The leaders decided to start their revolution in the town of Lares on September 23.
Some 400–600 rebels gathered on that day in the hacienda of Manuel Rojas, located in the vicinity of Pezuela, on the outskirts of Lares.
Led by Rojas and Juan de Mata Terraforte, the poorly trained and sparsely armed rebels reached the town by horse and foot around midnight.
They looted local stores and offices owned by peninsulares (Spanish mainland-born men) and took over the city hall.
 Spanish mainland-born merchants and Puerto Rican government authorities, considered by the rebels as enemies of the fatherland, were taken as prisoners.

The rebels then entered the town's church and placed the revolutionary flag of Lares on the High Altar.
This was the sign that the revolution had begun.
The Republic of Puerto Rico was proclaimed at (2:00 am local time) under the presidency of Francisco Ramírez Medina at the church and the revolutionaries offered freedom to the slaves who joined them.
President Ramírez Medina appointed Government officials as follows:
Francisco Ramírez Medina, President
Aurelio Méndez, Minister of the Interior
Manuel Ramírez, Minister of State
Celedonio Abril, Minister of the Treasury
Federico Valencia, Minister of War
Clemente Millán, Minister of Justice
Bernabé Pol, Secretary to the President
Manuel Rojas, Commander in Chief of the Liberation Army
The leaders decided to start their revolution in the town of Lares on September 23. Some 400–600 rebels gathered on that day in the hacienda of Manuel Rojas, located in the vicinity of Pezuela, on the outskirts of Lares. Led by Rojas and Juan de Mata Terraforte, the poorly trained and sparsely armed rebels reached the town by horse and foot around midnight. They looted local stores and offices owned by peninsulares (Spanish mainland-born men) and took over the city hall.  Spanish mainland-born merchants and Puerto Rican government authorities, considered by the rebels as enemies of the fatherland, were taken as prisoners.
The rebels then entered the town's church and placed the revolutionary flag of Lares on the High Altar. This was the sign that the revolution had begun. The Republic of Puerto Rico was proclaimed at (2:00 am local time) under the presidency of Francisco Ramírez Medina at the church and the revolutionaries offered freedom to the slaves who joined them. President Ramírez Medina appointed Government officials as follows:
Francisco Ramírez Medina, President
Aurelio Méndez, Minister of the Interior
Manuel Ramírez, Minister of State
Celedonio Abril, Minister of the Treasury
Federico Valencia, Minister of War
Clemente Millán, Minister of Justice
Bernabé Pol, Secretary to the President
Manuel Rojas, Commander in Chief of the Liberation Army
Grito de Lares