Los Llanos. Its militia enters Santo-Domingo and is then sent to Azua.

The same day, 29 February, while the Manifesto was being published, Don J. Bobadilla and Jimenès returned to Santo-Domingo and announced that the militia of the Llanos had not arrived, because the African battalion, assembled at Ingenio Fria, barred their passage. The Junta ordered the commandant of the town to bring them into the city. Shortly afterward they arrived with their commander, forming a battalion and two companies of cavalry. The African battalion, which for its part had moved to Pajarito, received the same order, but showed itself irresolute, having no confidence in the movement of separation that had just succeeded. It dreaded the prejudices of color, which the Black authority of Haiti held in check. Joaquim Puello said to the town adjutant Eusebio Puello: “Go to Pajarito and tell commandant Esteven Pou that if he does not come in a moment with his battalion, I shall bring him into the city myself with two pieces of cannon.” When Eusebio Puello reached Pajarito, he caught sight of two captains of the African battalion whom he knew; he worked upon them, and then went to Esteven Pou, who refused to enter the city. But captain José de la Cruz, of the first company, embarked with his soldiers and reached the right bank; the boat went back to Pajarito, and captain Santiago Basora, of the second company, embarked as well; all the rest of the battalion, preceded by its corps of drums, followed their example in spite of commandant Pou, and came and drew up on the place d’armes at the orders of the Junta.

Meanwhile the news reached Santo-Domingo that Buenaventura Baez was still opposing the pronunciamento.

However, when he saw that the people were declaring for separation, he mounted the altar of the Fatherland and said to the crowd: “Gentlemen, you may declare yourselves, for I have not force enough to oppose you; but from this moment I declare myself a Frenchman.” He then set out for Santo-Domingo, doubtless to place himself under the protection of the Consul of France, but he did not reach Santo-Domingo, and returned to Azua, where he kept himself hidden.(aj)

The Junta sent the battalion of Los Llanos to Azua, under the command of colonel José Bréa, with Manuel Jimenès and colonel Gavino Puello, to proclaim the separation there. Azua and all the towns, villages and hamlets of the eastern part declared against Haiti.(ak)