Polanco’s presidency lasts only three months, until…

Polanco’s presidency lasts only three months, until his deposition by General Antonio Pimentel.

The rebels formalize their provisional rule by holding a national convention in February 1865, which enacts a new constitution, but the new government exerts little authority over the various regional guerilla caudillos, who are largely independent of one another.

When the American Civil War ends in March 1865, Queen Isabella, unable to extract concessions from the disorganized rebels, annuls the annexation and restores Dominican independence, with the last Spanish troops departing by July.

The Dominican Republic, officially independent on August 16, 1865, begins to move closer politically to the US.

By the time the Spanish depart, most of the main towns lie in ruins and the island is divided among several dozen caudillos.

José María Cabral controls most of Barahona and the southwest with the support of Báez's mahogany-exporting partners, while cattle rancher Cesáreo Guillermo has assembled a coalition of former Santanista generals in the southeast, and Gregorio Luperón controls the north coast.

Within a month of the nationalist victory, Cabral, whose troops are the first to enter Santo Domingo, ousts Pimentel, but a few weeks later, General Guillermo leads a rebellion in support of Báez, forcing Cabral to resign and allowing Báez to retake the presidency in October.