GENERAL MAXIMO GOMEZ Y BAEZ - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/08/1903 - HFSID 217441

MAXIMO GOMEZ
Famed General of the Cuban Army sends letter to G. Gerardo Domenecho who is in poverty and wants repayment of his war services
Autograph letter signed: "M. Gomez" in iron gall ink. 10x8. Written on official Republic of Cuba Liberation Army letterhead. Fully Translated in English: "Habana July 8, 1903. G. Gerardo Domenecho. Dear friend, I have read your kind letter and lament your precarious condition. But the truth is that to determinate, in general terms, any help with the unused resources in campaign after having liquidated you the amount owned to you for your services, would be something to resolve in the conoras. Regarding your salary, I think it will be solved soon, and in the meanwhile, you can be helped by your compeers in arms. Your very good friend, M. Gomez."Dominican Major General Maximo Gomez (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.), Dios 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. Normal mailing folds. Toned. Slightly stained and soiled. Light surface creases. Otherwise, fine condition.