August 16 Restoration Day, Dominican Republic The War of Restoration 1861 -1865 On March 18, 1861, the tricolor symbol of the Dominican people was lowered in the entire Republic. In its place the Spanish flag was hoisted, returning the nation to be supervised by the peninsular throne this time directed by Doña Isabel Segunda. Sovereignty was given voluntarily, without bloodshed, by the President of the Republic, General Pedro Santana Famila, who was honored by the Crown of Spain with pompous titles, such as Civil Governor, Captain General Colony, Senator of the Kingdom, Lieutenant General The Royals Armies and “Marqués de las Carreras”. Santana, argued wanting to rid the country of the threat Haiti and the countless skirmishes policies that decimated their population. The efforts undertaken to the Crown, found fertile ground, but did not have the support of the Dominican people which had not been consulted. Promptly protests began throughout the Dominican Republic. In the capital, the father Fernando De Arturo Merino, General Eusebio Manzueta and the hero Ramón Matías Mella Castillo, were the first to demonstrate against the annexation of the republic. At the moment of the annexation, General Francisco del Rosario Sánchez was in exile and soon learned the news as it traveled to Haiti He entered the Dominican Republic for its border south, being vilely betrayed by Santiago de Ôleo, who was injured at “la Loma Juan Cruz, where he gave in to the annexation troops. By the Royal Decree of 19 May 1861, in which the Queen accepted the annexation, the revolution was imminent. The blood of the heroes who had been shed and the unequal treatment was between Spaniards and Dominicans increased the tensions to such a level that the August 11, 1863 was declared a state of emergency throughout the country and asked reinforcement troops from Cuba and Puerto Rico. Santana himself was obliged to resign as Captain General of the Colony; therefore lacked real power. In his place was appointed Felipe Rivero and Lemoine. The August 16, 1863, Patriots like; Santiago Rodriguez, Jose Cabrera, Monción Benito and Pedro Antonio Pimentel along with eleven other Dominican crossed the northern border and in the hill called “Capotillo”, They hoisted the tricolor flag, starting the war would restoration to reclaimed the sovereignty given away by Santana. The Patriots attacked the towns of Sabaneta and Montecristi. The Spanish commander General Buceta de Santiago, was in Dajabón for the outbreak of revolution. While trying to return to Fort San Luis Guallubín, he was chased in route by General Pimentel. It is said that he was spared, throwing ounces of gold in the way to distract the Patriots chasing him. As soon as the general Buceta arrived in Santiago, he organized the defense of the city; which was surrounded by the troops of General Gregorio Luperon, Benito Monción Gregory Lora and Gaspar Polanco. Thousands Spanish soldiers departed from Puerto Plata to Santiago, under the command of Colonel Cappa, to reinforce the troops annexation. But they were forced to return to being intercepted by Dominican patriots on 2 September. In the battle of Santiago the generals were devoted Gaspar Polanco – for his science of war and valor He attained the rank of Generalissimo Gregorio Luperón- the General Emerged as one of the most distinguished war heroes restoration by his masterly manner which led his troops to victory. The withdrawal of troops from Santiago to Puerto Plata cost the Spaniards more than 200 people dead and wounded, because they were harassed by patriots all the way back. On 14 September in santiago it was formed Restorer Governmer (president) chaired by José Antonio Espaillat and the Declaration of Independence was written, where the reasons for the fight were made. Due to pressure from the Government Spanish, President Espaillat sent Juan Pablo Duarte abroad, under the pretext of collecting funds for restorative cause. The Father of the Fatherland frustrated, departed in mid-June 1864, this time never to return, because he refused to return to a country divided by dishonest ambitions. The departure of the Spanish troops began on July 10, 1865 The nation was again free and sovereign of any foreign power, and raised its illustrious founder. Germinating new seed of freedom and honor, the thousands of patriots who had fallen had not made in vain. Matías Ramón Mella Castillo last words in his death bed that was felt by evey dominican patriot. Theres still a country (Aún hay patria) Long live the Dominican Republic (Viva la República Dominicana)
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:29:27 +0000
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