Cuban Independence War: Martí, Maceo, and the US Intervention

The Cuban War of Independence (1895-1898)

The Uprising of Baire, launched on February 24, 1895, marked the beginning of the Second and final War of Independence in Cuba. The initial uprisings took place in several towns, such as Bayate, Yara, Santiago, Trust, and El Gusano (The Worm).

The Uprising of Baire and Initial Campaigns

Generals Antonio Maceo and Máximo Gómez, along with the revolutionary leader José Martí, landed at two points in the east of the island to lead the rebellion. The Spanish command was initially entrusted to General Arsenio Martínez Campos, who tried unsuccessfully to isolate the rebel outbreaks. Given his failure, he resigned in January 1896 and was replaced by the harsh General Valeriano Weyler.

From the outset, the advance of the insurgents was unstoppable. José Martí led his troops to Dos Ríos (Two Rivers), where he tragically died in a skirmish on May 19, 1895. Antonio Maceo directed the campaign toward strategic objectives, focusing on the invasion of the West. Soon, the rebels controlled the entire eastern part of Cuba.

The Western Invasion and Key Battles

Subsequently, the combined rebel forces initiated a rapid advance to the west of the island. The next major engagement took place in Cascorro, where Eloy Gonzalo achieved renown. Later, the rebels successfully broke the formidable Spanish defensive line of Júcaro-Morón. The invasion continued through difficult conditions. However, tragedy struck again: at Punta Brava, in December 1896, General Maceo died.

In January 1897, having broken the crucial Mariel-Majana line, the insurgent forces had effectively reached the western end of the island. With rebellion widespread across Cuba, the situation remained a stalemate during the following months. General Weyler's troops attempted to clear the insurgent provinces, while the rebels responded with effective guerrilla warfare.

US Intervention and the End of Spanish Rule

The conflict escalated internationally in 1898. In January of that year, the U.S. government sent the cruiser USS Maine to Havana, ostensibly to protect American interests. On February 15, in a confusing and still poorly explained accident, the cruiser was destroyed by an explosion. This incident served as the pretext for the United States to declare war on Spain and intervene directly in Cuba.

In April 1898, the U.S. declared war. Subsequently, approximately 18,000 American soldiers landed near Daiquirí and Santiago, while a naval blockade was imposed on the latter. U.S. military superiority quickly established itself, notably reflected in the decisive naval clash at Santiago de Cuba.

The defeat in the war resulted in Spain losing its remaining colonial possessions: Cuba and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean, and the Philippines and Guam in the Pacific.