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The Cuban Liberation Army (), colloquially known as the
Mambí The mambises were the guerrilla independence soldiers who fought for the independence from Spain of the Dominican Republic in the Dominican Restoration War (1863–1865), and of Cuba in the Ten Years' War (1868–1878), Little War (1879–1880), ...
Army () was an
insurgent An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare against a larger authority. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric nature: small irregular forces face a large, well ...
army which was formed in the last third of the 19th century and fought for independence from
Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
and the
abolition of slavery Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world. The first country to fully outlaw slavery was France in 1315, but it was later used in its colonies. T ...
. It first saw combat in the
Ten Years' War The Ten Years' War (; 1868–1878), also known as the Great War () and the War of '68, was part of Cuba's fight for independence from Spain. The uprising was led by Cuban-born planters and other wealthy natives. On 10 October 1868, sugar mil ...
(1868–1878) under the command of
Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Carlos Manuel de Céspedes del Castillo (18 April 1819, Bayamo, Spanish Cuba – 27 February 1874, San Lorenzo, Spanish Cuba) was a Cuban revolutionary hero and First President of Cuba in Arms in 1868. Cespedes, who was a plantation owne ...
,
Ignacio Agramonte Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz (23 December 1841 – 11 May 1873) was a Cuban revolutionary, who played an important part in the Ten Years' War (1868–1878). Biography Born in Puerto del Príncipe (known as Camagüey) on December 23, 1841, to a w ...
, and
Carlos Roloff Karol Rolow-Miałowski or Carlos Roloff Mialofsky, better known simply as Carlos Roloff, (4 November 1842 – 17 May 1907) was a Polish-born Cuban general and liberation activist, who fought against Spain in the Ten Years' War and the Cuban War o ...
. The independentists were decentralized and operated within their own regions autonomously of each other, until the Assembly of Guáimaro established the Republic-in-Arms of Cuba and the Liberation Army's command structure. After the
Pact of Zanjón The Pact of Zanjón ended the Ten Years' War, the armed struggle of Cubans for independence from the Spanish Empire that lasted from 1868 to 1878. On February 10, 1878, a group of negotiators representing the rebels gathered in Zanjón, a village ...
, a brief uprising called the Little War saw Majors-General
Calixto García Calixto García y Íñiguez (August 4, 1839 – December 11, 1898) was a Cuban general in three Cuban uprisings, part of the Cuban War for Independence: the Ten Years' War, the Little War, and the War of 1895, itself sometimes called the C ...
and
Antonio Maceo Lt. General José Antonio de la Caridad Maceo y Grajales (June 14, 1845December 7, 1896) was a Cuban general and second-in-command of the Cuban Liberation Army, Cuban Army of Independence. Fellow Cubans gave Maceo the nickname "The Bronze Tit ...
lead the Army of Liberation in another attempt at independence and the abolition of slavery, though unsuccessfully. Finally, during the
War of Independence Wars of national liberation, also called wars of independence or wars of liberation, are conflicts fought by nations to gain independence. The term is used in conjunction with wars against foreign powers (or at least those perceived as foreign) ...
, the Liberation Army was once again organized to fight against the Spanish colonial government. The Liberation Army would reach its highest count of active members in the Spanish-American War, when an imminent Cuban-American victory caused hitherto anti-independence elites to join the Liberation Army. These recruits were nicknamed "Sunflowers" because they "point to where the sun is shining".


Uniforms and ranks

The Cuban Liberation Army did not have a widespread or universal uniform, especially when they first began their operations. However, by 1895, most officers and some soldiers (especially those from expeditionary units who deployed to
Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
from
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
and
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
) had a uniform of some sort. Common among all soldiers were straw hats, which were necessary for protection against the hot Cuban sun. Some of these hats had the front folded upwards, upon which the Cuban flag or the Coat of arms of Cuba were displayed. The common dress uniform was a white or khaki drill tunic and trousers. The tunics would have folded collars, metal buttons, and pockets either on the breast or skirt. Upon the uniform, the men would wear any necessary accouterments and equipment, such as sheathes for machetes, pouches for bullets, and other supplies. In terms of footwear, military cobblers were producing
boot A boot is a type of footwear. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle, while some also cover some part of the lower calf. Some boots extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearl ...
s for the combatants of the Liberation Army, but not everyone was able to get a pair. Straw
sandals Sandals are an open type of shoe, consisting of a Sole (shoe), sole held to the wearer's foot by straps going over the instep and around the ankle. Sandals can also have a heel. While the distinction between sandals and other types of footwear ...
and bare-footedness were common. Officers had distinctive insignia on their uniforms to identify their rank. Major-Generals, including the general-in-chief and lieutenant-general, wore three gold five-pointed stars on their collars. Divisional generals, which only became its own rank after the Little War, wore two such stars, and brigadiers, one. Officers ranked lower than brigadier will wear a cloth patch backing on their machete sheath's sling, a tab on their shirt, or anywhere else visible. The color of the patch determines service branch. Blue means
general staff A military staff or general staff (also referred to as army staff, navy staff, or air staff within the individual services) is a group of officers, Enlisted rank, enlisted, and civilian staff who serve the commanding officer, commander of a ...
, green means
infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
, red means
cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...
, light brown means
artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...
, brown means
engineers Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, build, maintain and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials. They aim to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while consider ...
, yellow means
medical corps A medical corps is generally a military branch or staff corps, officer corps responsible for medical care for serving military personnel. Such officers are typically military physicians. List of medical corps The following organizations are exam ...
, black means judiciary corps, and white means
civil government In Portugal, the Civil Governments (, singular ') are the bodies of public administration that represent the Government of Portugal, central government at the Districts of Portugal, district level. Each Civil Government is headed by an ''administ ...
. Colonels wear three gold stars on their patch, lieutenant-colonels, two, and commanders, one. Captains are designated similarly to colonels, but their stars are white rather than gold. Lieutenants have two white stars, and sublieutenants have one. First sergeants were designated similarly, but with horizontal bars instead of stars, which they had three of. Second sergeants had two bars, and corporals had one. In 1895, there was a widespread rumor that the soldiers of the Liberation Army all wore nose rings. However, a fifteen-year-old plantation worker from Havana province went to see for himself, and returned with a definitive answer: the soldiers did not wear nose rings.


Weapons

The Liberation Army equipped itself with a wide range of weapons for its operations. There were always issues with standardization and equipment shortages, especially in the beginning of the Ten Years' War and all throughout the Little War. There were many methods of acquiring weapons. Many of those who would go on to become insurgents may have owned a
shotgun A shotgun (also known as a scattergun, peppergun, or historically as a fowling piece) is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge (firearms), cartridge known as a shotshell, which discharges numerous small ...
,
rifle A rifle is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting and higher stopping power, with a gun barrel, barrel that has a helical or spiralling pattern of grooves (rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus o ...
, or
blunderbuss The blunderbuss is a 17th- to mid-19th-century firearm with a short, large caliber Gun barrel, barrel. It is commonly flared at the muzzle (firearms), muzzle to help aid in the loading of Lead shot, shot and other projectiles of relevant quantity ...
for hunting or other activities before the ownership of firearms and importation of weapons was banned in Cuba. Aristocratic creoles or gentlemen who joined the army might have owned a
sword A sword is an edged and bladed weapons, edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter ...
or
saber A sabre or saber ( ) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the Early Modern warfare, early modern and Napoleonic period, Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such a ...
to bring with them, and might have also had some training in fencing. The iconic weapon of the Liberation Army, however, was the
machete A machete (; ) is a broad blade used either as an agricultural implement similar to an axe, or in combat like a long-bladed knife. The blade is typically long and usually under thick. In the Spanish language, the word is possibly a dimin ...
, the common tool of the peasants, indentured servants, and slaves.


Firearms and Artillery

Besides local supplies and personal collections of guns that the insurgents might have owned, more weapons would be required to carry out successful military operations against the Spanish Army, one of the most powerful at the time. There were two main methods of acquiring firearms: armed expeditions which smuggled weapons into Cuba, or attacking Spanish columns, camps, trains and armories to steal guns and ammunition. Several expeditions were funded by organizations in the United States, such as the Revolutionary Junta in the Ten Years' War and the
Cuban Revolutionary Party The Cuban Revolutionary Party (, PRC) was a political organization created by the Cuban intellectual José Martí on 10 April 1892 in order to organize the independence of Cuba and, as much as possible, Puerto Rico, the last two overseas provinces ...
in the War of 1895. On the 22th of December, 1868, General
Manuel de Quesada Manuel may refer to: People * Manuel (name), a given name and surname * Manuel (''Fawlty Towers''), a fictional character from the sitcom ''Fawlty Towers'' * Manuel I Komnenos, emperor of the Byzantine Empire * Manuel I of Portugal, king of Po ...
led 71 expeditionaries in bringing 2,540 Enfield Rifles, 150 Spencer Carbines, half a million rounds of
ammunition Ammunition, also known as ammo, is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. The term includes both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines), and the component parts of oth ...
, a cannon, 300 grenades, and a great amount of gunpowder.
Carlos Roloff Karol Rolow-Miałowski or Carlos Roloff Mialofsky, better known simply as Carlos Roloff, (4 November 1842 – 17 May 1907) was a Polish-born Cuban general and liberation activist, who fought against Spain in the Ten Years' War and the Cuban War o ...
was heavily involved in expeditions during the 1895 war. He was an expert of bookkeeping, organization, and deception, which allowed him to fool Spanish spies and American officials who attempted to arrest him and confiscate his expeditions. On one such expedition, which landed in Tayabacoa, Las Villas, on July 24 of 1895 at 9:30 PM, carried 150 men, 300 rifles, 300,000 rounds of ammunition, and several pounds of dynamite. Popular rifles to smuggle included the Enfield,
Springfield 1861 The Springfield Model 1861 was a Minié rifle, Minié-type rifled musket used by the United States Army during the American Civil War. Commonly referred to as the "Springfield" (after its original place of production, Springfield, Massachusetts ...
, Springfield 1873,
Winchester Rifles Winchester rifle is a comprehensive term describing a series of lever action repeating rifles manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Developed from the 1860 Henry rifle, Winchester rifles were among the earliest repeaters. The ...
, Spencers, Krag–Jørgensens, Colt Lightnings, and others.
Revolvers A revolver is a repeating handgun with at least one barrel and a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold six cartridges before needing to be reloaded, ...
were also acquired for officers and cavalry forces. During the Ten Years' War, the standard-issue rifle for the Spanish Army was the
Remington Rolling Block Remington Rolling Block is a family of breech-loading rifles that was produced from the mid-1860s into the early 20th century by E. Remington and Sons (later Remington Arms). These rifles were made in a variety of calibers, both rimfire and cente ...
in .43 Spanish. The Liberation Army would often raid for and capture these rifles and their ammunition for their own use. The same was done in the War of Independence, when the standard-issue rifle of the Spanish Army was the
Mauser Mauser, originally the Königlich Württembergische Gewehrfabrik, was a German arms manufacturer. Their line of bolt-action rifles and semi-automatic pistols was produced beginning in the 1870s for the German armed forces. In the late 19th and ...
. The Remington was still in use with Volunteer units, which were typically Cuban Loyalists who fought for Spain, but could also be Basques who were born in regions which were not obligated by Spanish law to provide regiments to the crown. In terms of artillery, cannons purchased in the United States were available in minuscule numbers. More common was the taking of Spanish cannons. In the War of 1895, the Spanish were by then using the
Krupp gun Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp (formerly Fried. Krupp AG and Friedrich Krupp GmbH), trading as Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century as well as Germany's premier weapons manufacturer during both wo ...
, a breech-loading field gun. There was also native production of leather guns, which may have had a bronze or wooden barrel, which is then wrapped in leather. These were muzzleloaded, and had high risks of self destruction, especially after four shots. Carlos Roloff used these rudimentary cannons and 300 men to defeat a Spanish force of 700 at San Gil on February 19, 1869.


Bladed Weapons

Due to the general lack of firearms and ammunition, close-range weapons were needed to make up the difference. Indeed, some aristocratic individuals, like
Ignacio Agramonte Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz (23 December 1841 – 11 May 1873) was a Cuban revolutionary, who played an important part in the Ten Years' War (1868–1878). Biography Born in Puerto del Príncipe (known as Camagüey) on December 23, 1841, to a w ...
, would have owned a sword either to display their status or to use in duels. The more common sidearm, however, was the machete. Many different types were used, and each soldier used whichever he could get. At first, this meant the machetes used in the sugarcane fields to harvest the cane, but with time, other options would be made available. Workshops operated by the Liberation Army had the capability of producing machetes with blades that were specialized for combat. The preferred machete blade shape was single-edged and long, they also often had
crossguards A sword's crossguard or cross-guard is a bar between the blade and hilt, essentially perpendicular to them, intended to protect the wielder's hand and fingers from opponents' weapons as well as from his or her own blade. Each of the individual b ...
for hand protection. Machetes made by Collins & Co., a machete manufacturer from
Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...
, were particularly popular with the insurgents, who purchased many models. The No. 22 was used by Cuban cavalry and, eventually, the
Rough Riders The Rough Riders was a nickname given to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish–American War and the only one to see combat. The United States Army was small, understaffed, and diso ...
and First US Volunteer Engineers. The Model No. 323 was especially made by Collins to circumvent Spanish weapon import bans. The machete used by Antonio Maceo was 73 centimeters long. Máximo Gómez's was 86. Most impressive, however, was the machete of José Guillermo "Guillermón" Moncada, which was 130 centimeters long. Machetes have been in combat in Cuba since 1762. When the British sieged Havana, the mayor organized Free Black and Mulatto Militias to face the British in conjunction with the regular army. When muskets ran out, the militias took up machetes. Early on, the militias were able to capture and kill a number of British soldiers and officers, but the siege was lost when reinforcements from the
thirteen colonies The Thirteen Colonies were the British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America which broke away from the British Crown in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and joined to form the United States of America. The Thirteen C ...
arrived. It's been the weapon of the many slave rebellions both in Cuba and elsewhere. Cuban slaves, inspired by events in Haiti, would attempt slave revolts in the early 1800s, none of which succeeded. On October 25, 1868, then-sergeant Máximo Gómez prepared an ambush as part of the
Battle of Pino de Baire The Battle of Pino de Baire, also known as the Primera Carga al Machete (), occurred on 25 October 1868 during the beginning of the Ten Years' War. It was the first instance of the reputable machete charge in the war that became a common mambí ...
. After firing one volley of rifle fire from concealed positions, 40 infantrymen wielding machetes came down upon the Spanish soldiers. The shock and terror within the Spanish ranks was such that 233 casualties were sustained before the routing of the unit. Gómez, having served in both the Dominican and Spanish armies, would have seen similar charges in the
Dominican War of Independence The Dominican War of Independence () was a war of independence that began when the Dominican Republic declared independence from the Republic of Haiti on February 27, 1844 and ended on January 24, 1856. Before the war, the island of Hispaniola ...
and the Restoration War. For his service in this battle, he was awarded the rank of general.


Tactics and Strategy

Due to its nature as a generally poorly equipped and vastly outnumbered force, the Liberation Army had to depend on their strategies to win them victories. Such strategies did not purely rely on the force of arms, but also on the terrain, weather, and tropical diseases. The terrain was the native land of the members of the army, and thus would have granted an advantage. Furthermore, the Cuban soldiers were naturally immune to many of the diseases that the Spanish weren't. Most of the Spanish casualties from all three wars were from disease, but that's not to discount the tactics and strategies of the Liberation Army's leadership, who were effective at planning and executing many combative actions.


Infantry

The infantry of the Cuban Liberation Army fought in open order, generally negating the effect of Spanish artillery fire. Infantry units engaged in surprise attacks and ambushes and moved around extremely quickly, only coalescing into larger bodies of men when it was necessary. In the Campaign of La Reforma, the guerilla cells formed by Major-General Máximo Gómez were able to inflict an average of 40 daily casualties upon Spanish forces. One of the tactics used to achieve this was the shooting of Spanish camps from safe and hidden positions. Although these actions seldom resulted in bullet injuries or deaths among the Spanish troops, it deprived them of sleep, weakening them both in physical battle and in battle against disease and the elements. Major-General Antonio Maceo also made heavy use of infantry in his operations in Oriente and Pinar del Río. Due to the mountainous terrain these areas, cavalry forces were relegated to a support role for the infantry. By presenting the threat of a cavalry charge, the Spanish formation is forced to form square, providing the perfect target for infantry riflemen and cavalry
carabiniers A carabinier (also sometimes spelled carabineer or carbineer) is in principle a soldier armed with a carbine, musket, or rifle, which became commonplace by the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. The word is derived from the identical ...
. Infantry were trained in the most elemental and essential skills for a soldier to possess. Often, training would be conducted by Spanish sergeants or corporals who joined the Cubans. The infantry were taught to stand in line formation to build unit cohesion, and they were taught to march in column for a similar purpose. It should be noted, however, that the column was used on campaign whenever the Cubans needed solid power to move through enemy territory or if they were protecting something. The Invasion of the West of the Island and Battle of Ceja del Negro are prime examples of column formation being used by Cuban forces. Changing from a marching formation into guerilla deployment rapidly was taught as well. Furthermore, several shooting positions were taught, such as 'knee on the ground' and 'on your feet'. Former Confederate general Thomas Jordan was made General-in-Chief of the Liberation Army after the deposition of Manuel de Quesada. He graduated from the Military Academy of West Point, which was one of the reasons he was hired by the Revolutionary Junta to help with the insurrection in Cuba. He was unfamiliar with and didn't understand the need for the guerrilla tactics used by the Liberation Army, and thus conducted his battles in traditional manner. He resigned in 1870 due to lack of supplies which would be needed to continue conducting the war using his methods.


Cavalry

One of the most depicted branches of service of the Liberation Army in media is the cavalry. The cavalry was responsible for several tasks throughout the wars fought by the Liberation Army. Before the
Battle of Dos Ríos A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
, Spanish columns led by Colonel José Jiménez de Sandoval were spotted by Cuban cavalry
scouts Scouting or the Scout Movement is a youth social movement, movement which became popularly established in the first decade of the twentieth century. It follows the Scout method of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activi ...
and his vanguard harassed by mounted
skirmishers Skirmishers are light infantry or light cavalry soldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They may be deployed in a skirmish line, an irreg ...
. Besides scouting and skirmishing, cavalry was also used in charges and in pursuing routed enemies. Soldiers of the cavalry used both firearms, such as carbines and revolvers, as well as machetes. The Major-General
Ignacio Agramonte Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz (23 December 1841 – 11 May 1873) was a Cuban revolutionary, who played an important part in the Ten Years' War (1868–1878). Biography Born in Puerto del Príncipe (known as Camagüey) on December 23, 1841, to a w ...
is known for his cavalry force, which operated in Camagüey. He learned the tactical use of machetes from
Máximo Gómez Máximo Gómez y Báez (November 18, 1836 – June 17, 1905) was a general of Dominican origin in the Cuban Wars of Independence (1868-78 and 1895–98). He was known for his controversial Scorched earth tactics, which entailed dynamiting pa ...
, who himself made extensive use of cavalry, and organized his horsemen into some of the most famous cavalry in Cuba between the years 1871 and 1873. He also used information presented at historical and military lectures to inform his organizational decisions. The men were organized into maniples, units smaller than regiments, which were stationed in a particular respective area. When necessary, a messenger could summon the maniple to assist in combat elsewhere. Agramonte, nicknamed "The Major" by his American subordinate officer Henry Reeve, trained his men to be extremely maneuverable, being able to rapidly respond to orders given by the
bugler The bugle is a simple signaling brass instrument with a wide conical bore. It normally has no valves or other pitch-altering devices, and is thus limited to its natural harmonic notes, and pitch is controlled entirely by varying the air and ...
. By splitting off into various maneuver groups, Spanish square formations could be disorganized or undone. This leaves the Spanish infantry open for a decisive charge after the various groups join once again. So effective was "The Major's Cavalry" that there was a small window of time between 1871 and 1873 where the Spanish only controlled four villages in all of Camagüey. Perhaps one of the most famous cavalry charges of the Ten Years' War was the Rescue of Sanguily. Thirty-five riders, including Ignacio Agramonte and Henry Reeve, charged against 120 Spanish light cavalry. The objective was to rescue Brigadier Julio Sanguily, who was captured by the Spanish horsemen. Without losing any men, they inflicted 11 mortal casualties, rescued Brigadier Sanguily and five other prisoners, and captured dozens of
horses The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 milli ...
,
saddles A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to Mammal#Anatomy, an animal's back by a girth (tack), girth. The most common type is List of equestrian sports, equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created ...
, a
tent A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using g ...
,
bullets A bullet is a Kinetic energy weapon, kinetic projectile, a component of firearm ammunition that is Shooting, shot from a gun barrel. They are made of a variety of materials, such as copper, lead, steel, polymer, rubber and even wax; and are made ...
,
revolvers A revolver is a repeating handgun with at least one barrel and a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold six cartridges before needing to be reloaded, ...
, and
sabers A sabre or saber ( ) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the early modern and Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such as the hussars, the sabre became widesp ...
. Máximo Gómez had a preference for using cavalry both in the Ten Years' War and in the War of Independence. One trick used by the cavalry was to ride up in view of Spanish columns, forcing them to deploy into battle formation, and then leave without presenting any combat. This left the Spanish troops "disconcerted, insecure, and confused". He also directed cavalry charges, such as the one at the Battle of Mal Tiempo. General Gómez ordered Lieutenant-Colonel José Loreto Cepero to charge any and all enemies he comes across without first asking permission, after the Lieutenant-Colonel asked to be in the forward vanguard. The invading army, led by Gómez, needed as much momentum as possible to reach Pinar del Río, and thus required the annihilation of any obstacles. Furthermore, ammunition was limited, so prolonged firefights were not an option. Lieutenant-Colonel José Loreto Cepero came across a skirmish between local patriots and Spanish troops, but instead of charging like he was ordered to, he dismounted his men, took up guerilla formations, and joined the shootout. This removed the element of surprise and allowed the Spanish to reorganize and give fierce fire. General Antonio Maceo, upon hearing the shooting, gave the order to charge, but was stopped by a barbed wire fence. The fence was removed with assistance from the Céspedes Infantry Regiment. Máximo Gómez and Serafín Sánchez were the next to charge in. The Spanish infantry was terrorized and panicked, they were unable to properly defend against the Cuban cavalry, leading to the 300 casualties inflicted on the approximately 2,500 strong force. It should be noted, however, that the machete charge was extremely circumstantial by the time of the War of 1895. Maceo's tactic of cavalry feints was more popular at this time.


Artillery

In the Ten Years' War, Carlos Roloff made use of rudimentary leather guns in the first few military actions after the uprising of Las Villas. Similarly, on the 13th of June, 1870, Captain Francisco Valladares commanded a battle which included the employment of leather guns. In the battle, these were used at short range against infantry, one of them causing five casualties and routing the enemy. Leather guns were produced in very limited numbers and were more intended as a psychological weapon rather than a physically effective one. In the War of Independence, Calixto García used Spanish Krupp guns to assault fortifications and towns.


Logistics

The Liberation Army had many different ways of obtaining necessary supplies. Expeditions from outside of Cuba brought not only guns and men, but also backpacks, uniforms, and medicine. One important aspect of the insurgent supply chain was the prefecture. Prefectures were small towns or areas controlled by a prefect, a member of the Cuban civil government. These prefectures were hidden such that the Spanish Army and local guerillas were unable to find them. Sometimes, even the Cuban forces who operated in the zone didn't know the exact location. These prefectures were able to have workshops dedicated to the production of important items, such as socks, clothing, saddles, sheathes, machetes, straps, and other things. They were also able to repair minor damage on rifles, revolvers, and machetes. Furthermore, brass casings, collected after combats if possible, would be reloaded with gunpowder and projectiles. The prefectures also included garden wherein fruits and vegetables were grown to supplement the diets of the soldiers, along with honey and meat. It was the prefect's job to deliver the products of the prefecture to the military chiefs and their units. It was also important to raid Spanish-held towns, convoys, and fortifications. These attacks could bring back important materials such as medicine and food, besides, of course, weapons. It was the responsibility of the Medical Corps to establish field hospitals when circumstances permitted it. In order to attract students and practitioners of medicine, military ranks would be granted. Field hospitals were typically located near prefectures, where they could easily acquire supplies for the injured and sick. If medicine ran out, the medical staff could resort to herbal remedies grown in the prefecture. Unfortunately for hospital staff and injured soldiers, hospitals were a prime target for local guerillas who were working for the Spanish army.


Notable Military Officers


Ten Years' War

Many important officers of the Liberation Army in later years, such as Máximo Gómez and Antonio Maceo, saw their first action in the
Ten Years' War The Ten Years' War (; 1868–1878), also known as the Great War () and the War of '68, was part of Cuba's fight for independence from Spain. The uprising was led by Cuban-born planters and other wealthy natives. On 10 October 1868, sugar mil ...
. * Carlos Manuel Perfecto del Carmen de Céspedes y López del Castillo, Captain-General of Free Cuba and the Liberation Army (1868), President of the Republic-in-Arms (1869-1873) * Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz, Major-General and Chief of the Camagüey Division (1869-1870) and (1871-1873) *
Julio Sanguily Julio Sanguily Garritte (1845–1906) was a Cuban independence activist and insurgent who took prominent roles in the rebel army during the Ten Years' War (1868–1878) and the Cuban War of Independence(1895–1898). Origins Julio Sanguily Gar ...
, Colonel (1870), Brigadier (1871), Major-General (1871-1878) * Henry Reeve, Lieutenant (1869), Brigadier (1873-1876) * Carlos Roloff Mialofsky, Major-General, Chief of Staff, and acting Chief of the Las Villas Division (1869-1875) and (1876) * Thomas Jordan, Major-General and General-in-Chief of the Liberation Army (1869-1870) * Manuel de Quesada y Loynaz, Major-General and General-in-Chief of the Liberation Army (1869), Special Agent of the Republic-in-Arms (1870-1873) *
Antonio Maceo Lt. General José Antonio de la Caridad Maceo y Grajales (June 14, 1845December 7, 1896) was a Cuban general and second-in-command of the Cuban Liberation Army, Cuban Army of Independence. Fellow Cubans gave Maceo the nickname "The Bronze Tit ...
, Major-General (1877-1878) *
Máximo Gómez Máximo Gómez y Báez (November 18, 1836 – June 17, 1905) was a general of Dominican origin in the Cuban Wars of Independence (1868-78 and 1895–98). He was known for his controversial Scorched earth tactics, which entailed dynamiting pa ...
, Sergeant (
1868 Events January * January 2 – British Expedition to Abyssinia: Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala, Robert Napier leads an expedition to free captive British officials and missionaries. * January 3 – The 15-year-old Mutsu ...
), Major-General (1868-1878) *
Rosa Castellanos Rosa María Castellanos Castellanos (1834–1907), also known as Rosa la Bayamesa, was Cuban military nurse who founded several hospitals during the Cuban wars of independence. Biography Castellanos was born a slave, the daughter of slaves fro ...
, Captain and head of
military hospital A military hospital is a hospital owned or operated by a military. They are often reserved for the use of military personnel and their dependents, but in some countries are made available to civilians as well. They may or may not be located on a m ...
s


Little War

The Little War barely lasted a year. One of the main issues was that there was a severe lack of competent officers, as most had been exiled after the Ten Years' War. * Calixto García * Antonio Maceo * Carlos Roloff


War of Independence

The
War of Independence Wars of national liberation, also called wars of independence or wars of liberation, are conflicts fought by nations to gain independence. The term is used in conjunction with wars against foreign powers (or at least those perceived as foreign) ...
, also called the Necessary War by José Martí, saw the return of many important military officers and the recruitment of others which would earn their reputations in battle. *
José Martí José Julián Martí Pérez (; 28 January 1853 – 19 May 1895) was a Cuban nationalism, nationalist, poet, philosopher, essayist, journalist, translator, professor, and publisher, who is considered a Cuban national hero because of his role in ...
, general secretary of the
Revolutionary Party Revolutionary Party is the name of several political parties, including: Active parties Former parties See also

* People's Revolutionary Party (disambiguation), People's Revolutionary Party * Communist Party (disambiguation)#Revolutionary, ...
(1892–1895), Major-General (1895) *Máximo Gómez, major-general and general-in-chief of the Liberation Army (1895–1898) *Antonio Maceo, major-general and lieutenant-general of the Liberation Army (1895–1896) *
Calixto García Calixto García y Íñiguez (August 4, 1839 – December 11, 1898) was a Cuban general in three Cuban uprisings, part of the Cuban War for Independence: the Ten Years' War, the Little War, and the War of 1895, itself sometimes called the C ...
, Major-General and Lieutenant-General of the Liberation Army (1896-1898) *Carlos Roloff Mialofsky, major-general, secretary of war and military scribe (1897), founder and director of the Practical-Theoretical Academy for the Manufacture and Use of Explosives (1897-1898) *
Juan Ríus Rivera Major General Juan Rius Rivera (August 26, 1848 – September 20, 1924), was a soldier and revolutionary leader from Puerto Rico who served in the Cuban Liberation Army and reached the highest military rank in the army. He held Cuban ministeria ...
, major-general and commander-in-chief of the Sixth Corps (1896-1897) *
Serafín Sánchez Serafín Gualberto Sánchez Valdivia was a Cuban patriot, abolitionist and a participant of all three Cuban wars of independence. Additionally he participated in the Gómez-Maceo Plan. He reached the rank of major general. He participated in mo ...
, major-general (1895-1896) *
Quintín Bandera José Quintín Bandera Betancourt (ca. 1834 – 1906) was a military leader of the Cuban insurrection against the Spanish during the Cuban War of Independence. In 1906, Bandera, led an army of insurgents toward Havana, and was killed near Pun ...
, divisional general (1897-1898) *
José Miró Argenter José Miró Argenter, also known as José de Miró Argenter was a Cuban brigadier general and author of Catalonian origin who served during the Cuban War of Independence. He was a division General of the Cuban Liberation Army and a member of An ...
, divisional general (1895-1898) *Rosa Castellanos, head of military hospitals


Organization during the War of 1895

At the beginning of the War of Independence, several large corps were created, which had an increased military deployment capacity when compared to previous wars. One of these corps was the Fourth Corps of the Liberation Army, which had its headquarters in
Las Villas Las Villas is a natural region and ''comarca'' in Andalusia, southern Spain. It is located in the mountainous area at the eastern end of Jaén Province. The main town is Villacarrillo. Together with the Sierra de Cazorla and Sierra de Segura ...
. After the Invasion from East to West in 1896, the forces of the Liberation Army were organized into six corps with fourteen divisions, thirty-four brigades, and eighty-four regiments. Of these regiments, thirty-four were cavalry and fifty were infantry and other units.{{Cite book , last=Roloff Mialofsky , first=Carlos , title=Indice alfabético y defunciones del Ejército Libertador de Cuba , publisher=Impr. de Rambla y Bouza , year=1901 , location=Havana , pages=8–10 , language=es , oclc=24112301 A lot of the first organization efforts in the last War of Independence were undertaken by General
Gómez Gómez (frequently anglicized as Gomez) is a common Spanish patronymic surname of Germanic origin meaning "son of Gome". The Portuguese and Old Galician version is Gomes, while the Catalan form is Gomis. The given name ''Gome'' is derived f ...
on December 3, 1895.


High Command

The Liberation Army's high command was structured as such: * Government Council, Master Headquarters and Assistants * Headquarters of the Army (Headquarters of the General-in-Chief) * General Inspector * Medical Corps * Expeditionary Corps (Department of Expeditions) * Unassigned Officers (Chiefs, surplus officers and their Escorts) * Press Corps * Legal Corps * Headquarters of the Department of
Santiago de Cuba Santiago de Cuba is the second-largest city in Cuba and the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province. It lies in the southeastern area of the island, some southeast of the Cuban capital of Havana. The municipality extends over , and contains t ...
* Headquarters of the Department of Santa Clara


First Corps

The First Corps was created during the Ten Years' War, and once again in 1895. It continued its operations until 1899. By the end of the War of 1895, it was organized like this: * First Division: ** Divisional Headquarters *** First Brigade: **** Baracoa Infantry Regiment **** Maisí Infantry Regiment *** Second Brigade: **** Brigade Headquarters ****
Hatuey Hatuey (), also Hatüey (; died 2 February 1512), was a Taíno ''Cacique'' (chief) of the Hispaniolan cacicazgo of Guanaba (in present-day La Gonave, Haiti). He lived from the late 15th until the early 16th century. Chief Hatuey and many of h ...
Infantry Regiment **** Guantánamo Infantry Regiment *** Third Brigade: **** Brigade Headquarters **** Sagua Infantry Regiment **** Mayarí Infantry Regiment * Second Division: ** Divisional Headquarters *** First Brigade: **** Brigade Headquarters **** Baconao Infantry Regiment ****
José Maceo José Marcelino Maceo Grajales (2 February 1849, La Delicia, Oriente Province, Cuba – 5 July 1896, Loma de Gato, Santiago de Cuba) was a Cuban independence activist and patriot. Biography Early years and personality José was the third of th ...
Infantry Regiment *** Segunda Brigada: **** Brigade Headquarters **** Cauto Abajo Infantry Regiment **** Moncada Infantry Regiment **** Santiago Cavalry Regiment *** Third Brigade: **** Brigade Headquarters **** Cambute Infantry Regiment **** Cuba Infantry Regiment


Second Corps

The Second Corps was created during the Ten Years' War, and once again in 1895. It continued its operations until 1899. Its base of operations was in Santiago de Cuba. By the end of the War of 1895, it was organized like this: * Headquarters of the Corps ** First Division: *** Divisional Headquarters **** First Brigade: ***** Brigade Headquarters ***** Manzanillo Cavalry Regiment ***** Yara Infantry Regiment ***** Surplus Infantry Regiment **** Segunda Brigada: ***** Brigade Headquarters ***** Gua Infantry Regiment ***** Vicana Infantry Regiment ** Second Division: *** Divisional Headquarters **** First Brigade: ***** Brigade Headquarters ***** Jiguani Infantry Regiment ***** Baire Infantry Regiment ***** Santa Rita Infantry Regiment ***** Patria Cavalry Regiment **** Second Brigade: ***** Brigade Headquarters ***** Céspedes Infantry Regiment ***** Bayamo Infantry Regiment ** Third Division: *** Divisional Headquarters **** First Brigade: ***** Brigade Headquarters ***** Martí Infantry Regiment ***** Ocujal Infantry Regiment **** Second Brigade: ***** Brigade Headquarters ***** Tunas Infantry Regiment ***** Federación Cavalry Regiment ** Fourth Division: *** Divisional Headquarters **** First Brigade: ***** Brigade Headquarters ***** Holguín Infantry Regiment **** Second Brigade: ***** Brigade Headquarters ***** Tacajo Infantry Regiment ***** Oriente Infantry Regiment


Third Corps

The Third Corps of the Liberation Army was created during the Ten Years' War, and once again in 1895. It continued its operations until 1899, with the province of Puerto Príncipe as its base of operations. At the conclusion of the Necessary War it was organized as follows: * Corps Headquarters (Headquarters of the Corps) * Corps Headquarters (Military Administration) ** First Division: *** Division Headquarters (Headquarters of the Division) *** Division Headquarters (Coastal Vigilance) *** Division Headquarters (Military Administration) **** First Brigade: ***** Brigade Headquarters (Headquarters of the Brigade) ***** Camagüey Cavalry Regiment ***** Eduardo Cavalry Regiment ***** Jacinto Infantry Regiment ** Second Division: *** Division Headquarters (Headquarters of the Division) *** Division Headquarters (Coastal Vigilance) *** Division Headquarters (Military Administration) **** First Brigade: ***** Brigade Headquarters (Headquarters of the Brigade) ***** Caonao Cavalry Regiment ***** Dynamite Guerilla Regiment ***** Gómez Infantry Regiment ***** Agramonte Cavalry Regiment ***** Oscar Primelles Infantry Regiment **** Trocha Brigade: ***** Brigade Headquarters (Headquarters of the Brigade) ***** Zayas Cavalry Regiment ***** Aranguren Infantry Regiment


Fourth Corps

In the first days of August 1895, the Fourth Corps would be organized to operate against the Spanish. Major-General Carlos Roloff was the head of the corps with the following organization: * Headquarters of the Corps ** Beloso Guerilla Regiment ** Maine Expeditionary Regiment ** First Division: *** First Brigade (Zone of operations: Sancti Spiritus): **** Brigade Headquarters **** Honorato Cavalry Regiment **** Martí Cavalry Regiment **** Castillo Cavalry Regiment **** Atollaosa Infantry Regiment ****
Máximo Gómez Máximo Gómez y Báez (November 18, 1836 – June 17, 1905) was a general of Dominican origin in the Cuban Wars of Independence (1868-78 and 1895–98). He was known for his controversial Scorched earth tactics, which entailed dynamiting pa ...
Cavalry Regiment **** Sancti Spirítus Cavalry Regiment ****
Serafín Sánchez Serafín Gualberto Sánchez Valdivia was a Cuban patriot, abolitionist and a participant of all three Cuban wars of independence. Additionally he participated in the Gómez-Maceo Plan. He reached the rank of major general. He participated in mo ...
Infantry Regiment *** Second Brigade (Zone of operations:
Remedios Remedios may refer to: Places * Remedios, Cuba, a municipality in the province of Villa Clara, Cuba * Remedios, Antioquia, a municipality in Antioquia Department, Colombia * Remedios, Chiriquí, a corregimiento of Panama * Remedios District, distri ...
): **** Brigade Headquarters ****
Narciso López Narciso López de Urriola (November 2, 1797 – September 1, 1851) was a Venezuelan-born adventurer and Spanish Army general who is best known for his expeditions aimed at liberating Cuba from Spanish rule in the 1850s. His troops carried a flag ...
Cavalry Regiment **** Victoria Cavalry Regiment **** Remedios Ranger Infantry Regiment **** Remedios Artillery Regiment **** Platero Cavalry Regiment *** Third Brigade (Zone of operations:
Trinidad Trinidad is the larger, more populous island of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is the southernmost island in ...
): **** Brigade Headquarters **** First Trinidad Infantry Regiment **** Second Trinidad Infantry Regiment ** Second Division: *** Divisional Headquarters *** First Brigade (Zone of operations: Villa Clara) **** Brigade Headquarters **** Libertad Infantry Regiment **** Zayas Cavalry Regiment **** Villa Clara Cavalry Regiment *** Second Brigade (Zone of operations:
Cienfuegos Cienfuegos (), capital of Cienfuegos Province, is a city on the southern coast of Cuba. It is located about from Havana and has a population of 178,368 in 2022. Since the late 1960s, Cienfuegos has become one of Cuba's main industrial centers, ...
) **** Brigade Headquarters **** Gómez Infantry Regiment **** Yaguaramas Infantry Regiment **** Voltiger Squadron Guerilla Regiment **** Cienfuegos Cavalry Regiment *** Third Brigade (Zone of operations: Sagua la Grande) **** Brigade Headquarters **** Torres Cavalry Regiment **** Robau Cavalry Regiment **** General Carrillo Infantry Regiment * Dr. Fermín Valdés Domínguez's Medical Corps


Fifth Corps

Following the invasion of the west by Cuban forces, the Liberation Army was reorganized to include the Fifth Corps, which operated in
Matanzas Matanzas (Cuban ; ) is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas Province, Matanzas. Known for its poets, culture, and Afro-American religions, Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Mat ...
and
Havana Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. After the completion of the Invasion from East to West, the Liberation Army was reorganized to include the Sixth Corps, which operated in the province of
Pinar del Río Pinar del Río is the capital city of Pinar del Río Province, Cuba. With a population of 191,081 (2022), it is the List of cities in Cuba, 10th-largest city in Cuba. Inhabitants of the area are called ''Pinareños''. History Pinar del Río was ...
. It was organized thusly: * Headquarters of the Corps ** First Division: *** First Brigade: **** Brigade Headquarters **** Maceo Infantry Regiment **** Aguilera Infantry Regiment *** Second Brigade: **** Brigade Headquarters **** Villareño Invasion Infantry Regiment **** Gómez Infantry Regiment ** Second Division: *** First Brigade: **** Brigade Headquarters **** Pedro Díaz Infantry Regiment **** Roloff Infantry Regiment *** Second Brigade: **** Brigade Headquarters **** José María Rodríguez Infantry Regiment **** Vidal Ducasse Infantry Regiment


References


External links


Alphabetical Index and Deaths of the Liberation Army, Carlos Roloff Mialofsky
Military history of Cuba Military units and formations of the Spanish–American War