Baire's Shout

The Grito de Baire was a simultaneous uprising organized in some 35 Cuban towns ―among them Baire, a village located about 75 km from Santiago de Cuba― by the Cuban independence leader José Martí on the 24th February 1895. Several groups of Cuban independence fighters from the Mambí Army, practically without weapons, attacked the Spanish troops. This simultaneous uprising was generally favorable to the Cuban independentistas, and marked the beginning of the Necessary War (the war between Cuba and Spain), in which José Martí played a fundamental role. In 1898, Cuba gained independence from Spain.

Geographic location

Baire (Cuba) is the historical administrative division of the jurisdiction of Jiguaní in the Eastern Province of the island of Cuba. Currently, the Popular Council of Baire is part of the municipality of Contramaestre in the province of Santiago de Cuba.

"Grito de Baire" or "Grito de Oriente"

It is unknown why Spanish historians chose this town of Baire to name the simultaneous uprising. Other more appropriate names would be "Grito de Ibarra", "Grito de Guantánamo" or "Grito de Manzanillo", or better yet, Grito de Oriente.

Some Cuban historians, such as Regino Boti, Sergio Aguirre and Jorge Ibarra Cuesta, have proposed calling the events that started the War of 1995 the "Cry of the East".

To make the heroic Baire the isolated or main center of the uprising, it would be unknown that on February 24, 1895, as a result of a wise tactical orientation of Martí, what took place was, although not on the planned and needy scale of the Martian project, a simultaneous uprising, with which the delegate of the Cuban Revolutionary Party aspired to the war to prevail throughout the island, to allow it to say—

Hortensia Pichardo (historic)

Order of uprising

Faced with the failure of the Fernandina plan, Martí proposes to Máximo Gómez not to postpone the order for the uprising. On January 29, 1895, Martí met with the commander of the 68 Enrique Collazo (representative of Juan Gualberto Gómez) and the colonel of the 68 José María Rodríguez Rodríguez (representative of Gómez) in New York, where they wrote and signed a letter for Juan Gualberto Gómez authorizing the simultaneous uprising of the compromised regions for the second half of February, and they recommend that said uprising be progressive from East to West, and that expeditions with resources would arrive. The national delegate of the PRC in Cuba circulates the letter throughout the island with Miguel Ángel Duque.

On February 7, Juan G. Gómez sent a cable with the code "giros aceptados" to Martí signifying the final agreement for the war, and sends commissions to confirm February 24 (holiday Sunday) as the uprising date: commissioner Pedro Betancourt Dávalos to Las Villas where (Colonel of 68) Francisco Carrillo accepts, commissioner Juan Tranquilino Latapier to the East where (the Major General of 68 and 79) Guillermo Moncada and (the colonel of 68) Bartolomé Masó accept. The Junta de La Habana meets and they agreed that it would be on February 24, which was a holiday and they communicated it to Marti and the local military chiefs by cable and code, that is, a telegram where the code was Martínez in any text.

Uprisings of the liberating forces

Uprisings in western and central Cuba

a) Pinar del Río: There were no uprisings.

b) Havana: The main leaders of the region, Julio Sanguily (Major General of 1968) and José María Aguirre Valdés (Colonel of 1968) are arrested.

c) Killings:

Several groups of uprisings are dissolved. Some are killed, others captured and the rest flee.

• Manuel García Ponce rises with a game and is killed on February 24 by a traitor. The departure close to the city of Matanzas was dissolved (you should join Betancourt).
• Antonio Curbelo was killed on February 24 when he tried to leave Jagüey Grande to constitute a game.
• Antonio López Coloma and Juan Gualberto Gómez rise with a match at the Finca Ignacia (near Ibarra) on February 24, being attacked by a Spanish column. Coloma prison on 28. Disband the game, Juan Gualberto Gómez welcomes the pardon on the 1st of March, being subsequently sent prisoner to Africa. Later, in 1896, López Coloma would be shot by the Spaniards.
• Pedro Betancourt Dávalos rises with Acevedo brothers and a departure on February 24. On 28 February Betancourt was handed over to the authorities and subsequently banished. Pedro Acevedo is apprehended.
• José Martín Marrero rises with a game of 29 men in Jagüey Grande on February 24. The 26 fight in Palma Boniato, being dispersed and forced to take refuge in the Ciénaga de Zapata. On March 3, the Spanish authorities are presented.
• Joaquín Pedroso rises next to Matagas, head of a game of bandoleros at the service of the revolution in the ciénaga, near Aguada de Pasajeros. On March 4 they dissolve, Pedroso is imprisoned and Matagas, with the bulk of men, takes refuge in the swamp.

d) Las Villas: On February 24, 1968 colonel Francisco Carrillo Morales was arrested in Remedios and taken to the Cabañas fortress.

e) Camagüey: Colonels of 1968 Enrique Loret de Mola and Gonzalo Moreno withdraw from the conspiracy. Only some time later there was a group of uprisings led by Francisco Recio.

In general, the uprising in the western and central regions failed, including the capture of their military chiefs, Major General Julio Sanguily of the 68th and Colonel Francisco Carrillo Morales of the 68th.

Uprisings in eastern Cuba

East:

• On February 16, 1895 Juan Tranquilino Latapier handed over the order of uprising to Major General of 68 and 79 Guillermón Moncada in Santiago de Cuba, and when he returned to the colonel of 68 Bartolomé Masó in Manzanillo.
• Major General Guillermón Moncada, the military leader of the PRC in the East, was responsible for directing the uprising in the southeast region, due to the root he had among the peasants and veterans of the Guantánamo and Baracoa areas where he operated in the war of 68 and 79, and for the enthusiasm he awoke in the heroic youth of Santiago de Cuba.
• The Colonel, 68 Bartolomé Masó, shared as a second the military leadership in the East and was personally responsible for directing the uprising in the northwest region, by one of the few survivors of the uprising of La Demajagua in 1868, for its prestige and influence in the Cauto area.

Uprisings in the first Eastern Corps of Cuba

On February 22]] Major General Guillermón Moncada receives a telegram for the uprising and notifies Lieutenant Colonel Pedro Agustín Pérez, head of the movement in Guantánamo, and the rest of the heads of the region and those of the Baire region and Jiguani. Moncada departs from Santiago de Cuba towards Alto Songo.

a) Uprising in the Guantanamo area:

• Lieutenant Colonel of 79 Pedro Agustín Pérez, head of the Movement of the area with Commander of 68 Prudencio Martínez, Commander of the 68 Evaristo Lugo, pronounces at the Finca La Confianza, on the 25th day he occupies the Fort Sabana de Coba. He had promised Emilio Giro, Commissioner of Major General Antonio Maceo, to have the free coast for an expeditionary landing. 89 men
• Commander Enrique Tudela takes the fort San Nicolás in Jatibonico (Caimanera district) and attacked the forts of El Toro and Maria del Pilar.

b) Uprising in Santiago de Cuba:

• General Major of 68 and 79, Guillermón Moncada spoke in La Lombriz (Alto Songo) with 29 hs. TC 68 and 79 Fifth Flag rises in San Luis with 11 hs.
• Commander Alfonso Goulet rises in El Cobre (Cambute) with the Commander of 68 Martín Torres, Captain Germán Hechavarria, Commander José Dolores Vicente, Lieutenant of 68 Juan Lorente, Limbano Gutiérrez and 25 men.
• Commander of 68 Victoriano Garzón rises in El Caney with the Commander (Captain of 68) Valeriano Hierrezuelo, (capitán) Lorenzo González, (Teniente) Luis Hechavarria. 11 men
• Commander of 68 Luis Bonne rises in Ti Arriba with 8 men.
• Lieutenant Colonel of 79 (Captan 68) Benigno Ferie Barbie rises in Alto Songo.
• Lieutenant of 68 Manuel La O Jay and Alférez Félix Cayamo rise in Palma Soriano with 15 men.
• Colonel Matías Vega German rises in Mayarí.
• Captain Modesto Rios with 14 men.
• Captain Andrés Hernández with 10 men.
• Sergeant Silvestre Ferrer Cuevas with 20 men.

Uprisings in the second Eastern Corps of Cuba

Juan Gualberto Gómez sent telegrams to Colonel Bartolomé Masó of 68 in Manzanillo on February 22, who dispatched commissions:

• He appoints Colonel José Miró Argenter and orders him to replace the area of Holguín and to bring instructions to Colonel José Manuel Capote (on his San Diego estate) and to warn the Sartorio brothers (Holguín area) with the practical Lieutenant Leonardo Alba.
• Named Colonel Esteban Tamayo and Tamayo (to visit in Manzanillo) and ordered him to take up in Barrancas, and to bring instructions to Joaquín and Francisco Estrada.
• Send Juan Francisco Blanco (Bellito) with instructions to TC 68 and 79 Jesus Rabbi in Jiguaní.

a) Uprising in the Municipality of Holguín (February 24): Colonel José Miró Argenter was unable to revolt the area and on March 1, with a group of uprisings, he left Holguín towards Cayamas de Cauto, where there was a camp of The Tunas.

b) Uprising in the Municipality of Jiguaní (February 24):

• The Cmdte. (Captain of 68) Florencio Salcedo military leader of the PRC in the area of Jiguaní and Baire orders the uprising of veterans:
• Commander of 68 and 79 Fernando Cutiño rises with troops in Santa Cruz (Jiguaní).
• Captain of 68 José Reyes Arencibia rises with troops (Jiguaní).
• Captain of 68 Victor Ramos and Captain 79 Saturnino Lora rise with troops in Baire.

On the 25th, all these rebel forces met in Baire and in an assembly of chiefs and officers named Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Suárez provisional chief and Cmdte. Fernando Cutiño Zamora head of the commission with 5 more men to look for Lieutenant Colonel 68 Jesús Rabí in Arroyo Blanco to name him the military chief of the Jiguaní district. Lieutenant Colonel 68 Rabí with his brother Francisco Rabí and Capt. 68 Francisco Blanco on their way to Baire collect weapons and recruit men, arriving at the camp of the rebels in Cuica and transfer it to La Salada. They perform actions.

c) Uprising in the Municipality of Bayamo (February 24):

• Lieutenant Colonel of 68 José Manuel Capote with 40 men stands on his farm La Estrella, camping in San Diego on the banks of the Bayamo River (north Bayamo city).
• Commander (Captain of 68) Amador Liens Cabrera with his brothers Pastor and Cornelius and Captain 68 Joaquín Espinosa and about 50 men rise in Buey Arriba (populated from the Sierra Maestra south of Bueycito).
• Colonel Joaquín Estrada Estrada with 95 or 80 men stands on his estate El Mogote in the savanna of Valenzuela (Southwest of the city of Bayamo). The forces of Ismael Estrada and the commander (Captain of 68) Amador Liens Cabrera are incorporated into them. On the 27th, the Mogote protested and he went to Yara.
• Colonel Esteban Tamayo with 80 men stands on his Vega de la Piña farm, near the cliffs, where he establishes camp and organizes the Hatuey squadron.

These forces carry out military actions:

(February 27) Combat in the Jucaibama swamp, on the road between Veguitas and Bayamo: Col. Esteban Tamayo with 65 horsemen intercept and arrest 45 Spaniards from the Rgt. Havana.

(February 28) Takeover of Veguitas: The joint forces led by Esteban Tamayo, Joaquín Estrada and Juan Masó Parra requisition close to 150 Remingtons and 10,000 shots.

(March 5) Taking of Cauto Embarcadero: Esteban Tamayo with troops obtains few weapons and 300 shots. d) Uprising in the Municipality of Manzanillo (February 24):

Colonel of 68 Bartolomé Masó moves to his farm La Yaguita and holds a meeting on February 22 with the conspirators and gives instructions:

• He named Amador Guerra captain, who together with Enrique Céspedes and troupe had 24 to pronounce in Calicito and to go through the ingenuities collecting men and clothes.
• To Gaspar Perea go to Yara to collect men and warn Juan Masó Parra.

On February 24, Colonel Bartolomé Masó launched the Proclamation of the Revolution and organized the Headquarters: Chief of Staff Col. José Celedonio Rodríguez, chief escort Captain Pascual Mendoza, assistants José López Chávez, Enrique Céspedes Romagoza, Manuel Torriente, etc.

• Captain Amador War with 15 men seeks weapons from Calicito and attacks the garrison of Cayo Espino. Organize the Rgto Gua.
• Juan Masó Parra with 80 men stands on the farm St. Thomas and takes Yara where he collects 18 weapons, ammunition and recruits men. Camp in Sabana de Loma.
• Sergeant Dominator of the Guard rises in Ceiba Hueca neighborhood, collects weapons and recruits men in Media Luna, Niquero and Velis.

(February 25) Juan Masó Parra asks [[Esteban Tamayo and Joaquín Estrada from the municipality of Bayamo to carry out joint action on Veguitas (municipality of Bayamo).

(February 26) Captain Amador Guerra with a squadron of 80 men, Rgto Gua. Juan Masó Parra organizes the Luz de Yara Regiment.

(February 27) Captain Amador Guerra with the Rgto Gua squad occupies the Campechuela barracks abandoned by the enemy, occupying 57 weapons, 6 boxes of 100 shots each, and occupies the Civil Guard barracks. He camps at Media Luna with 200 horsemen.

Teaching in Cuban schools

Since the Teacher Improvement Program of 1977, in the teaching of history in current Cuban schools, the events of February 24, 1895 are given the character of a "simultaneous uprising", without focusing on a specific locality.