The Battle of Cabeza de Las Marías and Las Hicoteas, were the first military engagements of Dominican War of Independence and were fought between March 13 and March 18, 1844, at Cabeza de Las Marías, near Neyba, Baoruco Province and Las Hicoteas, near Azua de Compostela, Azua Province. A force of Dominican troops, a portion of the Army of The South, led by General Manuel de Regla Mota, encountered an outnumbering force of 10,000 troops of the Haitian Army led by General Souffrand and was forced to flee to Azua de Compostela.