Tjap Octoe was an Atjehnees kampong in the III Moekims sector conquered on 14–15 February 1876 in Pel’s three-colonne operation against the III Moekims, whose sterke benteng (strong fortification) with artillery was only taken “met veel moeite en opoffering” — with much effort and sacrifice. Its losses, combined with those of the Atoeh catastrophe, were enough to make Pel decide not to push further eastward.
The conquest
After the Atoeh catastrophe of 13 February 1876 and the conquest of Pango the same day, Pel pressed on. Meroe, Lampermej and Tjap Octoe were bemachtigd after hevigen tegenstand on 14–15 February 1876. At Tjap Octoe the troepen stuitten on a sterke benteng with artillery, krachtig verdedigd, only taken “met veel moeite en opoffering” — with much effort and sacrifice. The enemy had clearly prepared the defence in depth: artillery in the benteng, infantry in the boschrand around it, and a network of bamboe-doeri (thorn-bamboo) entanglements that channelled the Dutch assault into killing-grounds. The storming of Tjap Octoe was therefore among the hardest fights of the winter offensive of 1875–1876. Borel’s point is that the Atjehneezen could not withstand a well-planned combined colonne attack — but they could make each Dutch victory cost.
The strategic decision
The losses at Tjap Octoe were enough to make Pel decide not to push further eastward but to designate Pango as the uiterste steunpunt of the new linie toward Kwala Gigieng — judged voldoende. The decision was, Borel suggests, the right one: the new linie from Pango to Kwala Gigieng and the Kroeng Tjoet mouth would, with the post on the island of Kota Pohama in the lagune, complete the isolation of Groot-Atjeh from the sea on the north-east side. From Pango Pel marched northward on 22 February 1876 via Lamkapang, Loeëng Iek, Poeklat and Oeleh Karang to the kampong Pinang — found abandoned, “in den rug genomen” — and on to the Kroeng Tjoet and his death at Lamjoeng on 24 February 1876. Lt.-kol. Engel then continued the march to Kwala Gigieng on 26 February 1876, and the line was closed.
See Also
- III Moekims
- XXV Moekims
- Pango
- Kwala Gigieng
- Kota Pohama
- Lamjoeng
- Benteng
- Generaal Pel
- Atoeh catastrophe (13 February 1876)
- Death of Generaal Pel (24 February 1876)
- Pel’s offensive against the VI, IV and IX Moekims (1875–1876)
Source
Onze vestiging in Atjeh, critisch beschreven, by G. F. W. Borel, Kapitein der Artillerie. ‘s-Gravenhage: D. A. Thieme, 1878. pp. 327–329, 336.