp fighting on 7 January 1875 when a convoy was heavily attacked in the dense brush near the kampong.
The conquest
After the Longbatta operation of 31 December 1874 the area around Blang Tjoet was the scene of recurring clashes. On 4 January 1875 Pel with two columns reconnoitred and cleared the terrain south of Pendetti and the kampongs of Lampoe Idjoe, Lampoe Oek, Longbatta and Blang Tjoet; no resistance was offered and the houses were burned. On 7 January 1875 a convoy was heavily attacked in the morning; majoor Romswinckel was sent with a column to aid. Sharp fighting followed, with several Dutch dead and wounded; the enemy could not be dislodged from positions in the dense brush near Blang Tjoet. The decisive blow came on 18 January 1875, when a column of 150 bayonets and an artillery section under overste Ruempol, with a reserve infantry company, marched out. The enemy was permanently driven from Blang Tjoet.
The new post
At a suitable point near the river bank, about 400–500 paces from the Longbatta-Mesigit, work immediately began on a fortification, using an abandoned Atjehnees benteng. After a few days of clearing, the enemy could be prevented from crossing the river by day, and transport between the Mesigit and Pendetti became practically safe. On 23 January 1875 a new post was built at Poengej Blang Tjoet between Poe Oe and Kota Podjoet to better secure the western side of K. Radja and prevent the enemy penetrating the forward line toward Lampasej. With the completion of the continuous line around K. Radja in May 1875, Blang Tjoet became one of the eastern-side posts of the stelling-Pel, linking the Mesigit to Kota Alam, Lemboe O. en N.O., Lampriet, Langkroek O., Lamara Z.O. en N.O., Tiban and Moesapi along the east side of the line.
See Also
- Longbatta-Mesigit
- Pendetti
- Lampoe Idjoe
- Lampoe Oek
- Longbatta
- Poe Oe
- Kolonel Ruempol
- Majoor Romswinckel
- Conquest of Blang Tjoet (18 January 1875)
- Stelling-Pel
Source
Onze vestiging in Atjeh, critisch beschreven, by G. F. W. Borel, Kapitein der Artillerie. ‘s-Gravenhage: D. A. Thieme, 1878. pp. 95, 131, 137, 144, 200, 228, 238–243, 263.