GENERAL FRANCISCO LEYTE VIDAL - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/10/1897 - HFSID 218104

GENERAL FRANCISCO LEYTE VIDAL

The Cuban General writes a letter to Colonel Carlos Gonzalez referring to an important frustrated interview and to an enemy attack in Sabana, Cuba

Autograph Letter Signed: "Francisco Leyte Vidal" in iron gall ink. 8x5. Fully Translated in English: "Sabanilla, April 10, 1897. Sir. Colonel Carlos Gonzalez, Las Charcas. My dear fiend: I received you letter few days ago but I haven't responded it until now because I was waiting to give you some details about the results of an interview with Ducasse requested by Bermudez, which hasn't happened yet, apparently because Juan shuns it, because eight days ago an officer was sent to request it and came back without any response and just saying that in two days they would be here but it did not occur. Today another letter requesting the same has been sent, we'll see. Regarding your requests, your commission was sent to Sabana in where I think it would delay, because the enemy attacked that place and there are still cannon fires and musketry. Bermudez asked me to reply to the letter you sent him and I add to it that he has a very good attitude because he only aspires to the goodwill of the 'Fatherland'. I very much celebrate your recovery, it will let us talk to each other and your very needed services will be used again by this cause, which is really needed of the good services of its good sons.  Until later, I'll write more in another letter, please salute Bacarole, Llanera and the other friends for me, you can count with the sincerity of your friend and fellow. Francisco Leyte Vidal." Francisco Leyte Vidal (1851-1928) was aGeneral of Barrack of the Liberation Army and a combatant in the Independence War of Cuba. He started his military career on October 1868, when joining the forces of Julio Grave de Peralta. His first battle was the invasion of Holguin, which couldn't be taken. Leyte was ascended to sergeant on the first days of January 1869. He was part of the Cuba Division under the orders of Mayor General Donato Marmol, and on July 1870, when that unit got reorganized by its new chief Mayor General Maximo Gomez, Leyte was incorporated to the sixth battalion, in which he combated in Loma del Gato and La Socapa. Francisco also participated in the invasion and campaign of Guantanamo and in 1872 he was ascended to the rank of Captain, having his battalion incorporated to the Brigade of Guantanamo, commanded by then Colonel Antonio Maceo. After participating in the Combat of Rejondon of Baguanos on June 1872, he combated in El Yanal, Sama, Los Pasos and Cupeyal, respectively. On November 10, 1873 he not only had a prominent actuation in the attack to Manzanillo but also participated in the attack to Mayari Arriba. Francisco Vidal joined the seditious of Lagunas of Varona in 1875, but did not support the disorder and indiscipline; after that, he incorporated himself to the regiment of Holguin and on October 29, 1876 he received the title of Commander. He also participated in the invasion and campaign of Baracoa, directly commanded by Maceo and had an outstanding role in the action of La Cuaba in 1877.  Even though on that same year Francisco Leyte approved the creation of Canton de Holguin in 1878 he retired all his support and informed Maceo about the events that such movement had degenerated. Maceo gave him the mission to extinguish the Canton and arrest its 'president' Jose Enriquez Collado, but he couldn't do it because Collado was hidden and later presented to the Spaniards. Leyte Vidal also participated in the Protest of Baragua on March 15, 1878 and two days later he was again ascended, but this time to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the provisional government of Mayor General Manuel de Jesus Calvar. During the Guerra Chiquita (Little War) he decided to go to Panama but the crew of the gunboats Alarma and Almendares made an ambush in which his cousin Arcadio was killed and Francisco was sent to La Habana, where he was freed. After this, he affiliated himself in the Liberal Party with the purpose to hide his independent aspirations behind the curtains of autonomism. Leyte Vidal also collaborated with Mayor General Antonio Maceo in the conspiracy plan of 1890, known as La Paz del Manganeso (The Peace of Manganeso). On April 1895 he traveled overseas, where he organized an expedition that set sail from Jacksonville, Florida, in the steamboat Bermuda on April 27, 1896 but due to the actions of the enemy it didn't resulted as planned. However, on July, 1896 Maceo granted him with the rank of Colonel and when fighting in Vinales, he got seriously injured in the chest but after sixty days of convalescence he reincorporated himself to the forces and fought in La Furnia, Yerba of Guinea, Las Tumbas, Cardenas and Rio Hondo. He was named Chief of the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division of the 6th Force of Pinar del Rio. Francisco Leyte combated Alonso Rojas in 1898 and on august 24th of that year, when the Cubans officially concluded the war, he as the commander of the Vidal Ducasse infantry regiment, became a subordinated of the General Barrack of the Western Department, where he served as a Chief of Mayor State of Mayor General Mayia Rodriguez. He was later granted the rank of General of Brigade. Leyte Vidal was one of the nine generals of the liberation army who were invited by American General John R. Brooke to the ceremony of power shift on January 1, 1899. Five days later, he was named Mayor of Marianao by the American military intervention. He was also assigned the title General of Division by the Executive Commission of the Assembly of Representatives of the Cuban Revolution where he was later elected interim delegate having been also representative in the Cuban senate. Even though he did not occupy any other public position, he remained active in the national politics and even participated in the armed revolt of February, 1917 against the reelection of President Mario Garcia Menocal. Francisco Leyte died in 1928. Toned. Normal mailing folds. ½-inch tear at upper blank left margin. ½-inch stain at lower blank left margin. 2-inch tear at right edge. Otherwise, fine condition.