As part of the peace treaty that ended the first Buleleng war the Dutch left a garrison in Buleleng despite previous promises never to garrison Dutch troops on Balinese soil. This combined with Dutch demands for reparations for the cost of their expedition to Buleleng offended many Balinese including several previously neutral Princes. The most important of these aggrieved nobles was Dewa Agung of Klungkung [see map] who held great spiritual authority in Bali. His opposition and immense influence kindled strong anti-Dutch sentiments amongst the Balinese and led to the principalities of Gianyar and Mengwi [see map] joining the anti-Dutch alliance.

During 1847 further "Reef Rights" incidents occurred and it became apparent that Buleleng and Karangasem were ignoring the treaties and refusing to pay reparations. The Dutch garrison in Buleleng remained isolated and unable to purchase food in the principality. In March 1848 the Governor General of the Netherlands East Indies sent an ultimatum to both Princes, which, they ignored as was their way when confronted by the unacceptable.

It had become apparent to the Dutch Colonial authorities in Java that Gusti Ketut Jelantik was the focus of Buleleng's resistance to the Dutch authority and that he, along with his army in the fortress of Jagaraga, had to be eliminated. Consequently an expeditionary force of the KNIL consisting of 2265 regular troops, 500 auxiliaries from Madura and 500 coolies was embarked aboard a fleet of transports escorted by nine warships mounting 72 guns between them. Awaiting them in Jagaraga was Gusti Ketut Jelantik's army of about 10,000 armed mostly with Kris and lance but also in possession of some firearms and a few obsolete cannon.

The KNIL expeditionary force dropped anchor off the small town of Sangsit in Eastern Buleleng on the 8th of June 1848. Sangsit lay only four kilometers from Jagaraga and offered much easier terrain over which to approach the fortress than alternate routes through Buleleng town and Singaraja. The KNIL force-marched the short distance to Jajaraga on the morning of the 9th of June.

Dutch Colonial Campaigns in Bali 1846-1849

The First Buleleng War 1846
The Second Buleleng War 1848 - 1849
First Battle at Jagaraga 9th June 1848
Second Battle at Jagaraga 15th-16th April 1849
The Fight for the "Bat Cave": Kumbasa and Beyond
Balinese Warriors and Weapons
Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger, KNIL (Royal Dutch East Indies Army)