IGNACIO AGRAMONTE LOYNAZ

IGNACIO AGRAMONTE LOYNAZ:

Outstanding patriot and brilliant military leader of advanced ideas and broad culture, who played a decisive role in the military and political events linked to the Ten Years War (1868-1878), for Cuba’s independence.

After taking Latin and Humanities courses in Spain, he returned to Cuba and finished law school in the University of Havana. At the age of 24 he began his law practice and became linked to the conspiracies against the colonial regime in his native province of Camagüey. There he joined the armed struggle after Céspedes rose up in arms on 10 October 1868.

Being a skilled political leader and orator, as well as a man of action, he was called upon to hold posts of high responsibility in the Revolution. He was elected Representative to the House and Secretary of the top governing body of the Republic in Arms, but decided to leave his post in April 1869, to accept that of division commander of Camaguey and the rank of Major General.

This decision was based on his conviction that Cuba’s problem could be mainly solved through war rather than politics. He was convinced that his work in the Constituent Assembly and the organization of a democratic republic had ensured the proclamation of the liberties that would fill with enthusiasm the new soldiers of the homeland.

Very soon he proved to be one of the most outstanding warriors of the Revolution. His appointment as head of the operations in Camagüey was quite timely. At a time when the collapse of the liberators seemed imminent, he continued fighting and transformed the troop under his command into one of the most battle-hardened, organized and disciplined.

Enrique Collazo, colonel of the Liberation Army, explained how Agramonte managed to reach such a result, he states: “The work he had to undertake was immense, and only a man with very special conditions would be able to do it: fortunately, it was Agramonte. He began this transformation by transforming himself: the violent and passionate youth was replaced by a strict, fair, careful general, deeply in love with his wife, who taught morals through words and deeds, becoming a teacher and model of all his subordinates, beginning to form in the midst of misfortune and danger, the foundation of a disciplined and enthusiastic army.”

Agramonte achieved a great mobility of his forces, mainly the cavalry. Normally dispersed in small units to avoid enemy persecution, they were quickly concentrated at a pre-established place and time to attack the enemy. According to him, success in war should not be measured by the importance of the victory of any of the two sides, nor by the value of the position taken, but by the effective reduction of the enemy’s forces and the lowering of their fighting morale.

His most outstanding feat was the rescue of brigadier Julio Sanguily. This brilliant action is an example of organizational ability, intelligence and courage. With a small group of men, he was able to take the prisoner away from Spanish forces very superior in number.

After one hundred brilliant war actions, on May 11, 1873, Agramonte fell in battle with a Spanish bullet through his temple.

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