The war for Spanish reestablishment in

Santo Domingo , total_type = Total , population_density_km2 = auto , timezone = AST (UTC −4) , area_code_type = Area codes , area_code = 809, 829, 849 , postal_code_type = Postal codes , postal_code = 10100–10699 (Distrito Nacional) , websi ...

, better known as the Reconquista, was fought between November 7, 1808, and July 9, 1809. In 1808, following Napoleon's invasion of Spain, the ''criollos'' of Santo Domingo revolted against French rule and their struggle culminated in 1809 with a return to the Spanish colonial rule for a period commonly termed España Boba.

Battle of Palo Hincado

The first battle took place in Palo Hincado on November 7, 1808, when Gen.

Juan Sánchez Ramírez Juan Sánchez Ramírez (1762–1811) was a Dominican soldier who served as the Captain general of the modern Dominican Republic between 1808 and 1811. He also commanded the troops that fought against the French rule of Santo Domingo´s colony be ...

, leading an army of local and Puerto Rican soldiers, attacked by surprise a garrison of the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...

under the command of Governor Marie-Louis Ferrand, who committed suicide later after. Gen. Joseph-David de Barquier heard the news and garrisoned 2000 soldiers in Santo Domingo.

Battle for Santo Domingo

The Siege of Santo Domingo of 1808 was the second and final major battle and was fought between November 7, 1808, and July 11, 1809, at

Colony of Santo Domingo In modern parlance, a colony is a territory subject to a form of foreign rule. Though dominated by the foreign colonizers, colonies remain separate from the administration of the original country of the colonizers, the '' metropolitan state'' ...

. A force of Dominican and Puerto-Rican of 1850 troops led by Gen.

, with a naval blockade by British Commander Hugh Lyle Carmichael, besieged and captured the city of Santo Domingo after an 8 months siege of the 2000 troops of the

led by Gen. Barquier.

British involvement

British Major General Hugh Lyle Carmichael departed

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

with the 2nd West Indian, 54th, 55th, and Royal Irish regiments to aid Britain's new found Spanish allies in reducing the isolated French garrison besieged in south-eastern Hispaniola. His convoy was escorted by Capt. William Price Cumby's HMS ''Polyphemus'', ''Aurora'', ''Tweed'', ''Sparrow'', ''Thrush'', ''Griffin'', , , , and . Carmichael disembarked at Palenque ( west of Santo Domingo) on 28 June, hastening ahead of his army to confer with his Spanish counterpart— General Juan Sánchez Ramírez, commander of a Puerto Rican regiment and numerous local guerrillas—who for the past eight months had been investing the 1,200-man French garrison commanded by Brig. Gen. Joseph-David de Barquier. Despite 400 of the 600 Spanish regulars being sick, they advanced on 30 June at Carmichael's behest to seize San Carlos Church on the outskirts of the capital and cut off communication between Santo Domingo and Fort San Jerónimo west, while simultaneously securing a beach for Cumby's supporting squadron. The demoralized French defenders had already requested an armistice and been rebuffed, repeating the suggestion on 1 July as the first British troops arrived overland (hampered by torrential rains). As negotiations progressed Carmichael maintained pressure by installing heavy siege batteries around the city and massing his forces for an assault.

French surrender

On 6 July the capitulation was finalized, de Barquier pointedly surrendering to the British rather than to the Spaniards. The next day British troops occupied the city and Fort San Jerónimo, the French defenders being transported directly to

Port Royal Port Royal is a village located at the end of the Palisadoes, at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1494 by the Spanish, it was once the largest city in the Caribbean, functioning as the centre of shipping and co ...

without loss of life on either side.

References

* Delafosse, Lemonier; "Second Campaign of Santo Domingo — Dominican-French War of 1808" (translation of C. Armando Rodriguez); Editorial El Diario, Santiago (DR); 1946. * Guillermin, Gilbert; "Journal History of the Spanish revolution of Santo Domingo" (translation C. Armando Rodriguez); Dominican Academy of History; Imp editing PV Lafourcade, Philadelphia, U.S.; 1810. * Sánchez Ramírez, Juan; " Journal of the Reconquista"; Editor Montalvo, Santo Domingo (R.D.); 1957.

Bibliography

* Marley, David. ''Wars of the Americas: A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the New World, 1492 to the Present''ABC-CLIO (1998). {{Authority control History of the Colony of Santo Domingo Conflicts in 1808 Conflicts in 1809 1800s in the Spanish West Indies 19th century in the Caribbean 19th century in the Dominican Republic Battles of the Napoleonic Wars History of New Spain History of the Dominican Republic Wars involving France Wars involving Great Britain Wars involving Spain Wars involving the Dominican Republic 1800s in the Caribbean 1800s in New Spain 1800s in the Spanish Empire 19th century in the Dominican Republic Military history of the Dominican Republic Saint-Domingue Spanish West Indies