Battle of Fuente del Rodeo

The Battle of Fuente del Rodeo was the first armed encounter against Haiti in the Dominican War of Independence. It was fought on March 13, 1844 in the province of Bahoruco. The Dominican army was led by General Fernando Tavera and the Haitian army, which vastly outnumbered the Dominicans, was under Commander and Chairman Charles Rivière-Hérard.

The invasion plan of Hérard consisted of sending three legions of soldiers which totaled 20,000. The first, led by Jean-Louis Pierrot, would go to the north and attack Puerto Plata and Santiago de los Caballeros. The second, led by the president himself, sought to conquer San Juan de la Maguana and Azua de Compostela. The third and final ambush, led by General Agustin Souffront, would attack Neiba.

Herard's aim was to divide the Dominican forces. They would first attack Neiba and later Hérard and Pierrot would unite to attack Azua. The Dominicans, while being much less numerous, had strongly fortified a number of strategic points in the country with soldiers. The first clash in Dominican War of Independence saw the defeat of the Haitian forces.