La Villa del Cotuí and caused the sinking of the mines. In May 1655 Hispaniola was invaded by more than ten thousand English, with the aim of storming the capital and then seizing the entire island. Thirty-seven specialized Cotuisan lancers moved to Santo Domingo to defend the city, their swords wreaked havoc on the invaders to prevent the city of Santo Domingo from being taken over. Cotui was also the birthplace of Juan Sánchez Ramírez known for being the commander in the battle of Palo Hincado on November 7, 1808. Juan Sánchez Ramírez was placed as the leader of the Dominicans to defeat the French in the memorable battle, who under his leadership expelled the French from this territory through the historical struggle called La Reconquista. War of Independence After Juan Pablo Duarte founded the Secret Society La Trinitaria on July 16, 1838, the Cotuisanos organized themselves almost immediately under the batons of Father Puigvert and José Valverde. Cotuí and San Francisco de Macorís became the first towns that dispossessed the Haitians in the town halls, exercising independent municipal power. In January 1844, both Valverde and Puigvert signed the Manifesto of January 16, to let the world, and especially the Haitian authorities, know that the Dominican people were going to war. After independence was proclaimed, a number of Cotuisanos participated in the different battles that were fought to face the Haitian invasions, since Haiti refused to recognize the independence proclaimed by the Dominican people on February 27, 1844. War of Restoration As soon as the events in Capotillo became known, when Cotuí pronounced himself in favor of the Restoration, hundreds of Cotuisanos went to fight to recover the lost Republic with its annexation to Spain in 1861, those who stood out the most were Esteban Adames, Basilio Gavilán, José Epifanio Márquez, Tomás Castillo and Francisco Suriel, who joined various lines of action, but mainly the Eastern line which had its headquarters in Cotuí, commanded by General Gregorio Luperón. Economy The city is well known for its gold, silver, iron, bauxite, marble and nickel mines, its rich soils and the largest artificial lake in the Caribbean, Presa de Hatillo. It is also known for its crystal clear rivers, and its caverns (prehistoric caves called Guácaras). It produces rice, plantains, cacao, pineapples, passion fruits, and yams. Cotui is also the hometown of Mets pitcher Duaner Sánchez, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher José Capellán and