IDA I DEWA AGUNG ISTRI KANYA Part 4 – Female Fighters Against Dutch Colonialism In Klungkung
IDA I DEWA AGUNG KANYA’S WIFE AN IRON WOMAN IN THE KUSAMBAT WAR IN 1849
4.1. Political and Economic Conflict
The historical trend that appeared in the 19th century was the expansion of the Dutch East Indies government’s control in Batavia which was increasingly intensive over the Klungkung kingdom. The relationship that was initially in a peaceful atmosphere, developed and increased through what was called an agreement, along with increasingly broad political and economic interests. The desire to gain wider influence and understanding of that goal forced the Dutch East Indies government to face a conflict situation. In this regard, the use of physical force became an option as a way out of the prolonged conflict.
The problem that needs to be explained is the historical reality that forced the Dutch East Indies government to seize influence in the Klungkung kingdom. This certainly cannot be separated from the international situation and the political and economic behavior of the Klungkung kingdom. British traders, the strong rivals of the Dutch in Europe, began to enter the waters of the Archipelago more intensively, both as individuals and on behalf of the government since the 18th century. The government through the British trading company not only tried hard to establish relations with the Balinese kings, but more importantly was its desire to gain a foothold in areas not yet controlled by the Dutch. The efforts of the Dutch government to seize influence in Klungkung and the conflicts it caused in later times can be explained in this light.
The desire to seize influence seemed increasingly clear and urgent after the British attacked the Balinese kings in 1814 while the British merchant, G, P, King had already had a fairly strong position in the Lombok Strait. By controlling the trade route in the Lombok Strait, England could connect with Singapore, the eastern part of the archipelago and Australia. The assumption that the position of the Dutch Governor’s government was strong in the archipelago at that time can only be partially justified, because the agility of British traders to find a foothold on the other hand must also be taken into account.
The capture of British merchant ships along the trade route since a century earlier by Dutch patrol boats, never dampened the British spirit. After 1834 and especially after G,P.King planted a fairly fierce rivalry against the NHM agent, Mads,J.Lange in the Lombok Strait, the Dutch considered the British as a threat that required real and immediate action.
The issue of the increasingly strong position of British traders developed into a heated debate at the central government level. The central issue was that the island of Bali would be made the 2nd Singapore by the British and this was widely spread two years later, namely in 1836. At the same time, the idea of the Dutch government that developed was how the Great God of Klungkung should understand and recognize the power of the Dutch Government in Bali and Lombok without turmoil. Turmoil of international attention.
The Klungkung Kingdom is a sovereign kingdom and Dewa Agung apparently does not only rule the king of Klungkung. Dewa Agung is also considered a respected person, both by the king in Bali himself and the king in Lombok. Dewa Agung has full power over the territory of the Klungkung kingdom, and therefore has the right to carry out government according to the customs that apply in the country.
The Klungkung Kingdom, like other kingdoms in Bali, has the right to enter into agreements with other kingdoms as a form of foreign relations.
The Right to Tawan Karang is another example that reflects the sovereignty of the Klungkung kingdom. The implementation of all the rules of this legal institution is often accused of justifying the right to seize stranded ships with all their contents. There should be a very strong tendency that foreign parties deliberately forget the basic understanding, namely forgetting the basic rights of every kingdom to own everything of political and economic value in the coastal area of the kingdom concerned.
The Right to Tawan Karang did concern the domestic politics of the Klungkung kingdom, but it had international implications. Here too the desire for wider influence carried out by the colonial government clashed with the increasingly strong suspicion of the Klungkung side towards the developments that arose after the Dutch increasingly intensively established relations with the Balinese kings. A clearer example is the rejection by the Dewa Agung Klungkung side of the request of the Dutch Government to establish a trading office in Kusamba in 1838.
The rejection of the Dewa Agung Klungkung party was actually based on economic and political considerations. Kusamba harbor is the largest harbor on the south coast, which connects the Klungkung trade route by sea with the outside area. It is understandable the strategic role played by the Kusamba harbor port. Merchandise issued from the Klungkung kingdom must go through the Kusamba harbor port as well as goods imported from outside, so that Kusamba became the key to economic life provided by the Kusamba harbor port must still be monopolized by the king, and therefore the desire of foreign parties to establish a trading office must be rejected.
The economic benefits gained through monopoly strengthened Dewa Agung’s position domestically. In addition, there were no developments that forced Dewa Agung Klungkung to cooperate with foreign parties, so that Dewa Agung Klungkung could uphold the sovereignty of his kingdom with his own strength.
The foreign policy of the Klungkung kingdom did not change until 1838, at least formally. For a long time, Dewa Agung in Klungkung had tried to restore his position as the sovereign of Bali and Lombok, and the government seemed to provide support. On December 8, 1841, Dewa Agung in Klungkung agreed to sign an agreement with the Dutch East Indies government represented by Huskus Koopman. The contents were basically a guarantee to the Dutch East Indies government that Dewa Agung in Klungkung would not hand over the kingdom to other foreign parties. This shows that the Dutch East Indies government was indeed very hard at trying to distance the island of Bali from foreign influence by using agreements, and Dewa Agung Klungkung’s intention to use it as a political tool became increasingly clear in 1843, two years after the first agreement was signed. In 1843, Dewa Agung in Klungkung agreed to sign the abolition of the right to rent coral, but the Dutch government’s support for the Klungkung kingdom was never realized. The Dutch East Indies government even tried to occupy the Buleleng kingdom in 1846.
Dewa Agung in Klungkung, who never received support from the Dutch East Indies government, then re-enacted the right to tawan karang which had been abolished according to the 1843 agreement. The re-enactment of the right to tawankarang occurred in 1847, when two GP king ships ran aground and were seized by the people of Klungkung at Batu Lahak near Pasinggahan. The incident of the ship seizure was reported by Mads.J.Lange, a Dutch agent in Kuta to the Maijor resident in Besuki. This conflict peaked after the Maijor resident sent a letter of protest to Dewa Agung in Klungkung. Dewa Agung in Klungkung was accused of violating the agreement that had been agreed upon and declared open hostility towards the Dutch East Indies government. Open hostility between Dewa Agung in Klungkung and the Dutch East Indies government became increasingly apparent since 1848, during the Jagaraga War, a war between the Buleleng kingdom and Dutch colonialism to defend economic interests.
The firm stance of Dewa Agung in Klungkung to defend the right to defend Karang as had happened in 1847 in Kusamba, was demonstrated again in the Jagaraga War, even in a broader form. Dewa Agung in Klungkung not only wanted to involve his own troops, but also involved troops from other kingdoms such as Gianyar, Mengwi and Karangasem to help the king of Buleleng. During the Jagaraga War, Dewa Agung Klungkung sent troops of around 1650 people under the leadership of Dewa Agung Ketut Agung.
The sending of troops to fight against the Dutch military expedition in Buleleng was not only aimed at defending the rights to the coral reefs which had economic value, but also directly involved Dewa Agung in Klungkung in a conflict to maintain power against Dutch colonialism in Bali. The interest in maintaining political position can be understood from the agreements between Dewa Agung in Klungkung and other kingdoms in Bali as well as with the colonial government that had been made before that. When the conflict developed into a direct military conflict a year later, namely in 1849, Dewa Agung’s desire in Klungkung became clearer, namely to reject any interference from the Dutch colonial government as an initial stage to restore the existence of the Klungkung kingdom as before under the leadership of Dewa Agung Klungkung. This includes an understanding of the situation, hopes and goals that the people of Klungkung want to achieve together with Dewa Agung.
4.2.Ideology of War.
The hopes that were to be realized, as well as the methods used to realize these goals, were related to the ideology that was alive in the Klungkung kingdom society at that time.
The unrest that arose in the Klungkung kingdom and which later culminated in a physical conflict situation, actually stemmed from the problem of colonial government intervention in social, economic and political issues. The elimination of the right to tawan karang through formal agreements, the loosening of relations between the Klungkung kingdom and other kingdoms in Bali in the 19th century, and the recognition of the Government’s authority over the territory of the Klungkung kingdom as a form of the destruction of tradition were considered real. Likewise, the military expedition that threatened the Klungkung kingdom since the Buleleng and Jagaraga wars, expanded DewaAgung’s dissatisfaction in Klungkung.
The destruction of tradition is identical to the chaotic era, a period of kaliuiga according to Hindu views. Dutch colonial penetration is considered a source of disaster, and is identical to the colonial government and all its tools of power. It is understandable that all feelings of dissatisfaction are directed at the Dutch East Indies government which is considered to be shackling the present, while the era of freedom only exists in the past and can be realized again in the future. Local sources state that the kertayuga era which was full of greatness and prosperity had occurred in the past. At that time the kings in Bali were united under one ruler. Peace with the kings in Bali was revived and became a future goal, as a way out of the crisis.
If local sources can be accounted for, then the nativistic ideology became an important ideology of the Klungkung community at that time. It seems that there were syncretistic characteristics in the ideology that developed at that time. In addition to the role of the Great God as a figure and the interests of the figure and his family, there were also other elements. The problem is whether the Great God can be identified as a savior figure. In Hindu beliefs, a king is often identified as the figure of Vishnu and his incarnation. The incarnation of Vishnu in Hinduism can be compared to the messiah figure in other beliefs. If so, then the messianic element also becomes a characteristic.
In messianic ideology, a person as a savior figure will lead his followers’ society so that they are guided towards achieving the millennium. This period is described as a period free from all pressure under the leadership of a messiah. If observed, the two have differences. Messianic ideology does not necessarily succeed in realizing an idealized society while millenarianism always expects the coming of a messiah.
The Kusamba War can be considered a protest that shows mixed characteristics, but it is clear that Dewa Agung was unable to realize the millennium, especially after losing the war of 1849. However, ideology moves leaders and followers to achieve common goals. This means that it is the hopes for the future that serve as a driving force so that the actions of followers are often irrational.
Obedience to the Great God, the courage to act against the colonial forces, is truly admirable. In his followers there is only one way, namely to fight and expel the Dutch from Klungkung. Dying in battle against the colonial military expedition is considered the dharma of a ksatrya who is ready to enter heaven.
4.3. Mobilization of Forces.
The deployment of the Klungkung kingdom’s troops in the Kusamba War was greatly influenced by the leadership, especially the family of the ksatrya dalem in the Smarapura palace. Internal conditions in the palace and outside it then gave rise to one of the descendants of the ksatrya dalem to hold a formal or informal leadership position.
Dewa Agung Putra as a descendant of kings in Bali and Lombok faced very complicated foreign policy problems, including with the king of Lombok who tended not to recognize his leadership. In addition to fighting the king of Lombok, Dewa Agung Putra still faced diplomatic pressure from the Dutch colonial government who wanted to firmly establish their power in Bali. The Dutch colonial government even threatened to occupy Buleleng. This threat became a reality after Jagaraga fell in 1848. Since then, Dewa Agung Putra (Agung Ketut Rai) faced the most complicated problem in his government. The Dutch East Indies government threatened to attack the Klungkung kingdom. His position was getting weaker. At that time, Dewa Agung Istri Kanya, the king’s sibling, did have a firm and tough personality against the wishes of the Dutch Government. This attitude was formed by life experiences since childhood.
The political situation at home and the colonial threat of the Dutch colonial government from outside showed a crisis atmosphere that required the emergence of a strong leader. Ida I Dewa Agung Istri Kanya therefore appeared as a figure who determined the political policy of the Klungkung kingdom at that time. Dewa Agung Istri Kanya and Anak Agung Ketut Agung became. The main figures in the war because the intensity of the spirit of sacrifice shown by sikep, bala, was very much determined by the two figures above. Likewise, the number of bala involved in the war showed the intensity of the authority of its leaders. Most of the kingdoms in Bali under the leadership of Dewa Agung Klungkung, were involved in helping Buleleng in its role against the Dutch in Jagaraga. This shows that the Klungkung kingdom under Dewa Agung had its own position among the other kingdoms in Bali.
At the time the Jagaraga War was raging, Dewa Agung in Klungkung was actually preparing himself to face the war against the Dutch. The experience in the Jagaraga War taught the leaders of the Klungkung troops that the Dutch troops would definitely attack Klungkung after occupying Jagaraga. For this reason, they were ordered to build a defensive fort. The area of primary concern was the plains along the coast from Goa Lawah to Kusamba. The Dutch troops would not possibly attack from the north, because the mountains of Bali were difficult for the Dutch central troops to pass through. To the west was Gianyar, which also helped Buleleng fight the Dutch during the Jagaraga War.
To the south is the strategic Kusamba port, and if this can be maintained, the movement of Dutch troops that will attack the city center in Klungkung will be hampered. This means that the Semarapura palace in Klungkung is safe. Among other things, with the above considerations, the Kusamba port area was used as the main defense fortress against Dutch troops. In front of the port, a long wall was built so that possible landings by sea could be repelled by shooting from behind the wall.
A layered fence was also built along the banks of the river that emptied into the port of Kusamba with the intention of thwarting attacks by Dutch troops coming from the east. In order to make the defense task around the Kusamba fort lighter, a front line fort was built along the gap of the narrow valley around Goa Lawah which was right on the border with the Wates mountains, made the center of the front line fort. The Goa Lawah fort was reinforced with a wall to the west so that the movement of Dutch troops could be herded towards the center of the ambush around the temple. This would be easier than if the Klungkung troops had held a wide battlefield around the coast.
If it turns out that the front defense, or the left wing defense of the Kusamba defense center located near the river can be penetrated, the Dutch troop movement will be intercepted to the west of the village. On the west bank of Kusamba, a layered fence was built with the aim of making it difficult for the Dutch troops to attack Klungkung. A very difficult problem to explain is the exact number of troops involved and how to involve them in battle, because it concerns the relationship of loyalty in the agrarian Klungkung kingdom society.
Dewa Agung can appoint a retainer and his close relatives as war leaders, such as Anak Agung Ketut Agung and Anak Agung Made Sangging. Of course, other considerations such as skills in combat including deploying troops are very much taken into account. The top leadership at the village level is usually entrusted to the local head so that it is easy to deploy troops.
Laskar actually consists of all levels of society consists of all levels of society and they can be distinguished each in their function as sikep. Klungkung Kingdom. Endehan refers to the laskar (sikep) which is taken from every male villager so that the number in each village is quite large. They are not well organized as professional sikep. In the war between kingdoms,
Their role cannot be doubted physically. Sikep in large numbers deployed in front of the enemy in frontal warfare, were feared. In addition to tending to fight one-on-one, the circular movement, the loud and simultaneous cheers of one, weakened the enemy’s spirit, and often scattered the Dutch troops even though they were more professional. Endehan in very large numbers, huddled together and carrying spears with long shafts, were not difficult to identify, especially on an open battlefield. In fact, one-on-one combat on a rather closed battlefield was very advantageous for the troops. Small winding alleys with walls of village settlements were very supportive, but the movements of the troops could finally be clearly seen. This was because the direction of the movement of the spearhead from across the wall, especially the drawn spear that was hit by sunlight, showed the direction of the movement of the sikep carrying the spear. Thus the Dutch troops were easily trapped.
In addition to being very easy to spot, the endehan group was very fragile. The explosion of the shaking ketas and the bullets that fell in front of the endehan group were enough to cause them to run away leaving everything behind. Closely related to the mobilization of the troops was the large role of the kentongan (kulkul) that existed in every village. The kentongan was hit hard following a certain rhythm (bulus). It can be said that the sound of the kentongan with a certain rhythm was a tool to drive the troops.
Hearing the rhythm of the gong, every adult male on the village road is ready with his weapon and goes out of the house to fight against the enemy. They often fight without wearing clothes. But wearing a white cloth that is raised upwards. Then wrapped through the crotch to the back, pulled tightly upwards and finally tied right on the cloth wrapped around the back of the waist. This is done so that the sikep can move agilely.
In the battlefield, endehan becomes one with pemating who has higher courage and fighting skills than endehan. They become the front sikep who are relied on to carry out attacks. The level of courage and skill of pemating in facing the enemy greatly affects the level of toughness of endehan to attack, here the password plays a key role, the password will provide the necessary information before an attack is carried out on the enemy.
In addition to the above differences including the weapons carried, sikep can be distinguished from the clothes used. Of course not all involved in the battle wear white clothes. The clothes used indicate the difference in the position of a sikep among others. Unlike endehan, war leaders usually wear sleeveless pandek clothes made of cloth, but rather thick in red (a type of vest).
When a battle occurs, the war leader takes a position in front so that the sikep on the left and right wings can clearly see the movement of the command’s hands and spears that he holds. Commands loudly while brandishing spears awaken the spirit of the sikep he leads. If the enemy troops continue to attack the sikep’s position, the spear held in his right hand is changed to a vertical position and the base is stuck in front of the tip of his toes. By holding his spear tightly, the command, the troops are ordered to defend, and usually this situation only ends after they fall.
The type of weapons owned by the sikep, which are generally swords, spears and keris, are the reason why the sikep tend to fight at close range with the enemy. The sikep usually wait until the enemy troops reach a position very close to them. In such a situation, one to three pemating sikep with short-handled spears run as fast as lightning into the enemy’s midst. This situation is most feared by the Dutch troops, because the sudden and fast movement of the pemating scatters the Dutch troops. That’s where the other sikep take part, and can certainly leave casualties to the enemy.
The Dutch troops quickly read the pattern of the Sikep deployment. In such circumstances, the Dutch troops quickly formed a line position.
The distance between one troop and another was widened as well as the distance with the position of the sikep was maintained with high discipline so that the pemating that charged forward was already visible from a distance. In addition, the position of the Dutch troops that were not gathered was difficult to approach by the pemating sikep. Thus the sikep remained herded into a gathered position so that the enemy could easily direct their shots. target. The Klungkung Sikep did have weaknesses, but their courage and willingness to sacrifice their lives were recognized throughout the Dutch East Indies itself which was more professional.
The willingness, steadfastness in their stance and courage of the sikep were further enhanced by the authority of Ida I Dewa Agung Istri Kanya and other Ksatrya so that around 5000 sikep could be involved in the battle. Courage to face the enemy, willingness to sacrifice to defend sovereignty and obedience to the leader were then demonstrated more clearly. In the battle to defend the fort at Goa Lawah, around 2000 sikep could be involved, while the defense in Kusamba involved around 3000 sikep from Klungkung.
4.4. The outbreak of the Kusamba War.
Before May 24, 1849, Dewa Agung Istri Kanya placed 2000 sikep people in Goa Lawah Temple as the front fort. This fort was entrusted to Anak Agung Ketut Agung, the commander of the Klungkung sikep who was experienced in the Jagaraga War a year earlier.
As expected, Major General Michiels who replaced van der Wijok as the military, the expedition commander used Padangbai as a base to attack Klungkung from the coast. Padangbai provided a safe shelter for the warships that were anchored compared to Kusamba. Major General Michiels ordered his troops to leave Padangbai on May 24, 1849 at 05.30. To guard the base in Padangbai, the 7th battalion with a company of troops was ordered to be on standby.
The Dutch troops that set out to approach the Goa Lawah fort were divided into two parts. The first group (colone) was tasked with investigating the position of the Klungkung sikep while paving the way for the second troop. The Dutch troops that were sent out first were led by Lieutenant Colonel van Swieten. His troops consisted of the XIII infantry battalion with 7 companies and the V battalion with 3 companies. Both were equipped with a section of a shooting squad that usually operated in the mountains, 4 11.5 mortars and a number of transport personnel.
The second force consisted of the II battalion with 7 infantry companies, the VII battalion with 4 companies. The equipment of the second force led directly by Major General Michiels, consisted of 2 field gun sections, Madurese auxiliary troops, 1000 food porters for 3 days of battle. Each personnel still brought their own food for one full day.
The troops led by Lieutenant Colonel van Swieten arrived near Goa Lawah Temple at 08.00 and took a position 300 meters from the center of Klungkung’s defense, then followed by troops under Major General Michiels. General Michiels was assisted by several land and navy Major officers including Lieutenant Colonel Helbach, Lieutenant Colonel Le Bron, Lieutenant Colonel Poland, Captain van Mannen, Kallerman, Bouricius and Captain Sorg. Sikep who defended behind the wall that extended from the end of the gap to the west and around Goa Lawah Temple, did not attack, because the position of the Dutch troops was still far away. The fortifications located at a high point from the beach were difficult to shoot, so an infantry platoon from van Swieten’s troops were forced to climb to the ridge. These troops were assigned to shoot the fortifications from the top of the hill. Sikep Klungkung did not build defenses on the hill so that the Dutch troops’ movements were safe.
The Dutch troops began shooting from the top of the hill towards the Sikep Klungkung defense so that the Kusamba War broke out. Sikep Klungkung hoped that the Dutch troops would get closer to the defense, while trying to continue. The hope was in vain, because no Dutch troops dared to approach so that the keris, swords and spears of Sikep Klungkung could not be used.
Sikep Klungkung then received fire from Michiels’ troops from the right side of the defense with the intention of getting out of the defense dart and At that time there were signs that Sikep Klungkung was retreating, but again tried to occupy the defense. Quickly, heavy fire was directed back to the center with the Sikep defense and was carried out simultaneously by Michiels’ first 4 companies. A large number of Sikep Klungkung tried hard to defend, but finally after 5 hours of fighting, were forced to leave the fort and several casualties. The battle that took place in Goa Lawah was indeed an unequal battle, but showed the tenacity of Sikep Klungkung in facing the Dutch troops who were very well armed.
Sikep Klungkung in waves left the Goa Lawah defense fort to the west and then defended in Kusamba. The Dutch troops managed to occupy the Gos Lawah defense fort and there gathered strength before continuing the attack on Kusamba.
Kusamba Fort, located about 4 kilometers from Goa Lawah, was the second defense of the Klungkung kingdom. Its defense was very strong because in addition to the deliberate construction of fortification walls and layered fences in all directions on the edge of the village, Kusamba was also a very large residential area. The village became a tough place of defense for the Klungkung Sikep. The walls surrounding the houses of the residents, the winding alleys were a common sight for the Klungkung Sikep. On the other hand, the Dutch troops did not know the terrain well, and with the Klungkung Sikep they could attack from all directions. The Klungkung Sikep who retreated from Goa Lawah helped strengthen the Kusamba fort, and a large number of Sikep continued to come from the direction of Klungkung, so that around 3000 Sikep were involved in the defense. The scorching heat of the sun also drained the physical strength of the Dutch troops who were not used to tropical weather. In order to approach the Kusamba fort from the east, the Dutch troops were ordered to be disciplined in maintaining their distance. The increasingly wide lowlands to the west forced Michiels to divide his troops into three formations. Some troops approached Kusamba from the coast in the south, some approached the Usamba defense from the north, and some troops attacked the Kusamba fort by taking up positions in the middle. This meant that the formation of the troops that were originally divided into two changed according to the conditions of the battlefield. Major General Michiels with his troops took up a position in the middle, Lieutenant Colonel van Sweten’s troops took up a position on the right by going along the village in the north, and Captain Bouricius’ troops on the south along the coast.
Sikep Klungkung who defended on the edge of the village waited for the Dutch troops to approach the defense position, but the attack that moved in the middle was complete. Sikep Klungkung’s attack with spears, keris and swords was difficult because the Dutch troops kept their distance in a disciplined manner. In addition, the formation of Dutch troops spread in all directions was increasingly difficult to hold.
After the Dutch troops in the middle were attacked, although they were finally defeated, the Klungkung Sikep was carried out against the Dutch attack troops moving to the right, namely van Swieten’s troops. The Klungkung Sikep, which was numerous, attacked, resulting in the first fierce battle in the Kusamba War. The Dutch troops fired heavy artillery fire so that the Klungkung Sikep, who mostly attacked using spears, were killed, then most of them retreated to the west.
The Dutch troops moving on the left and approaching the Kusamba defense from the south coast also received a heavy attack but were also broken. After the troops on the left pushed into the village, the Klungkung Sikep attacked the Dutch troops moving in the middle of the front like a line of ants. Captain Poland who was in charge of the artillery consisting of African troops, fired his shots so fiercely that the Klungkung Sikep were forced to retreat leaving casualties on both sides.
A battle in front of the Kusamba palace (puri) involving the Klungkung sikep with spears can kill a number of Dutch troops. Step by step the fully armed Dutch troops can occupy the Kusamba area, especially around the palace, while the surrounding areas, especially the areas to the west and north of Kusamba, are not occupied. The Dutch troops who were involved in the war continuously were quite exhausted after fighting for 9 hours, at 15.00 the Dutch troops were able to rest to the west of the village of Kusamba, while the Klungkung sikep who were under pressure occupied the villages of Gunaksa, Sampalan, Satrya and Dawan. The exhausted Dutch troops were forced to stop pursuing the Klungkung sikep who were retreating. Major General Michiel even ordered the troops to prepare a camp to stay overnight before continuing the attack on the city of Klungkung. The camp will be set up around Puri Kusamba and the headquarters will be placed inside the palace.
To guard the main headquarters from possible attacks by the still very strong Klungkung Sikep, camps and guard posts were set up to the north and east of the castle. These posts were entrusted to army battalions, complete with their own weapons. Navy troops were placed to the west and south of the main headquarters and all were ordered to sleep in combat-ready clothes. If this is observed, it seems that from the beginning the Dutch troops were afraid of a possible counterattack in the middle of the night.
Staying in a camp around Puri Kusamba which was still surrounded by Klungkung sikep was the only option even though it was realized to contain very great danger. The Dutch troops had not even succeeded in clearing all the Klungkung sikep who were still hiding in the houses of residents near the camp. Some Klungkung sikep still held out in the houses of residents near the camp. Some Klungkung sikep still held out in the houses of residents but the Dutch troops quickly acted so that by midnight the Dutch troops’ position was safe from attacks by Klungkung sikep.
4.5. Counterattack and the killing of Major General Michiels
After the Goa Lawah fort and the Kusamba fort fell into the hands of the Dutch troops, there were no longer any strong enough forts to stem the tide of Dutch troops attacking the city of Klungkung.
Dewa Agung Klungkung had no choice but to destroy the Dutch troops who were camping around Puri Kusamba. If not, the Dutch troops would attack the palace the next day. The negotiations at the Semarapura palace decided to attack the Dutch troops in Kusamba at midnight on May 24, 1849. Dewa Agung Istri Kanya, Anak Agung Ketut Agung, and Anak Agung Made Sangging, made a plan of attack. Sikep Sandi led by Anak Agung Made Sangging had found out the position of the Dutch troops at Puri Kusamba. Anak Agung Ketut Agung would lead the sikep pemating and supported by a large number of other sikep, would reach the western edge of Kusamba village.
On May 25, 1849, at 03.00 the front line of the Klungkung Sikep had reached the western area of the castle and immediately attacked the camp position guarded by Dutch troops from the navy, who had joined Major General Michiels. All members of the marine troops who were entrusted to guard the guard post there were sleeping so that no one saw the direction of the Klungkung Sikep attack. Their arrival was known after a large number of Klungkung Sikep attacked. The Klungkung Sikep attack was carried out in three waves while burning the village of Kusamba, so that all the sleeping Dutch troops woke up and panicked.
Panic was not only limited to the members of the troops but also the expedition commander Major General Michiels. The cheers of the Klungkung sikep and the flames that woke the commander and went out to the front yard of the castle. The wave of Klungkung sikep attacks were answered by the Dutch troops from Battalion VII with heavy fire so that they retreated, but then attacked again.
Major General Michiels who was standing in front of the castle could not distinguish his own troops, because it was pitch black. Battalion XIII who was gathering near the front yard of the castle was also in the dark so Michiels thought it was the Klungkung Sikep. Michiels then ordered the commander of Battalion XIII to shoot him. The commander of Battalion XIII automatically refused the order of the commander and expedition because he knew for sure that it was his own men. The order was issued repeatedly but was still rejected. There was tension between the General and the commander of Battalion XIII which could not be resolved. At that time a light bullet was fired with the intention of making sure the people were suspected. It turned out that it was indeed troops from Battalion XIII. When the light bullet was fired upwards, the entire tent which was originally dark became bright including the position of Major General Michiels who was standing in front of the castle which was clearly visible. At that time the Klungkung Sikep fired a firearm at Major General Michiel and hit his right thigh until it was destroyed.
Approaching sunrise, the Klungkung troops left Kusamba, not only because of the intense fire from the Dutch troops, but also because of the exhaustion of fighting for three hours. Both sides left a number of casualties, especially those on the Klungkung side. Major General Michiels, who was still in pain and could not possibly hold the leadership again, ordered Lieutenant Colonel van Swieten to continue the attack on Klungkung. At 06.30, Major General Michiels was transported to Padangbai for the purpose of receiving medical treatment, and only arrived in Padangbai at 12.00.
Lieutenant Colonel van Swieten refused to forward the information to Klungkung. The Dutch troops’ supplies were only enough for three days and this meant that there was only one day’s food supply. In addition, almost all the transport personnel ran away from the battle, especially during the day and night battles in Kusamba. The remaining transport personnel were exhausted and diarrhea began to spread. The same situation occurred in the combat troops. Lieutenant Colonel Van Swieten was still hesitant to take over the leadership, in addition to the decline in morale, the leader was still alive although seriously injured. Therefore, Lieutenant Colonel van Swieten decided not to continue his movement to Klungkung but to return to Padangbai with his troops, and there he would await further orders.
On May 25 at 11:00, Lieutenant Colonel van Swieten ordered the troops to return to Padangbai via the same route as the departure time. Throughout the journey, the troops were lethargic, diarrhea was contagious and some met their deaths. The scorching sun, poor health were the reasons why the speed of the troops’ movement only reached 1 hour per kilometer so that they only arrived in Padangbai at 16:00.
When the Dutch troops left for Padangbai, the Sikep reoccupied Kusamba, and also Goa Lawah on the orders of Ida I Dewa Agung Istri Kanya. In addition, the spirit of the Klungkung Sikep was increasingly blazing because they won the battle. The movement of the Dutch troops to withdraw to Padangbai, increased the spirit of the Sikep to join together so that around 3000 people were involved in the effort to retake Kusamba. A small portion of the Dutch troops left in Kusamba did not put up significant resistance. It was the same in Goa Lawah. Cannon fire from the ship directed at Goa Lawah did not affect the spirit of the Klungkung Sikep who were blazing to reoccupy their favorite defense at the front.
Major General Michiels who arrived in Padangbai at 12.00 and refused to be operated on in Kusamba, was finally operated on the Etna, his command ship. The operation on the Etna was too late and could not help, so Major General Michiels who was admired by his men met his death on May 25, around 23.00. His death was the heaviest morale blow for the Dutch troops, and the only top Dutch military leader who could be killed in Bali. The incident added to the list of Dutch troops’ casualties during the Kusamba war to 11 officers and non-commissioned officers and 28 people were injured and around 800 people died defending sovereignty.