Battle of Santiago (1863)

The Battle of Santiago (1863) (Spanish: Batalla de Santiago de 1863) was a battle during the Dominican Restoration War. On September 6, 1863, during the Restoration War, after an intense battle, the Spanish annexationist forces managed to enter the Plaza de Armas in Santiago. The Spanish were commanded by General Juan Suero and Colonel Manuel Cappa, who had entered Santiago with a column of three thousand men from Puerto Plata. The Spanish troops totaled 900 men, with other commanders consisting of Brigadier Manuel Buceta, Generals Hungría, Alfau and Achile Michel and gunner José María López. The days prior to the battle, the restoration troops commanded by Gregorio Luperón, Benito Monción, Gregorio de Lora and Gaspar Polanco had surrounded the city of Santiago, forcing the withdrawal of about a thousand Spanish soldiers who had arrived from Puerto Plata to reinforce the annexationist troops. This battle, however, was not without casualties. In the battles of Santiago, in addition to General Gregorio de Lora, other Dominican officers died. The Spanish also killed General Luperón's horse.

The Dominicans victory marked the beginning of the end of the annexation of the Dominican Republic to Spain. Following this event, the restorers proceeded to draft the Dominican Act of Independence (1863), which would declared the restoration of the Dominican Republic.