Matías Ramón Mella

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Mella and the second or maternal family name is Castillo.

His Excellency Matías Ramón Mella
Portrait of Mella, in his military uniform, holding his iconic blunderbuss, c. 1840s-1850s
4th Minister of Finance of the Dominican Republic
In office 26 September 1849 – 8 April 1850
President	Buenaventura Báez
Preceded by	Jacinto de la Concha
Succeeded by	Manuel Joaquín del Monte
Governor of Santiago
In office 1844-1844
7th Vice President of the Dominican Republic
In office 14 September 1863 – 4 June 1864
President	José Antonio Salcedo
Preceded by	Benigno Filomeno de Rojas
Succeeded by	Ulises Francisco Espaillat
Personal details
Born	office 25 February 1816 (1816-02-25) Santo Domingo, Captaincy General of Santo Domingo (now Dominican Republic)
Died	4 June 1864 (1864-06-05) (aged 48) Santiago, Dominican Republic
Resting place	Altar de la Patria
Nationality	Dominican
Political party	Central Government Junta
Other political affiliations	La Trinitaria
Spouse	Josefa Brea ​ (m. 1836)​
Relations	Julio Antonio Mella (grandson)
Children	Ramón María, Dominga América María, Antonio Nicanor, Ildefonso
Parent(s)	Antonio Mella Álvarez and Francisca Javier Castillo Álvarez
Occupation	Businessman, politician, diplomat, independence leader
Known for	Firing the blunderbuss shot of 27 February 1844 Creator of the 1864 Guerilla Manual
Awards	National hero
Nickname	Ramón
Military service
Allegiance	Dominican Republic
Branch/service	Dominican Army Liberation Army Restoration Army
Years of service	1838 – 1864
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Dominican War of Independence Cibaeño Revolution Dominican Restoration War
Honors	Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella

Matías Ramón Mella Castillo (25 February 1816 – 4 June 1864), who was most known by his middle name (Ramón), was a Dominican revolutionary, politician, and military general. Mella is regarded as a national hero in the Dominican Republic. He is a hero of two glorious deeds in Dominican history: the proclamation of the First Republic, and the war to restore Dominican independence. Remembered as one of the three founding fathers of the Dominican Republic, the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella is partially named in his honor.

Like many of his peers, Mella envisioned an independent republic that would be free of all foreign power. A man of loyalty and honor, his dream of establishing and maintaining a free nation would grow in his early years, strengthening his determination to make that dream a reality. From aligning himself with the independence movement, he quickly rose to prominence, becoming a part of the legendary trio along with Juan Pablo Duarte and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez.

Through sheer determination and strategy, Mella would play a very crucial role in the successful establishment of the Dominican Republic. He stands out for firing the iconic blunderbuss on the night of 27 February 1844 at Puerta del Conde during the moment of uncertainty and hesitation of many who supported the independence cause. This marked the beginning of the Dominican War of Independence. But this success was short-lived, as Mella would find himself, along with his fellow patriots, having to engage in a series of political standoffs against the very same people who had previously fought alongside him. Ill and financially crippled, he witnessed many of his comrades suffer the worst for their pro-Independent plans. Unfortunately, by 1861, the country was handed back to Spanish forces. Mella, who sided with the pro-independence rebels, excelled as a military strategist, creating the guerrilla warfare manual that contributed significantly to the Dominican Restoration War. Mella would continue to serve his duties as a revolutionary leader until his death in 1864. Afterwards, Spain was defeated and Dominican independence was restored in 1865.

Early life

Background and early activities

Frezier Map of Hispaniola

Mella was born to Antonio Mella Álvarez (1794–1837) and Francisca Javier Castillo Álvarez (1790–1864), both of Canarian descent, on 25 February 1816, in the city of Santo Domingo during the España Boba period. His father was a merchant by profession. On 6 March, at 11 days old, he was baptized in the Cathedral Church by Fr. Augustin Tavarez. He had two other siblings named Idelfonso (1818-1910) and Manuela Mella Castillo (1827-1894). Mella was born in a period of economic and political decline. The inhabitants of the colony numbered roughly 65,000, of which had previously suffered a demographic collapse due to a large emigration of Dominicans to Venezuela, Cuba and Puerto Rico as a result of the session of Santo Domingo to France under the Treaty of Basel in 1795. In 1809, Juan Sánchez Ramírez, aided by Spanish and British forces, arrived in Santo Domingo and defeated the French soldiers in the War of Reconquista, effectively ending French rule in eastern Hispaniola. While Santo Domingo was back in the administration of Spain, Dominicans lived immersed in a social lethargy. The economy, once again, was stagnant and suffered one of the most severe crises remembered in colonial Dominican history. Cultural activities had ceased, and despite the university, only a few Dominicans had the privilege to attend.

Like almost all of his ideals companions, Mella was a child when José Núñez de Caceres, an enlightened revolutionary, organized a revolt against the Spanish government and successfully declared independence on 1 December 1821. The newly independent nation was renamed as Republic of Spanish Haiti. But just two months after the independence, Jean Pierre Boyer, the president of neighboring Haiti, entered Dominican territory and annexed the newly liberated nation. This marked the beginning of the Haitian occupation of Santo Domingo.

Very little is known in regard to his school life, but perhaps due to the scarcity of public educational centers during his childhood and adolescence, it is believed that his parents chose to send him to the few "private schools" that were secretly available during that era. It was there that the young Mella would receive a proper education from respectable Dominican teachers.

From a young age, he had a latent talent for handling a sword and a sabor. Since his teenage years, he was known for being brave and fearless. He would spend his early life involving himself in productive work for his society. He did military service and acquired notoriety among his colleagues and superiors for his seriousness, responsibility, and his courage. The skill he exhibited in the handling of weapons was so great, that it is said that when his youthful companions of the town were confronted by groups of armed unscrupulous Haitians, who disrupted the nighttime entertainment, Mella intervened with admirable success.

In 1835, when Mella was 19 years old, he served as head of the community of San Cristóbal. He devoted himself to cutting wood for a business, a habit that he shared with future legendary military general, Antonio Duvergé, who took note of Mella's proficiency of skill using a sabor and a sword. This, along with their shared opposition to Haitian rule, established a friendship between the two, which would then transcend and prove crucial in later years to come.

His years of wood cutting and commercial work allowed him to engage with multiple social sectors, thus allowing him to understand the social dynamics and the intricacies. But of course this was not just limited to the exploiters, but to the exploitative sector as well. However, as usual, this activity did not provide him with a fortune, but only with maintaining a modest and dignified standard of living.

Marriage and family

Mella's elder son Ramón María Mella

Juan Antonio Mella, grandson of Mella

In August 1836, a 20-year-old Mella married Josefa Brea, the daughter of hero José Gertrudis Brea and Josefa Hernández, born on 14 February 1814. (Brea was also the first cousin of Doña Concepción Bona y Hernández de Gómez, who was responsible for making the first Dominican flag raised at the Puerta del Conde in February 1844. She died in Puerto Plata on 2 January 1899). A will revealed that the marriage lacked contributions from both sides of the union. It is alleged that some of the assets in which Mella acquired during the marriage may have been due to the inheritance he received after the passing of his father. It is also revealed that Mella was a devout Roman Catholic, as he declared with the following text from the same will:

I declare that I am of the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman religion, whose Church is directed and governed by the Holy Spirit, in whose faith and belief I was born, lived, and from now on I protest to live and die. Invoking for my help, from now on, for my death, the protection of the great Queen of angels, Mary Most Holy, so that by interceding with her most precious Son I may obtain the salvation of my soul, which I commend to God Our Lord, who created her. and redeemed, with the inestimable price of his blood. And the body sent to the land that I was forming...

Together, they produced 4 children: Ramón María, Dominga América María, Antonio Nicanor, and Ildefonso. Many of their descendants live in Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the United States.

• Ramon Maria, the eldest, witnessed his father's blunderbuss shot in 1844. He studied in Paris, worked a painter, and became an active official in the Dominican Restoration War. He later served as deputy for Santiago in 1866. He even fought in the Six Years' War against the government of Buenaventura Baez, until his death on 21 March 1868.
• Dominga Amèrica María, Mella's only daughter, was not active in politics.

• Ildefonso, who had also studied in Paris, worked as a lawyer, painter, and judge of First Instance in Puerto Plata. He even served as governor of the province.

• Antonio Nicanor, Mella's youngest son, also avoided taking part in politics, instead taking a job as a talor in Havana, Cuba. He was known as a tailor for high Cuban society at the time. He specialized in men's clothing "in the French style." He would go on to father Julio Antonio Mella, a Cuban activist who was later assassinated on the orders of dictator Gerardo Machado in Mexico City, Mexico.

Among the witnesses of Mella's wedding was Juan Isidro Perez, who befriended Mella. Perez, (who was later referred to as "The Illustrious Fool"), was a young activist who, like Mella, was aware of his Dominican identity and of the conditions taking place during that time; both men understood that the Dominicans were worthy of living in freedom and didn't deserve to continue enduring humiliation and oppression under foreign domination. It was this friendship that would integrate Mella to a scene of revolutionary reactions that were taking shape into Dominican society.

Confusion about his name

In his baptism certificate, marriage certificate as well as in his will and official documents such as his appointment as Minister of War and later Vice President of the Dominican Republic during the restoration government, it is stated that his name was Ramón Mella Castillo and he cannot be found. any historical support, except for a few documents that he signed as Mr. Mella and M. Ramón Mella, that his name was Matías Ramón Mella.

In various letters that he shared with his relatives and collaborators of the independence cause, they never referred to him as Matías and in fact, they did not mention his middle name, so it is not known how or why in some history texts their first names have been exchanged. Because of this, it has led to historical confusion about his name. But in most cases, he is referred to as Matías Ramón Mella.

Revolutionary leader

First activities under Duarte

Juan Pablo Duarte

By 1838, Mella's friendship with Perez allowed him to be introduced to his mentor, Juan Pablo Duarte. During this time, Duarte was looking to recruit new members for the nationalistic movement, La Trinitaria, a secret organization that seeks to establish an independent nation by liberating the Dominican people from Haitian rule. For Duarte and the other independence members, imbued with the nationalist and liberal ideology that had spread throughout Europe since the French Revolution, the former Spanish part of the island had its own identity and should become an independent state. Mella happily accepted this recruitment. He would also be introduced to other newly recruited members such as José María Serra de Castro, Feliz Maria Ruiz, and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez.

Over the next five years, the Trinitarios carried out various activities in order to propagate separatist and independence ideas to other Dominicans. However, when this movement was caught on by the Haitian authorities, it became necessary to create two other organizations, which were much more flexible than La Trinitaria - La Filantrópica and La Dramática, through which awareness-raising efforts were less compromising. Within these five years, Mella and Sánchez stood out from the rest of their companions, even earning Duarte's full confidence.

Duarte saw in Mella, a man of great discipline and leadership qualities, characteristics which Duarte deemed perfect to substitute for candidate Juan Nepomuceno Ravelo, after the failure of his arrival, by the commission of Duarte. Mella, at the request of Duarte, was sent to the Haitian village of Les Cayes, with the mission of looking for allies to form a reform movement, with the purpose of overthrowing Boyer's regime in January 1843. There, Mella stayed at the house of Jérôme-Maximilien Borgella, a Haitian general and politician, who was also a former commander of Santo Domingo. Meanwhile, Boyer's acceptance had begun to wane because of the excessive rise in taxes, the benefits of which did not revert to the population but to France, to which Boyer had promised compensation in exchange for recognizing independence. In this way, groups opposed to the Boyer regime arose in Haiti itself. By this time the island had become increasingly frustrated with Boyer's repressive dictatorship, combined with his negligent response following a sudden earthquake that had struck Haiti a year earlier, and was plotting to overthrow the government, a situation to which Duarte believed could be used as an advantage.

Charles Rivière-Herard

Subsequently, Mella came into contact with the Haitian opposition leader Charles Hérard, who in turn led the reform movement, which came to be known as La Reforma, in March 1843. It only took Mella several days to reach an agreement with the revolutionaries. Thanks to Mella's demonstration of diplomatic skills, the Trinitarios placed themselves in a solid position against the Haitian Reformists and were able to organize themselves in favor of the movement. However, for Hérard, was completely unaware of the Dominicans' true purpose was to prepare for the definitive separation of the Haitian government. On 24 March, Mella, along with Sánchez, Perez, and Pedro Alejandro Piña met at Plaza del Carmen to proclaim the Dominican adherence to the Reform movement. Together, they managed to topple Boyer in May 1843, thus finally ending Boyer's reign of tyranny once and for all.

In June of that same year, Duarte, who considered necessary it for the next stage of the cause, entrusted Mella to return to Santo Domingo with the mission of disseminating the political ideas advocated by the revolutionaries. At that time, debates arose in the eastern portion of the island about who would obtain the representation of the Dominicans, causing friction between liberals and conservatives. Thus, in July 1843, Mella departed from Les Ceyes, and moved to the Central Cibao to continue promoting his republican Ideals for independence. However, Hérard, who was now the president of Haiti, learned of the true motives of Mella and his companions, and traveled to the eastern part of the island to arrest the conspirators. He would imprison Mella, (who was arrested in San Francisco de Macorís), in Port-au-Prince, where he remained for two months. However, in this very city a rebellion erupted against Hérard, who was only able to dominate with the help of Mella and the incarcerated veterans whom he freed.General Charles Herard mistakenly considered that the insurrectional attempts of the Dominicans had ceased and was persuaded that they lacked sufficient power to crystallize independence because the eastern part was branded as poor, distant and sparsely populated. (In fact, from a demographic point of view, Haiti had approximately 800,000 inhabitants compared Santo Domingo, whose population numbered only 135,000 inhabitants).

Manifesto of 16 January 1844

Main article: Dominican Declaration of independence

As civil unrest continued to erupt in Haiti, Mella used the opportunity to return to Santo Domingo to proceed to the next phase of independence. But by now, Duarte was not present due to his exile when learning of the tenacious persecution that would be made against him by the Haitians. This left the Trinitarios without their leader. Therefore, in agreement with Vicente Celestino Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, Tomas de la Concha, Jacinto de la Concha, Gabino Puello and José Joaquín Puello, they were left to lead the revolution and declare independence. It was agreed then that the date of which the declaration of Independence and the birth of the new nation was arranged for 27 February 1844.

However, following the Reform movement, the political situation of the eastern portion of the island became extremely effervescent. According to historian José Gabriel García, there was widespread concern to the point that all was left to do was for the statement to be made. However, clashes between the Trinitarios and various groups (pro- French and pro-Spanish separatists) disputed the primacy of the revolutionary movement and the new order of the change that was approaching. Mella, however, considered it necessary to align with these groups to further push the revolution, despite strong objections from Sánchez. But after coming to an agreement, the Trinitarios were now backed by the conservative sector in a temporary alliance. This paved the way for the separation from Haiti to become a concrete fact. In January 1844, Sánchez drafted a manifesto of independence, and at Mella's suggestion, handed it over to the conservative Tomas Bobadilla for publishing. The final version, which was produced on 16 January, featured signatures from collective members between both parties, including Mella, Sánchez, Bobadilla, and many others.

Declaration of Dominican independence

Puerta del Conde, the location of the legendary "blunderbuss" shot of Matías Ramón Mella.

Sources vary on how the events of the "blunderbuss" shot transpired. It is said that on the night of 27 February 1844, when the revolutionaries met at that the destined meeting spot, they were shocked to discover the number of those expected to appear was much smaller than expected. This was due to alertion of the Haitian authorities, who in response to conspiracy, deployed a military operation in key parts of the city. Faced with this situation, one of those present, having verified that not all of his fellow freedom fighters were present, suggested postponing these plans until further favorable circumstances. Mella, however, objected the proposal, and declared the impossibility of turning back. He then fired his blunderbuss shot into the air to end the hesitation that threatened to bring failure. A testimony, written by Eustache Juchereaux Saint Denys, a member of the French consul in Santo Domingo, who had heard the famous blunderbuss, writes:

The night of the 27th was the day set for that attempt. The authority was on guard, the general restlessness, it was hoped, however, that the order would not be disturbed. The Vicar General, the most influential people in the city made useless efforts to bring more reasonable sentiments to that youth. They were unbreakable, and as they announced, the signal was given at 11 at night by a rifle shot fired into the air.

José María Serra de Castro, one of the founders of La Trinitaria, who was an author of one of the main historical sources of the 1844 revolution, wrote that once Duartistas and Febreristas met at La Misercordia, they found that the number of attendees was less than expected. He explains:

"The situation is compromised," said Mella. "Let's play everything for everything," and he fired his blunderbuss into the air.

However, Don Manuel de Jesús Galván, a politician and author, narrates those events in these terms:

The solemn hour arrived: a group of patriots anxiously awaited the defaulters in the secluded and lonely end of the city, called La Misericordia, at the foot of the Fort of San Gil. The exact ones to the appointment were counted with concern: the largest number of those committed to the company were missing. The conspirators always have to count these cowardly defections at the precise and critical moment of action. One of the faithful finally arrives, moved and painting: "I think everything is discovered," he says, "a patrol has chased me, and I've made a long detour to get here." These words spread suspicion among the few listeners; and someone full of fright talks about retiring home and giving up the glorious project: "NO," answers a robust and manly voice firmly, disturbing the nocturnal silence without any caution. "It is no longer given to back; Cowards as brave, we all have to go to the end. Long live the Dominican Republic!" He says, and a resounding detonation of the rock from him resoundingly accentuates the heroic cry. No one hesitates anymore: everyone makes a sacrifice of their lives and runs towards the classic Puerta del Conde. The bold shot made by the intrepid Ramón Mella announced to the world the birth of the Dominican Republic.

After this, the patriots marched toward the stronghold of San Gennaro (today Conde Gate), where another patrician, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, proclaimed to the world the birth of the Dominican Republic.

Independent Republic

Return to the Cibao

Main article: Dominican War of Independence

Battle of Santiago, the second major battle of the Dominican-Haitian War, was fought on 30 March 1844, led by General Jose María Imbert.

Duarte's return to the island

After the proclamation of the First Republic, Mella took part in the Central Government Board, with Sánchez serving as president. On 2 March 1844, Mella sent a letter to Duarte, Pérez and Pińa, all of whom were in Curaçao, informing them of the success of the revolt and of affairs of the Dominican Republic. A few days later, Mella had left for the Cibao in order to direct the defense against the Haitians and proceed to the organization of the new state in said region, the most important in tge country from the economic wealth and the size of its population. With the rank of colonel and delegate of the board, Mella proposed to organize the defense around the city of Santiago, believing that the city would prove to be vital in the war. Mella was aware that if the city was captured, the road to the capital would be clear for the enemy troops. Upon reaching the city, he replaced the weapons commander. He then realized then the city lacked soldiers, so he left a command chart and a combat plan before marching towards San José de Las Matas, then known as La Sierra, to recruit more soldiers. He also left the instruction of forcing the characters to subordinate themselves to the influential leaders, from the northwest line, of the new government who were still hesitating, avoiding actions of small conflicts against the Haitians and to concentrate all resources to defend Santiago, since defending the city was an easier tactic. Mella even considered the fact that since Santiago was far from the border, the invading troops would have to endure an exhausting march as well as supply difficulties.

He used that time to enlist José María Imbert, from Moca, as second in command of the newly constituted National Army, which would later become the Liberation Army. Mella would also assume the position of governor of Santiago and delegate of the Central Government Board, acting as chief political and general for the army.

But at that moment, Mella received news from Cap-Haïtien that the new Haitian president, Jean-Louis Pierrot, who did not accept the independence of the Dominican Republic, was approaching Santiago. With this sudden update, Mella heads out on tour throughout the region to not only warn his comrades, but also enlist more soldiers, but not before giving instructions to Imbert, who was now the lieutenant, to combat the upcoming attack. This was a success, as Imbert's forces were able to fend off the attack and drive the Haitian army out of the country in the Battle of Santiago.

Military Coup and exile

Bust of Mella en Puerto del Conde

Events took a different turn following the victory in the Battle of Azua. With the independence of the Dominican Republic now installed, and Duarte's return to the country, Mella voted to elect him as president of the Central Government Board with the purpose of preventing another annexation by any foreign power. He would address this in a letter to Sánchez:

These towns had no more disturbances than the coming of the Delegation; This ended with the arrival of Juan Pablo, thank God! Finally, I conclude by telling you that my wish has arrived and I will return it, President of the Dominican Republic.

But by now, Sánchez was no longer in power. The board was under the presidency of Bobadilla that the organization proposed, through the letter of 8 March 1844 addressed to the Consul of France, the French protectorate, which evidently implied a return to the Levasseur Plan. In addition to Bobadilla, Sánchez, Caminero, Valverde, Félix Mercenario, Echevarría and Carlos Moren signed this letter. But Mella's signature does not appear there: on that date he was on a trip to Cibao. Bobadilla had not yet assumed the Presidency of the Board, when it agreed to send the schooner “Leonor” to Curacao in search of Duarte, who arrived in the capital on 14 March 1844 and was immediately incorporated into the Central Government Board. After learning of Bobadilla's annexationist plans, Duarte, backed by Mella and Sánchez, launched a military coup. On 9 June 1844, representatives of the “protectionist” sector were toppled, and Sánchez was reinstated. The new Board withdrew the powers of that Commission, and Mella felt free to act. He then concentrated his efforts on promoting a movement aimed at bringing Duarte—in whom he continued to see the immaculate teacher—to the Presidency of the Republic. The new Board ordered Duarte to go to Cibao, and on 4 July 1844, the people of Santiago hailed him as President.

Meanwhile, Pedro Santana, backed by his troops and by the tacit alliance they had reached with the French Consul and the most prominent members of the “colonialist” group, headed towards the capital of the new State, with the purpose of assuming the entire power. Eager to avoid this event, Juan Isidro Pérez and Pedro Alejandrino Pina did everything possible to organize a solid defense in the city. Unfortunately, Santana crossed the capital's walls on 12 July 1844 and established a new Central Government Board. Immediately, the Trinitarios were persecuted: Duarte was reduced to prison in Puerto Plata, and Mella himself suffered the same fate. Pérez embarked for Saint Thomas, but upon learning of these events, he returned to Puerto Plata, visited Duarte in prison and told him: “I know you are going to die, and fulfilling my oath, I come to die with you.” He was also imprisoned. That same day, the new government issued the resolution that declared them, like Mella, Pina, Sánchez and others, traitors to the country, and condemned them to permanent exile. While in exile, Mella chose to settle in Puerto Rico, opting to remain close to his homeland.

Return

Eventually in 1848, Mella, along with Sánchez, was granted an amnesty decreed by president Manuel Jimenes to return to the country. A few weeks after arriving in the country, he attempted to hatch a conspiracy against the Jiménes administration, which he rightly accused of being improvident and inept. But he gave up the purpose, since he encountered the opposition of Pina, Sánchez and Juan Evangelista Jiménez, who had also returned to the homeland protected by the amnesty decree. He then resettled in Puerto Plata, working in the woodcuts, away from political affairs. That was until 1849, when Haitian forces invaded the country once again, in which Mella joined the army and stood out as a soldier in the famous Battle of Las Carreras. He was said to have occupied Palmar de Ocoa to rebel against the attack, securing Dominican victory. He then made peace with Santana, despite the fact that he had been imprisoned and later expelled from the country. But unfortunately, this victory allowed Santana to renew his political confidence, and would go on to overthrow Jimenes for the presidential seat. Jimenes was exiled twice before eventually settling in Haiti, where he died on 22 December 1854.

When Buenaventura Baez became president in September 1849, Mella was appointed Secretary of State for Commerce and the Treasury. He even briefly served as Minister of Finance of the Dominican Republic from 1849 to 1850. After serving his term, Mella once again retired to his home in Puerto Plata. For unknown reasons, Mella did not reconcile with Báez, instead choosing to align himself with Santana. Thus, upon Santana's return to power, Mella denounced Báez and even banished him.

When Santana returned for a third term, Mella became a Secretary for his government. In addition, he was named Commander of Arms, Governor, and was even sent on a special mission to the government of Spain to manage the recognition of Independence in 1854. This mission lasted for six months. During this mission, it has been argued that during negotiations, Spanish officials attempted to persuade Mella to instead propose a protectorate to the Dominican government, rather than recognize independence. Mella, still holding onto the morals of the Trinitarios, flatly rejected an offer he deemed as a despicable proposition. However, in one of the documents that he presented to the Spanish government, he stated that Spain is the legitimate owner of the territory of the Dominican Republic, and that the protectorate over the latter meant for the old Metropolis one more guarantee, over those it may have today to be preserved indefinitely in the Caribbean. In May 1854, Mella decided to return to the Dominican Republic, but not before addressing in a farewell letter to the Count of San Luis, who was the President of the Council of Ministers, the reluctance of the Spanish government to recognize the independence of the Dominican Republic. In that letter, he writes:

Denied by Spain the recognition of the independence of the Republic; that is to say, having denied everything that today would surely make the Haitian invasion impossible or frustrating, it only remains for me to go to the point of danger to consecrate to my country and my family the services that I owe them as a citizen, as a soldier and as a father. The case is serious and urgent; There is no time to lose; and the days that I spend here outside of mine are long and eternal centuries for my just how painful impatience.

Upon his return from Spain, Mella asked to be given a mission in Puerto Plata for the purpose of attending his mahogany court. After declining the position of Secretary of War, he was appointed to Commander of Arms for the city. He even accepted the position of governor of La Vega and became of one Santana's advisors.

By 1856, there was another threat to Dominican sovereignty. The Spanish consul, Don Antonio María Segovia, conspiring with Báez, carried out a plan to destabilize Santana's administration. This was due to the fact that Mella's mission in Madrid had failed, causing Santana to turn his attention to the United states for a protectorate. Alarmed, Spain reconsidered the recognition of Dominican independence to cease detrimental effects on its control of Cuba, an island that the U.S aspired to annex. This resulted in a political scandal known as La Matricula de Segovia. This angered Mella, who like many others, strongly opposed this act of disrespect of Dominican independence. During a meeting at the National Palace, Mella exclaimed with the following: "The Constitutional Government has enough force of law to be respected and save the Nation. I, the Government, take Segovia, I wrap him in his flag, and expel him from the country." Santana, however, did not share his views. In July 1856, he was tasked to draft a bill with the purpose of organizing the army, once again demonstrating his skills as a combatant and military man. He was even nominated for the position of Vice President, but he rejected, instead suggesting the position to Felipe Alfau. The position was eventually filled by Manuel de Regla Mota, but resigned after a short term, handing the seat back to Báez, whose first act was to order Santana's arrest and expulsion off the island. Santana's supporters, including Mella, were spared from persecution.

Cibaeño Revolution and aftermath

When the revolution against Buenaventura Baez began in Santiago on 7 July 1857, who with his economic mistakes had led the country to the threshold of a financial catastrophe, Mella was one of the first to join that movement of liberal and neo-Duartust orientation. In this famous civil war, Mella consolidated his immense military prestige with the audacious seizure of Plaza de Semaná, which he personally directed at the beginning of May 1858. For his heroic action, he received one of the most brilliant and jubilant receptions that the people of Santiago gave him, of which the government was headed by José Desiderio Valverde. Although they did not coincide in frontal combat, the revolution put Mella and his old friend, Sánchez, on opposing sides.

By the end of the 1850s, the nation fell into political and economic turmoil. Buenaventura Báez, the newly elected president following the resignation of Jimenes, failed to come to a mutual political agreement with Santana, and was ruling the country under a corrupt bureaucracy. He would bankrupt the national treasury for his profit, and propose that the country be annexed to the United States. Santana, on the other hand, presided over the country with Báez, but ruled the nation under military dictatorship. He would eventually overthrow and send Báez into exile. From 1849 to 1861, Santana continued to propose that the country be annexed by Spain, which Mella strongly rejected. Also plunging the nation's economy were the constant Haitian invasions. Haiti had already made numerous attempts to reconquer the Dominican Republic, but each attempt was crushed by the Dominicans, who despite being greatly outnumbered, managed to successfully rebel off every invasion so far. These attempts would intensify as Haiti's new leader, Faustin Soulouque, having just declared himself emperor, made more drastic and desperate attempts to bring the island under his control. From 1849 to 1856, Soulouque made numerous attempts to reconquer the Dominican Republic, including one instant where Soulouque, at the head of a 30,000-man army, marched into the eastern side of the island, with the purpose of reinstalling Haitian rule. His efforts failed, his army retreated after suffering heavy losses, and Soulouque came close to falling into the hands of the Dominican army. His support eroded over the years, mostly from Haitian women, fearful of losing their sons, brothers, and husbands in these failed invasions. He would later be overthrown in a coup d'état, led by his former general Fabre Geffrard, in 1859, and sent into exile in Jamaica. He returned to Haiti at some point just in time to see Geffrard himself be overthrown in 1867, and died that same year at age 84.

Final struggle for independence

Return of Spanish rule

Main articles: Spanish occupation of the Dominican Republic and Dominican Restoration War

General Pedro Santana

Despite the country's independence being secured, the nation was still in a crisis. Following the conclusion of the war, Santana had inherited a bankrupt government that was on the brink of collapse. The misrule of his power, as well as the aftermath of Baez's corrupt government, drastically exhausted the nation's treasury. Faced with the economic turmoil, and fearful of another invasion from Haiti, Santana turned to a foreign power for protection. After failing to reach an agreement with France, he eventually turned to Spain, with Queen Isabella II. In exchange for honorary privileges, military and economic intervention, Santana agreed to return the Dominican Republic back to colonial status. Spain, who by now was losing control of most of its former colonies, used this opportunity to reinsert its control in Latin America. The U.S., busy with its Civil War, was left unable to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. This decision caused a national uproar among the population. Mella, of course, did not accept this, and along with his fellow patriots, pledged their full opposition to the annexation. But because of this, he would be imprisoned by Santana, who confined him to the fearsome Tower of Homage, (present-day Ozama Fortress) for 72 days. He would later be deported to Saint Thomas. Mella endured illness and poverty, and supported himself with the small aid from the government. Although he was allowed to return, he once again expressed his opposition against the annexation, and was deported for the last time.

On 20 March 1861, the annexation to Spain was finalized, and Spanish troops had already begun to arrive in the country. With no time to waste, Mella made his way back to his homeland. But this would come with difficulty as Mella was without resources or military support. While on board an English ship that was stranded in Puerto Rico, he unsuccessfully attempted to ask the crew for support to go ashore on Dominican land and take command of the force with the purpose of starting his revolution.

On 3 June 1861, he wrote a letter to Santana, once again proclaiming his opposition of the annexation, and denouncing Santana's actions as treacherous. He writes:

General, the time has come to remind you by means of this letter that I am not a subject of his Catholic Majesty, nor have I exchanged nor do I wish to exchange my nationality for any other, having sworn since February 27, 1844 to be a citizen of the Dominican Republic, for whose independence and sovereignty I have provided my services, and offering them when my limited capacity and little value have allowed me. For the same reasons, it has never occurred to me to think, let alone pretend, to be a Spanish general, whose title in me as a Dominican general who has rendered no service to Spain, was a sarcasm that making me ridiculous, would at the same time make me the object of discreet distrust among the Spaniards. But I have never been nor will I be opposed to my country maintaining, along with Spain and the other educated nations of Europe and America, such good relationships that in them you find the strongest support for your well-being, under the kind of recognition of your absolute independence and autonomy. What has been said is enough for my purpose, adding lastly that I will fulfill my duty in the way that is possible, always as a son and citizen of the Dominican Republic, in whose position I salute you.

With this uncompromising statement in the fave of Santana's betrayal, he regained his stature as a hero. But due to his health, he was unable to join Sánchez in his expedition into the Dominican Republic. A month later, he learned the unfortunate news that Sánchez, betrayed and ambushed, was executed on the orders of Santana for opposing Spanish rule on 4 July 1861.

Assistance to the rebels

On two separate occasions, he tried to enter the country through Puerto Plata, but was surprised by the Spanish authorities. By 15 August 1863, having slipped passed the authorities by pretending to accept Spanish citizenship, Mella was back on the island. With his return, he immediately integrated himself into the heroic struggle that raged from the Cibao to restore the Republic. In mid-September, he was acquired into the Restorative government that had formed in Santago. He traveled through numerous sectors of the south, with the task of rounding up restoration troops for general Pedro Florentino. He was also able to align himself with the young revolutionary, Gregorio Luperón. By December 1863, the news even spread in Puerto Plata that "General Mella has collected ten thousand tobacco serones from the merchants with the intention of shipping them to Montecristi or Haiti to the North and bringing war supplies." For his contributions, he was appointed Minister of War, in his first act in this position was to create a war manual for the soldiers, which he produced in January 1864. This manual consisted of military regulations and advice to campaign commanders of the Dominican Army on the kind of war they should wage on the Spanish. (After the war, it was taken to the United States Military Academy). Among these military provisions, the following can be mentioned:

1.- In the current fight and in the military operations undertaken, it is necessary to use the greatest prudence, always observing with the greatest caution and cunning so as not to be surprised, thus equalizing the superiority of the enemy in number, discipline and resources.

2.- Our operations must be limited to never risking a general encounter, nor exposing the fate of the Republic to the capricious fortune of a combat; Shoot quickly, a lot and well, harass the enemy day and night, and cut off their water whenever possible, are cardinal points, which must be kept in mind as the Creed.

3.- Overwhelming it with itinerant guerrillas, rationed for two, three or more days, who have a unit of action at their front, flank and rear, not letting them rest day or night, so that they only own the ground they walk on, never letting them surprise or wrap up their sleeves, and surprising them whenever possible, are rules from which you should never deviate.

4.- Our troops should, whenever possible, fight sheltered by the mountains and the terrain and make use of the knife, every time they see the safety of opening a hole for the enemy to get inside and finish him off; We should not under any circumstances present him with a front, however small it may be, because, since the Spanish troops are disciplined and generally superior in number, whenever victory depends on military developments, they would take the advantage of us and we would be defeated. .

5.- We must never allow ourselves to be surprised and surprised whenever possible and even if it is only one man.

6.- Do not let them sleep day or night, so that diseases do more damage to them than our weapons; this service should be done only by the small groups of ours, and that the rest rest and sleep.

7.- If the enemy withdraws, find out if it is a false withdrawal, which is a very common stratagem in war; if it is not, follow him in the withdrawal and stand out in traveling guerrillas that harass him from all sides; If they advance, make them fall into ambushes and riddle themselves at all costs with guerrillas, as has been said above, in a word, make them at all costs and in all extension of the word, the war of jungle and an invisible enemy.

8.- Once these rules are scrupulously complied with, the more the enemy is separated from his base of operations, the worse it will be for him; and if he tried to enter the country, he would be even more lost.

9.- Organize, wherever you are located, the most effective and active espionage service possible, to know hours of the day and night the state, situation, strength, movements and intentions of the enemy.

Around the same time, Mella issued his final manifesto. He proclaimed himself in support of the rebels, declaring to the Dominicans to rise up arms against the Spanish Empire to restore national independence, and even called for the end of Spanish rule in the Caribbean. He expressed his words in the following content:

Dominicans:

The Republic has called us to arms! And I, doing my duty, have come to take my place among you. I am a soldier of the February 27 column, you know me, and I come to call the few of my people, whom the lies and brute force of their oppressors still keep separated from their former ranks. Sandoval, Lluberes, Sosa, Maldonado, Juan Suero, Valera, Marcos Evangelista, Juan Rosa, Gatón, do not forget that the Republic that gave you glory and fame is the place of honor where your companions await you: the Dominican Republic has never ceased to exist; neither betrayal nor gallows could annihilate her. The heroes of the Capitillo camp are also the soldiers of March 30, 1844. Their principles are the same today. They picked up the flag of the cross that the unfortunate General Sánchez left behind on his grave in El Cercado.

There he was the first martyr of Independence... There is his shadow calling to arms! And the Puellos, Duvergé and his son, Concha, Matías de Vargas, Pedro Ignancio Espaillat, Perdomo, Vidal, Batista and their companions, sacrificed for Santana, they rise beyond the sepulcher asking for Revenge! Revenge!

Dominicans! Hear that patriotic lament of so many martyrs of freedom! And you, Eusebio Puello, listen to the one who speaks to your conscience to tell you: "Leave the ranks of the murderer of your brothers... do not desecrate the blood that innocents shed to leave you a free homeland anymire!"

Seibanos, Duvergé and his son, Albert and Dalmau ask you for revenge...! And you, my friends from Santo Domingo, do not forget that Santana was the murderer of Trinidad Sánchez!

Revenge asks the homeland!

DOMINICANS! I do not come as a disturber of order, armed with the dagger of the treacherous murderer, nor with the torch of the wild arsonist: the mission that I have and the one that I have imposed on myself is that of a civilized and Christian soldier. It is not my purpose to excite you to a useless rebellion, but it is my duty as a free citizen to make us understand that insurrection is not a crime when it has become the only means to shake off oppression; but the indifferentism that sustains and feeds it is no small crime.

DOMINICANS! The days have already arrived in which Spain, the only nation that persists in keeping slaves, must lose its colonies in the Antilles. America must belong to itself; that is how God arranged it, when between it and old Europe he placed the immensity of the Ocean. If the punishment of the fields of Carabobo, Boyacá and Junìn, nor the Genius of Bolívar, has not been enough to convince Spain of this truth, here is the saber of our soldiers and the climate of Santo Domingo.

Dominicans! Respect for rights and property.

Homeland, honor and humanity.

Such is the currency with which I want to see you reach the temple of fame.

-Santiago, January 16, 1864, R. Mella

At the time of the Capotillo Outcry (Grito de Capotillo) (16 August 1863), already very ill, Mella served as Vice President of the Dominican Republic in the government of the Restoration. He would continue to hold this place in office for the remainder of his life. Before he passed, Mella asked his followers that on the day of his death, his remains be wrapped around the Dominican flag. Living his final years in Santiago, Mella would continue to serve his duties and purposes.

Final visit from Duarte, death, and aftermath

After 20 years of exile, Duarte returned to Dominican Republic, using the time to greet his ailing comrade.

On 27 March 1864, Mella was visited by Duarte, who had just arrived in the country during this time, at his home. Duarte had used this opportunity to greet his ailing comrade one last time. The hero Manuel Rodríguez Objío described the visit of Juan Pablo Duarte to Mella with the following words:

He visited the illustrious Mella on March 7, a soldier of two great eras, who was prostrated on his deathbed in small house, one of the improvised ones after the fire and near Fort San Luis. Duarte hugged him there, after 20 years of separation, not without ceasing to express his indignation at the extreme poverty in which that man who became a great military leader and with the category of patriot and national hero found himself. Mella told Duarte that given the impossibility of living to see his homeland free of foreign hosts, he wanted to be buried in the grave wrapped in the national flag as a shroud. This request moved Duarte who could not help but shed some tears while giving him the last hug.

On 4 June 1864, in the midst of the bloody war, Mella, the beloved founding father and honorable revolutionary, died in his small home near San Luis Fortress, at the young age of 48. Before he died, Mella garnished the last bit of strength and mouthed his final words: "There is a still homeland, Long Live the Dominican Republic." He was accompanied by his wife, Josefa, family members and some neighbors. In accordance to his final wishes, his body was wrapped around the Dominican flag, and buried as he desired.

The Dominican Restoration War continued on after his death throughout the nation. Many on both sides were lost, but thanks to Mella's war manuel, this became a crucial asset for the Dominican rebels, despite once again facing an outnumering force, would still oversee more victories against Spain. This ultimately lead to the decisive victory of the Dominicans, who, (yet again), triumphed over the Spanish Empire, successfully expelling the Spanish forces off the island and restoring the national independence in 1865. Santana, discraced and facing trial, died on 29 June 1864, 25 days after Mella's death.

Legacy

Statue of Mella

Mella, a man of great military talent, served his purpose of being one of the greatest figures in the history of the Dominican Republic. Of the founding fathers of the Republic, Mella represented the militant and determined expression and the most adapted to the political activities of a pre-capitalist society. A man of respect and dignity, his loyalty to his comrades, as well as the nation remained a driving force in Mella. From the joining the Trinitarios, the battles fought with Haiti, internal disputes, and the restoration war against Spain, Mella stayed true to his word. Even despite of the dark period between the Dominican War of Independence and the Spanish occupation of the Dominican Republic, his vision and desire of an independent Dominican state always remained with him to the end. Rodríguez Objío says:

Luperón made his colleagues observe that since the former General Ramón Mella was in Jamao, it was of utmost importance to request an interview between the young restaurateur and the patriot of Independence... The nobleman veteran was not insensitive to this late call: hero of February 27, 1844, it was satisfactory for him to share the hardships of those of August 16, 1863. His life had to occupy two large pages.

Puerto Rican nationalist Eugenio María de Hostes, spoke warmly of Mella's heroism. His admiration for the revolutionary is evidenced in the following text:

Mella, one of those sympathetic figures of independence throughout the continent who, in addition to the internal qualities that great actions demand, had the personal attractions that seduce the crowds and the social merits that attract the most cultured potion of a society.

He continued with the following, this time in comparison with Duarte and Sánchez:

Mella, in addition to being a patriot, was a beautiful, educated noble man [...] Mella was not much happier than the master of patriotism, Duarte, and his companion in noble actions, Sánchez.

Up until 1891, his body remained buried in Santiago, where he lived in his final years. It wasn't until at the request of Sociedad Hijos del Pueblo, his remains were exhumed and transferred to Santo Domingo, where they buried his, along with that of Duarte and Sánchez, in the Chapel of the Immortals of the Primate Cathedral of America.

Three years later in 1894, through the Resolution No. 332 of April 11, dictator Ulises Heureaux ordered that Duarte, Mella, and Sánchez were the official Founding Fathers of the Dominican Republic. Since then, Dominicans venerate the memory of Mella, and of his illustrious companions, as the Founders of the Dominican Republic. On February 27, 1944, 100 years after the independence, Rafael Trujillo ordered that these remains would once again be transferred to Puerta del Conde, where they are converted into the Altar of the Homeland, and deposited under the triumphal arch of that memorable monument. His ashes remained there for the next three decades, until in 1976, on the 100th anniversary of Duarte's death, President Joaquín Balaguer ordered that his ashes be removed and transferred to the museum in Parque Independcia, where currently all Dominicans pay tribute to the distinguished revolutionaries Duarte, Sánchez and Mella.

In addition, Mella was awarded many honors for his revolutionary status.

• He is entombed in a beautiful mausoleum, Altar de la Patria, at the Count's Gate (Puerta del Conde) alongside Duarte and Sánchez.
• In the province of Independencia, the city of Mella is named in his honor.
• Many streets in the Dominican Republic are named after him.
• In the city of Santo Domingo, a statue has been made in his honor.
• Mella is solely depicted on the 10 Dominican peso note and coin; he is also depicted on the 100 Dominican peso note alongside Duarte and Sánchez.
• A Dominican anthem is dedicated to his legacy

Ancestry

Ancestors of Matías Ramón Mella

8. Bernardo Mella 4. Manuel Mella Sánchez (†1829) Santo Domingo, Colony of Santo Domingo 9. Juana Sánchez Maldonado (†1801) 2. Antonio Mella Álvarez (1794–1837) Santo Domingo, Colony of Santo Domingo 10. Manuel Álvarez (†1794) San Carlos de Tenerife, Colony of Santo Domingo 5. Juana Álvarez Pereyra (†1819) San Carlos de Tenerife, Colony of Santo Domingo 11. Isabel Pereyra (†1786) San Carlos de Tenerife, Colony of Santo Domingo 1. Matías Ramón Mella Castillo (1816–1864) Santo Domingo, Colony of Santo Domingo 6. José Castillo (†1811) 3. Francisca Javier Castillo Álvarez (1790–1864) Santo Domingo, Colony of Santo Domingo 7. Úrsula Álvarez (†1830)

See also

• History of the Dominican Republic
• España Boba
• Dominican War of Independence
• Dominican Restoration War
• Military of the Dominican Republic
• Dominican Army
• Juan Pablo Duarte
• Francisco del Rosario Sánchez
• Antonio Duvergé
• José Maria Imbert

Sources

• Historical website of the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in New York
• Historia Dominicana en Gráficas

External links

Media related to Matías Ramón Mella at Wikimedia Commons