Dominicans mark the deceive battle in quest for Independence

Santo Domingo.- On March 30, 1844, the city of Santiago wasthe stage for the second armed confrontation between Haitians and Dominicans, whosevictory marked the consolidation of independence proclaimed just 31 daysearlier, on February 27.

The newly formed independence Army, led by Gen. Jose Maria Imbert and Capt. Fernando Valerio, was able to defeat the Haitianoccupiers whose troops, commanded by Gen. Jean Lois Pierrot who was forced towithdraw from Santiago under a barrage of artillery and muskets.

The victory in battle against the invaders lifted the Dominicans’morale and halted the advance of the Haitian troops toward the capital.

The Haitian invaders, after being defeated in the first confrontationafter Independence at the Battle of March 19 in Azua (south), 11 days later againsought to invade the newly created Dominican nation, this time through Santiago(north).