GENERAL MAXIMO GOMEZ Y BAEZ - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED - HFSID 218083

MAXIMO GOMEZ
The Dominican General who fought for the independence of Cuba for more than 40 years asks friend Parraga to immediately send a letter
Autograph Note Signed: "G.Baez" in iron gall ink.10¾x8½. Fully Translated in English: "New Orleans, June 1, 1985. Dr. J. M. Parraga. Dear Friend: It is so very urgent that you put in the mail the letter that I have attached to you, so it can leave tomorrow at the prayer time. I'll be waiting for your letters. Receive a hug from your friend G. Baez" 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.), 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. Multiple mailing folds. Toned. Type transfer at lower blank margin. Envelope attached. Otherwise, fine condition.