Cronicas de la Guerra by Jose Miro Argenter

Cronicas de la Guerra by Jose Miro Argenter...


Maceo estaba sobre su caballo , con el machete
desenvainado , cuando una bala de mauser le
penetro por la sinfisis mentoniana , saliendo
por la region posterior lateral izquierda de la
base del cuello, produciendo la muerte de
Maceo , por hemorragia, en el espacio , poco
mas o menos, de un minuto Cayo del caballo
Maceo, y Zertucha fue a prestalerle auxilio , y
estando reconociendolo, recibe Maceo , ya muer-
to un segundo balazo en el hipocondrio derecho,
Estaban alla, Miro, Gordon, Nodarse, Ahumada y
Justiz, todos los cuales salieron heridos , y mor-
talmente Nodarse y Justiz, los cuales han muer-
to y despues a prefectura de Govea.
Mientras tanto Gomez escribio el papel que se
le hallo encima, y con un cuchillo se suicido, in-
firiendose una puñalada como de tres centime-
tros de extension, en el tercero y cuarto espacio
intercostal izquierdo , al nivel del borde del
esternon, Y en esto se acercaron el practico y dos
gerrilleros . Llegaron entonces Zertucha con Pedro
Diaz y otros para llevarse los cadaveres, sostivieron
fuego con el practico y los guerrilleros, los cuales
se llevaron los gemelos de campaña y otros pren-
das de Maceo y Gomez. "

Al conocer el Ejercito Español la muerte de Maceo...

" Conocida la muerte de Maceo se anuncio el dia 11
que el general en jefe debia llegar el msmo dia a esta
capital, y el publico comenzo a aglomerarse por las
calles donde creia que cruzaria , en la plaza de Armas
y en el paradero del Oeste, tributandole, no una recep-
cion , sino una manifestacion entusiasta y cariñosa,
como no se recuerda hecha a ningun general. Entre
atronadores vivas a la patria, a Cuba española , al Rey,
al ejercito y al general Weyler, el General en Jefe llego
con dificultada por el apiñamiento de la multitud en que
estaban representadas todas las clases sociales a Palacio,
dode personalidades del mundo oficial y de la politica
le esperaban para felicitarle por los brillantes exitos de
su campaña. Por la noche La Habana entera se engalano
e ilumino , disparandose multitud de voladores y siendo
imponente el regocijo publico , brotado de todos los
corazones frases de gratitud al ejercito, a los voluntarios,
a la marina y al general Weyler. Las calzadas del Monte y
Galiano celebraron fiestas especiales con musica , fuegos
de artificio , iluminaciones, etc etc. durante dos noches"

La narracion ,aunque apestosa a solecismos , es bastante
exacta en lo que respecta a los guateques , jolgorios espe-
ciales de Monte, Belascoain, calle de Weyler ( Obispo_
y plaza del Vapor, pues hubo embriaguez de patriotismo
y borracheras de peleon y marca T,Hubiron - como dicen
las pendolas de gacetilla- lechones asados, cabalgatas ,
tangos , quemas de judas, triquitraques, morteros, decimas
a medio y marchas de Cadiz a tutiplen. Los establecimientos
mixtos de las calzadas del Monte , Galiano, Belascoain, Cuatro
Caminos y basurero del Vapor, regalaron piezas de lustrina y
garrafones de aguardiente, a fin de que toda la marchanteria
se vistiera a la española y echara una cana al aire, en celebra-
cion del triunfo de las armas hispana; la muerte del cabecilla
mulato . Los astures de la comandita del cuchillo , dueños
de bodega, cafetines, fonduchos, ciudadelas y accesorios de
lenocinio, se codeaban con los negros de la barriada y gritaban
a una : ! viva Weyler! ! viva el Rey! ! viva la infanteria española!
!ya cayo el mulato chevere!- Toda la gente del bronce se embo-
rracho gratis; andaba frenetica por la via publica corriendo la
borrasca del patriotismo , o examinando las caras de los traseun-
tes criollos por si en ellos descubria señales de dolor. Las furias
del integrismo , con los rostros de color de grana, los ojos fuera
de las orbitas y las gargantas secas, a pesar de la rociada continua
esgrimiento la bayoneta del instituto, o el clasico instrumento de
la hermandad del cuchilllo, volvian a dominar en la ciudad atri-
bulada, como en los dias negros de la matanza de los estudiantes.
Corrian por la plaza del Polvorin en direccion a la cortina Valdes
y muralla luctuosa de la Punta, impelidas por el ardor de la car-
niceria, bajo el ansia frenetica de matar mujeres., ni˜õs y labo-
rantes que hubiesen deplorado el suceso de Punta Brava o que
no le dieran credito a los suplementos de ultima hora.
Hubo almacen de ropas que pago una orquesta para que durante
dos dias y dos noches, le tocara el tragla a la mambiseria solapada,
escondida detras de las miradores. En otros establecimientos de
warandol de la calzada de Galiano, se exibieron zapatos enormes
y muñecos peludos que representaban al gorila, con rotulos signi-
ficativos sobre la procedencia del zapaton y la semejanza del
mulato con el chinpance. ! Santiguemonos !
uno de estos almacenes de Galiano ,el mas grande y favorecido
tiene hoy la subasta de la Guardia Rural, o del Permante , institu-
tos armados que no tienen que ver con la guardia civil ni con los
batallones de Weyler, cuyo triunfo celebraron con tanta algazara
los personajes que ahora trafican con la republica cordial de Marti.
Preciso es confesarlo , despues de la persignacion de rubrica;
nuestra Republica no ha podido ser mas suave ni ma bonachona.

Antonio Maceo

Antonio Maceo (1845-1896) was a Cuban patriot who rose to the rank of general in Cuba's Independence Army and became a hero of the wars which ended Spanish domination over Cuba.

Antonio Maceo was born in Santiago de Cuba on June 14, 1845. He was the son of Marcos Maceo, a Venezuelan mulatto émigréand of a free Cuban black, Mariana Grajales, one of the outstanding women in Cuba's history. Young Maceo spent his early years on his father's small farm in Oriente Province and received most of his education at home from private tutors. He also worked on his father's farm, making occasional trips to Santiago de Cuba to sell agricultural products.

The island was then experiencing revolutionary turmoil as Cuban patriots conspired to rid themselves of Spanish control. Unhappy with Spanish domination and horrified by the exploitation of the black slaves, Maceo entered the Masonic lodge of Santiago in 1864 and started to conspire with Cuban revolutionaries. When, on Oct. 10, 1868, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and other leaders began Cuba's Ten Years War, Maceo joined the rebellion.

Guerrilla Leader

Maceo soon showed superior ability in guerrilla fighting. Under the instructions of Máximo Gómez, a Dominican guerrilla expert who had joined the Cuban forces, Maceo developed into one of the most daring fighters of the Cuban army. He defeated the Spanish forces in numerous battles and was soon promoted to the rank of captain. By January 1869 he was made lieutenant colonel. His incursions into the sugar zones not only helped to disrupt the sugar harvest but also were the principal means of freeing the slaves, who soon joined the ranks of the Cuban army.

By 1872 Maceo had achieved the rank of general. His prominent position among revolutionary leaders soon gave rise to intrigue and suspicion. Conservative elements who supported the war efforts began to fear the possibility of the establishment of a Negro republic with Maceo at its head. The example of Haiti still loomed in the minds of many, and when Gen. Gómez advocated an invasion of the west to cripple sugar production and liberate the slaves, he met determined opposition. Maceo was ordered to remain in Oriente Province, and the invasion of the west had to be postponed until 1875.

Even after the invasion got under way, it reached only to Las Villas Province in central Cuba. The destruction of the sugar estates increased the opposition from landed and sugar interests. Supplies, weapons, and money failed to arrive from exiles in the United States. Dissension in the revolutionary ranks and fear of the blacks again slowed down the revolutionary efforts. After a prolonged silence, Maceo finally answered those who accused him of attempting to establish a black republic. "In planting these seeds of distrust and dissension," he wrote on May 16, 1876, "they do not seem to realize that it is the country that will suffer…. I must protest energetically that neither now nor at any other time am I to be regarded as an advocate of a Negro Republic…. This concept is a deadly thing to this democratic Republic which is founded on the basis of liberty and fraternity."

Continued Fight for Independence

The war dragged on with neither the Cubans nor Spaniards able to win a decisive victory. Finally, on Feb. 11, 1878, the Peace of Zanjón was signed, which ended the Ten Years War. Most of the generals of the Cuban army accepted the pact. Yet Maceo refused to capitulate and continued to fight with his now-depleted army. He held a historic meeting, known as the Protest of Baraguá, with the head of the Spanish forces, Marshal Arsenio Martínez Campos, requesting independence for Cuba and complete abolition of slavery. When these two conditions were rejected, he again resumed the fighting.

It was, however, a futile effort. Years of bloodshed and war had left the Cuban forces exhausted. Exile aid decreased, and Maceo now faced the bulk of the Spanish forces. Realizing the hopeless situation, Maceo left for Jamaica. From there he traveled to New York to raise money and weapons necessary to continue fighting. He soon joined the activities of Maj. Gen. Calixto Garcia, then organizing a new rebellion. This uprising, known as La Guerra Chiquita (Little War, 1879-1880), ended in disaster. Maceo was retained in exile for fear of antagonizing the conservative elements in Cuba, and Garcia was captured soon after he landed in the island.

Exile for Maceo

Disappointed and disillusioned, Maceo traveled to the Dominican Republic and finally settled in Honduras. There he joined Gen. Gómez and was appointed to an army post in Tegucigalpa. But Maceo saw his exile as only a temporary interruption in the struggle to liberate Cuba. He and Gómez soon began to organize a new rebellion. Maceo visited different exile centers in the United States seeking support. However, the leadership was totally in military hands, thus alienating such revolutionary leaders as José Martí. Then, weapons that were to be used for the uprising were either confiscated in the Dominican Republic or lost in Jamaica when the captain of the ship Morning Star, which was transporting the weapons, dumped them in the sea for fear of being arrested. Finally, dissensions, mistrust, and prejudice among the revolutionary leaders dealt a mortal blow to this new effort.

For the next several years Maceo wandered throughout the Caribbean and Central America and finally settled in Costa Rica, where he engaged successfully in tobacco and sugar production. There he received a call from Martíin 1893 for a final effort to liberate Cuba. Martíhad organized a revolutionary party in exile and now offered Maceo an important position in the movement. Maceo joined Martíand Gómez in organizing the Cubans in and out of the island until finally, on Feb. 24, 1895, the War for Independence began. One month later, Maceo and a group of expeditionaries landed in Oriente Province to join the rebellion.

Now Gómez and Maceo were able to implement their plan to invade the western provinces and thus carry the war to that part of the island. The two generals and Martímet on Cuban soil to map the war strategy. Maceo advocated a strong military junta rather than civilian control to direct the effort. Although the question of civilian versus military control was not resolved, Gómez was made commander in chief of the army, Maceo military commander of Oriente, and Martíhead of the revolution abroad and in nonmilitary matters.

Martí's tragic death only days after the meeting, on May 19, 1895, dealt a strong blow to the morale of the Cuban forces. Yet Maceo and Gómez did not waver. In repeated attacks the two generals undermined and defeated the Spanish troops. For the next 3 months Maceo and Gómez carried the war to the western provinces. From January to March 1896 Maceo waged a bitter but successful campaign against larger Spanish forces in the provinces of Pinar del Río and Havana. On Dec. 7, 1896, while preparing their next campaign, near the small town of San Pedro in Havana, Maceo's troops were attacked, and the courageous general was killed in a minor battle with Spanish forces.