GENERAL MAXIMO GOMEZ Y BAEZ - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 01/03/1899 - HFSID 218092

MAXIMO GOMEZ
The Major General writes a letter to Mr. Pons y Naranjo giving thanks for the clothes and drugs sent to him
Manuscript Letter Signed: "M. Gomez" in iron gall ink. 12½x8½. Fully Translated in English: "Mr. Jose de J. G. Pons y Naranjo. Habana. Dear friend: I have received your letter from December 24 of the past year. I didn't reply to your last letter because you were supposed to show up in this general barrack anytime. Few days ago I received the clothes you sent me so I ask you to say thank you in my name to the donors. I have also received the quinine pills and the vaccine, fortunately they arrived in good condition. Here we wait for the first numbers of the new discussion. With all consideration I am happy to subscribe from you. Your server, General M. Gomez. Guayabo, January 3, 1899." 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. Normal mailing folds.Toned, worn and soiled. Paper clip marks and a pinhead-size hole at upper margin. Tape strips on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.