Lam-Pisang

Properties2
tagsplace, achehnese, aceh-war, military, sultanate, kampong, groot-atjeh, lam-dalam, war-memory, oemar
aliasesLam-Pisang, Lampisang, Lam Pisang

5 min read

Lam-Pisang — written in Dutch as also Lampisang, Lam Pisang — was a major kampong in the IV Moekims of Teuku Umar, the site of Umar’s dwelling (verblijf), and the place from which Umar wrote his three letters to the Governor of Atjeh (30 March, 12 April, 23 April 1896). As described in Kruisheer’s ATJEH ‘96, Lam-Pisang was the symbolic and political centre of Umar’s stellingen in the IV Moekims, and the principal objective of the three-day Dutch offensive of 23–25 May 1896. The kampong was captured by the 5e Bataljon on 24 May 1896 (1e luit. de Jongh first reaching Umar’s verblijf at 10:35 VM); some small cannons, furniture, and Umar’s correspondence were captured, and the kampong was subsequently destroyed with dynamiet, teer, and petroleum. A bivak was established at Lam-Pisang after its capture. On 20 June 1896 a Dutch patrouille burned the sentry-houses and the gates of Umar’s dwelling at Lam-Pisang.

Description and Location

Lam-Pisang lay in the IV Moekims of Teuku Umar between the kampong of Lam-Asan on the south-east and the heights of Boekit Seboen and Lam-Poelau on the north-west. The kampong was the site of Umar’s dwelling, which served as his political and military headquarters throughout his period as Panglima Prang Besar (1893–1896) and after his defection of 29 March 1896. The kampong was connected by communication trenches to the neighbouring versterkingen of Lam-Asan (with its Binasa versterkingen), Pakan Badak (site of Umar’s house and a bivak), and Paja Trieng. The Bineh-Kroeng kampong was burned together with Lam-Pisang on 24 May 1896. The kampong was bounded on the south by the road toward Pasar Oleh-Gli and on the north by the heights of Boekit Seboen.

Historical Background

Lam-Pisang had been the residence of Teuku Umar throughout his period as Panglima Prang Besar of the Government (1893–1896) and was the symbolic centre of his authority in the IV Moekims. Umar’s wife Tjoet Nja Din was associated with the kampong, and it was from Lam-Pisang that Umar wrote his three letters to the Governor of Atjeh of 30 March, 12 April, and 23 April 1896 explaining his defection and demanding ƒ150,000 per month and a Royal decoration. After the bombardment of Lampisang began on 27 April 1896, Umar reportedly brought his wounded to Lam-Pisang, and the kampong was the strategic keystone of his defensive stelling across the IV en VI Moekims.

Role in the 1896 Operations

Lam-Pisang was the principal objective of the three-day Dutch offensive of 23–25 May 1896. On 23 May 1896 the 9e Bataljon under luit.-kol. Veeren attacked the neighbouring stellingen of Lam-Asan (with its Binasa Belang, Binasa Ketapang, and Balei Ba’ Mó versterkingen) in one continuous aanval, and the 5e compagnie of the 12e Bataljon fought through the valley of Beradin toward the eastern ridge. On 24 May 1896 the 5e Bataljon advanced on Lam-Pisang from the southeast, and 1e luit. de Jongh of the 5e Bataljon was first to reach Umar’s verblijf at 10:35 VM; some small cannons, furniture, and Umar’s correspondence were captured. The kampong was subsequently destroyed with dynamite, tar, and petroleum; the Bineh-Kroeng kampong was burned together with Lam-Pisang. A bivak was established at Lam-Pisang after its capture. On 25 May 1896 the 6e Bataljon’s 3e compagnie stormed the stelling Daman–Lam-Tjroeng–Lam-Poelau just to the south. On 20 June 1896 a Dutch patrouille burned the sentry-houses and the gates of Umar’s dwelling at Lam-Pisang, and the Pasar Oleh-Gli market nearby. Lam-Pisang appears in Teuku Umar’s letters of 30 March, 12 April, and 23 April 1896 as the place from which the letters were written.

Significance

Lam-Pisang was the symbolic and political centre of Teuku Umar’s authority and the principal geographic object of the 1896 Dutch counter-offensive. The capture of the kampong on 24 May 1896 and the destruction of Umar’s dwelling with dynamiet, teer, and petroleum was the symbolic climax of the first semester of 1896. The capture of Umar’s correspondence — including the three letters of 30 March, 12 April, and 23 April 1896 — provided the Dutch with documentary evidence of his defection and his demands. The continued Dutch presence at Lam-Pisang as a bivak after its capture demonstrated the post’s strategic importance.

Account from Verkenningen in Atjeh (1923)

Lam Pisang — modern Lam Pisang — is a small kampong on the road from Kota Radja to Lho’ Nga, Lam being short for Dalam, palace. It is now a small kampong, formerly greater and more prominent. The road passes through a region with war-memory from the days of Oemar, when much was burnt down.

See Also

Sources

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. 72, 82, 158, 180, 181, 190, 192, 195, 210–225, 227, 235, 320–321, 338, 341, 343, 345.

Verkenningen in Atjeh, by Dr. R. Broersma (De Locomotief, October 1923), passim.

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