GENERAL MAXIMO GOMEZ Y BAEZ - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 05/11/1897 - HFSID 218091

MAXIMO GOMEZ
The Dominican general writes a letter to Colonel Jose Gonzalez to inform him that he had selected Brigadier Vicente Pujado to solve the discords among the revolutionary soldiers
Autograph Letter Signed: "M. Gomez" in iron gall ink. Fully Translated in English: "To Colonel Jose Gonzalez Calunga. Colonel: Brigadier Vicente Pujado was assigned by this general barrack to proceed to act as necessary due to the information you gave me in your letter, which I am responding today. I wish everything gets clarified and that the harmony that must exist among inspired men with a saint idea does not get altered. With justice, he will know how to deem the deserving of everyone and avoid the minimal breaking of the concord and fraternity ties that must exist among dignified and human soldiers. It is how it has to be done, best regards. Santa Teresa, May 11, 1897. The Chief General M. Gomez" Dominican Major General Maximo Gomez y Baez (1836-1905) was initially trained as an officer of the Spanish Army at the Zaragoza Military Academy, originally arriving in Cuba as a cavalry Captain in the Spanish Army before taking up the rebel cause in 1968. Gomez famously helped transform the Cuban Army's military tactics and strategy, teaching the guerrilla independence fighters, the Mambises, their most feared tactic: the "Machete Charge". Gomez worked odd military jobs for the next couple decades: he became involved with the independence of Puerto Rico when he sold most of his possessions to finance a revolution, even volunteering to lead troops (later deemed unnecessary when Spain intervened), as well as was promoted to General of the Cuban army, improving the military's guerrilla tactics most effective against the traditional Spanish forces. The Spanish-American War, the result of the United States interfering in the Cuban War of Independence, forced Cuba to decide if they should choose heritage over their New World partners (Spain vs. U.S.)He decided to fight solely for his adopted country's independence; he lost his most trusted officer Antonio Maceo, and his son Francisco Gomez in the war in 1896, but by 1898 Cuba had obtained independence and Gomez was offered the presidential nomination, but he refused due to his Dominican heritage. By that time his was 75 years old, having spent half his life dedicated to the liberation of Cuba, and he died in Havana in 1905. Multiple mailing folds. Heavily toned, worn and soiled. 4 tackhead-size stains at upper and lower sides. Otherwise, fine condition.