In 1807 Dominican soldier and landowner Juan Sánchez Ramírez formed a troop of two thousand men from Cuba, Puerto Rico and Britain and traveled to the eastern part of Santo Domingo. There, he encouraged its residents to take up arms against the French, to support him in the Reconquista of Santo Domingo (Reconquest of Santo Domingo). Many landowners and loggers joined his troops, while Sanchez also engaged the exploitation of timber cuts on his possessions of the eastern shores, between Higüey and Jovero (now Miches), where communications with Puerto Rico were easier. Ramírez also maintained a frequent correspondence with the General Captain of Puerto Rico, who gave him official support to face the French in Santo Domingo and promised him military and financial aid.