Of course Captain Leers also took part in the joined dish, however, he had the bad habit to ask with every dish if it was edible and besides also smelled his portion before he began to eat.
This bothered the bigwigs so much, that they told him to look for another household. If this was the reason for him to cause trouble at work I don’t know, but I surely found him intolerable because he was critical of everything and never a word of praise came over his lips.
So the meals he didn’t attend were a lot more entertaining for me.
Of the more inland works, for in stance of Kielstra’s failure with his bridge across the lagune, I didn’t notice much; I built barracks all the time for the sick and wounded who were coming, for whom also an ambulance was made with a small operating theatre.
To judge how little they thought of hygiene in those days, serves the fact that outside this theatre often in the burning sun, amputated arms or legs were seen lying down; they did amputate at random.
In the middle of the month of April amongst the wounded the body of our brave commander in Chief was also carried in the camp, accompanied by his aid-the-camp Ltnt. Marinkelle, bathing in tears. It caused a big consternation in the camp especially under the highly placed ones.
Colonel van Daalen who immediately went to the prayer house, where Kohler died a hero’s death, had to leave, was so upset he complained that he could not accept the command in such difficult circumstances.
Quite soon it was evident, that the top leaders wanted to call it quits; a commission was set up to review if it was at all possibile to keep going with the agression in view of the coming West monsoon.
The commission seemed to have been unanimous in advising to withdraw especially on instigation of the Marine commander Colonel Koopman.
So retreat was suggested to the Government and it decided confirmatively.
Colonel Koopmans, v.Daalen and Egter have since then been nicknamed the monsoon colonels.
Us younger ones thought totally different about it and were sure we would get the enemy down with reinforcement of force and power; but our opinion was not asked.
Whatever the case on the 29th April very early in the morning the embarkment of the home journey commenced; in which besides the sloops the prao rafts were also used; they had not been very satisfying in practise, as with some rough swell the rafts quickly filled and the rafts then had to be put ashore; after the embarkment they let them sink just like that.
The final echelon of sloops was used for transport of a company Infantery and a section Mineurs; this last one had been ordered to dose all the barracks with petrol and set alight.
When the whole army was aboard at 10 o’clock, the whole camp was alight, but the enemy left us alone.
On the return journey the officers and crew were devided the same way as the journey out, only with this difference that the subalterns of the Staff were now staying on a sailing ship, the Maarten van Rossum; we really had not gone down in the world; the cabins were roomy and the first meal obviously was so luxurious as if it had been prepared for Lucullus; it was just my mother’s birthday and I found that a good incentive to treat us to a fine bottle; the captain however didn’t want to know about it and declared that all our food and drinks were on the house.
So I don’t remember ever to have made a journey in which I was spoiled so much.
The journey progressed very slowly because of the drawback of the sloops and because we harboured at Penang and Singapore at both of which places we painted the town red like riotting bandits; not until the morning of 13th May we arrived at the road of Batavia and could disembark at once.
On the wharf we were welcomed by the officers of Weltevreden at the Plein in front of the fort of Prins Frederik and there was also my chief, major v. Kappen; I was very surprised to hear from him that he had already spoken to Capt. Leers and that he had made up the most favourable reports about me; so his grumbling at the staff table in the camp must have been why he was discharged.
Major v. Kappen also told me that he had suggested to relocate me in Meester Cornelis. So this happened on 24th May and we had some days to spend at leisure; Kuil had looked after Pey’s and my stuff and thus he also was invited to our parties.
During that time I was summoned at the office of the chief officer in charge to receive my adjustments of the accounts.
Because we had not received any wages since before the departure of the expedition we received a nice sum of money of which however our household had to be paid. It was then clear that the colonels had paid 500 guilders for nothing and the further neccessities to the rank would be adjusted; the result was that us lieutenants only had to offer 26 guilders for all the delicious food and drinks; for which a cheap outing!
At Meester Cornelis Pey and I came to rent together, first in the so called Passantenhuis, later on again in our earlier domicile.
In the evening we often went out together with the last tram ( no trams ran after 6 o’clock in those days ) and came home late with a carriage, which costed us each 25 cents. Pey introduced me to the family Davelaar with whom I had a pleasant pied a terre since then.
I also often went to lieutenant quatermaster Borel, brother of Jeanne who sailed away at the same time with us from Nieuwediep; the pianoplay here was the attraction and I learned from Borel mainly to playwith four hands. His sister was already married to her German at that time and lived in great style.
In Meester Cornelis Pey and I were often invited to different families and from some ladies we received delicious snacks at home; one of them was Mrs. v. Thiel, who was divorced from her husband, remarried and later on became my neighbour in Tjilatjap.
During my second stay at M.C. an inquest was appointed to the cause, which led to the failed expedition to Atjeh.
President of the enquiry commission was the member of the council of the Dutch East Indies, Mr. der Kinderen.
I was also summoned before the commission and one of the things they asked me was, how the mood was of colonel van Daalen after General Kohler was killed; I replied that I as a young officer could hardly give a judgement of it.
What the results of the enquiry were was not known, it only was apparent that our Chief of arms Egter v.W. was aquitted as he still remained chief of arms till 26th April 1875, when he left for leave to Europe due to ill health.
With the preparation of the second expedition a start was made immediately after returning from the first one and as far as the engineers concerned, lieutenant colonel Ermeling had the main task.
He made just about all the designs for what was needed for transport and buildings and guided the excecution of these.
Likewise he projected mobile bamboo and wooden barracks and provision sheds, which later in practise proved to be very satisfying and he constructed the floating iron rafts for transport to the coast which became so famous, to replace the prao rafts which proved to be less useful.
In Mr. Cornelis I had amongst other the task to build temporary living quarters to be able to provide a shelter for the reinforcement troops which were expected from the Netherlands; these barracks too were built to a new thought out system by Ermeling, which still served for years as a standard model for temporary buildings.
He travelled often to Semarang and Soerabaja to check out the execution of his projects and came also often to M.C. to see my work. He pointed a lot out every time and his remarks were usually ad rem; I learned a lot from him indeed and proved to be a grateful patient, which later on was also obvious.
My stay at M.C. this time didn’t last long either as soon enough on 30th September I was transferred back to Batavia, in order take part in the preparations of the second expedition, in which I was incorporated. And again Kuyl replaced me.
It then became a busy time for me; I had taken a room at moeder Spaanderman again and went every day to the streets, where my task was to furnish some ships for the transport of horses and to hospital ships; besides I had to take stock of the engineering load which had to be distributed over several bottoms, so that in Atjeh I would know where to find everything.
I had a lot of carpenters and coolies to my dispose, who were staying and fed aboard; I also often stayed overnight aboard so that I could be there early the next morning; I slept than just in a lounge chair and enjoyed the lovely tropical night. Only early in the morning when the wind from land set through I had to use a small blanket.
Amongst the horse ships I had to organise were two English ones and I had the opportunity to freshen up on that language. That was rather neccessary as was obvious when I came aboard the SS John Bramall and wanted to ask the captain if he possessed a plan of his ship. Pey, who also had been appointed to the 2nd expedition and just happened to be in the streets, accompanied me and neither of us could think of the translation of what I meant’ the English word “plan” was actually easy enough. Through daily encouters with the English commander however I soon was getting better and it was obvious that the lessons of my teacher Thiery had been fruitful. Several times I even acted as a translator.
With the SS Holland a large supply of Lithofracteur ( a kind of dynamite ) was brought in and they appointed me to investigate if this new explosive had not suffered during the journey. So I had enquired about this with Lieutenant of engineering of the Dutch Army Nelemans.
On board I showed my written order and with great cautiousness a case with this dangerous stuff was taken out of the hold; the case was opened and the packaging looked perfect. I took a cartrage and opened this, crumbled a small amount from it, placed it on a bench and wanted to light it with my cigar. It was funny to see how captain, coxwain and all futher bystanders from the poop deck flew away when I ignited this piece, that, as I knew burn slowly away. When this was finished everyone came back bravely.
Everything was ready for the departure of the expedition, when cholera emerged amongst the troops so the date to steam out was shifted and then after 10 days, when they thought the neccessary quarantene measures were taken we departed from the streets of Batavia.
I made the journey by clipperfregate Kosmopolieet III, which had been furnished to hospitalship by me, although due to the many activities which were attached to it was not completly finished and had to be finsihed off during the trip.
The journey commenced on the 21st November and we arrived towards the end of that month at the streets of Oleh-leh, towed by the SS. Koningin Sophie, being the last steamer of the already in the streets arrived squadron.
During the trip the cholera had taken a big toll on most of the ships, thank goodness we were not affected.
Since after the arrival of the squadron the weather situation didn’t allow a landing yet and the amount of sick kept growing, some steamers were redirected to the Westcoast of Poeloe Nasi on which island the minors already had built barracks to take in the sick.
Several days later I was also sent there with a small paddle steamer which was loaded up with materials for the barracks and if needed I would be set to work. However, they didn’t need my help and I used the day to view everything.
So I went aboard one of the large fourmasters Sumatra, on which two half batallions infantry were staying under the command of major Knoots and Romswinkel; on the large deck in the middle a sail had been stretched out, behind which several cholera sufferers were lying moaning or dying; in front of the screen a kind of officer’s social club had been set up and there was an exciting atmosphere going on, which was accillerated all the time by the encouragement of major R. by playing the battalion music.
This was a lurid sensation, though the action of maj. R. was ordered because of the circumstances.
After the Sumatra I also visited the SS. Scotland, on which the 12th batallion was housed under the command of majors van Thiel and Luymes; the situation here was a bit less tragic, although the officers and crew all complained about a shortage of food.
The commander of the ship, an Englishman, could not communicate properly with both the chief officers and when he noticed I good speak the language well, he asked me to be his translator for both men.
It then was evident that the food could not be deliverd according to the contract although a replacement in the form of red kidney beans and dried peas could be deliverd; the question was rounded off and the captain was so satisfied that he treated both men and me to champaign.
At the toasting it was obvious then that the commander and major Luymes both were freemasons and this made the reconciliation more heartfelt.
After my visit to the ships I went to the wharf, where it proved to be a dirty mudpool because of the persistent rains.
Just before sunset I wanted to go back to the SS. Sumatra, where I had to stay overnight; along the coast a large amount of sloops were tied up, however, there were no coolies available. It was only a relative small distance to the ship and I sugested to a engineer, who also had to go aboard to go together; he was a good rower and I would hold the rudder.
We were not far from the wharf when a heavy downpoor came on; darkness fell and despite all our hard efforts we could not go against the wind and came adrift in the end; we held the boat as much as possible parallel to the coast as the boat would probably have crashed on the rocks which are lying in front of the coast.
Fortunately a watchman on the bridge of one of the warships had noticed us and around 8 o’clock a steambarque was sent out which rescued us at 8.30 pm from our scary situation and took us safely on board.
This shows you that you cannot sail at sea with 2 men in one boat.
The next afternoon I had to take the small paddle steamer, with which I had come, back to Greater Atjeh; the captain drank an uncountable amount of schnaps and was bravely joined by a naval cadet. It was getting dark and both these sea heros then decided to drop the anchor in the middle of the very deep Ceder Passage. They ate a little bit and dropped as much anchor chain as they could and then went to sleep off their intoxication.
The captain gave me a blanket and recommended me to go and sleep on deck.
I hardly ever have had such a restless night, I was rolling from starboard to port and was glad when the sun rose and we could depart.
After my return on the streets of Oleh-leh I was charged with several works for the landing of the troops; the most interesting of these was the putting together of the rafts. This was not difficult with the iron rafts since two iron cases on which the beams were resting could be let into the water coupled together and I could carry on on these.
They had however also taken wooden prao rafts ( not a project of Ermeling’s ) with which they had designed heavy square cases as carryboats; these huge cases were very unmanageable when putting them together and did in practise not satisfy afterwards; so they were soon put out of use.
The landing took place ata Koeala Gighen, thus much more East than where the enemy was waiting for us; it happened on 9th December and the operations of the troops followed upon that in Westerly direction till the 22nd of that month, when Penajoeng was reached, where a large camp had to be built.
By this movement and the occupation of the so called Navy mud building had also the mouth of the Atjeh river come free and so the transport of the neccessary materials had become much easier.
This transport was daily being led by 2 Navy officers, ltnts. at sea Haremaker and v.d. Mandele to whom I had to give information where they could find the neccessaties. I took care of the loading of the rafts and sloops.
During all this time I sat in a sloop or steam barque every day and I got to know a large amount of sea officers and naval cadets, whom by us landrats received the name steam barque heros.
After the transports regularly streamed up the Atjeh river till the camp Penajoeng, I went with one of them every day and then reported with the chief of the Expedition Engineers, major v. Zuylen and the sub-chief captain Nolthenius, both not very popular with all the subordiante officers.
I then ate in the officer’s barrack of the company engineer workers; where also a small room was where I could sleep. This company was commanded by captain Broese v. Groenou, whilst with them also Ltnt. Bik had been incorporated; the last one was in those days in charge with the building of a bridge over the river.
He, or rather the major, who gave the order to build, had very little satisfaction of the work, because two days after it was finished, it was washed away by the stream; this lead to a song which came in the hands of the major and goes:
Like a pinangbridge is our short life
like a yoke, which had not been worked in
showing of nicely, yet is powerless and weak;
when a tree let itself glide along the stream
then such yolk cannot avoid it’s downfall
one doesn’t know, one doesn’t even find his post anymore.
To assure communication with the left bank we had to start as soon as possible with the building of a solid wooden bridge and when that was finished the attack on the Missigit and Kraton began, which was prepared by heavy canonnade also with the backload canons and mortars.
The materials from the ships had now been brought in in enough supplies, so that my continuing presence in the streets wasn’t neccessary any more and I was incorporated in the Company Engineer’s workers.
Before I get off the transport chapter I want to bring out another episode of the last days: The floating rafts had a very shallow draught and could easily heavy loaded get over the billow of the Atjeh river; to be able to steer them properly they had to be tugged by a steam barque, which could however only get over the billow at high tide.
One fine day the naval cadet Ditloff-Tjassens had to tug the fully loaded raft into the river; I went to sit in the longboat and when he arrived in front of the billow I thought he would drop his anchor.
He declaired that the longboat could jump over the billow at half tide all right; I didn’t trust this and asked him, before he would take the manoeuvre, to let me return first to the raft. This happened and the whole lot went in midstream. The longboat had hardly reached the crown of the billow or it hit the ground, capsized and ran full with water, whilst the crew saved themselves with difficulty.
I kept floating around with my raft and landed inside the treshold by the incoming tide and from there I was tugged by a longboat from Koeala to Penajoeng.
The longboat of D.Tj. sank in rather shallow water and had to be lifted by three warships. I think at this occasion I showed more seamanship then my guide.On the 6th January 1874 the attack on the Missigit would take place under the command of colonel Roy v. Zuydewijn and several days, prior to that I was ordered to build two wooden barracks, each for 80 men, in the hospital in Penajoeng, which did get ready in time.
The attack happened in front and costed us many losses, sothat both barracks obviously were not large enough, we then had to lenghten both barracks and had the satisfaction that in the evening all wounded were lying on their own stretcher; there were 228 wouded together, under whom 11 officers. I was lauded, not by my chief but by the conducting officer of health Jorritsma.footnote: Kraton is palace-fort
Missigit – mosque
I will continue to use these malay words.