Ignacio Agramonte

The statue of Ignacio Agramonte on the Plaza de Revolución in Camagüey

Ignacio Agramonte y Loynáz (1841—1873) was a Cuban revolutionary, who played an important part in the Ten Years' War (1868-1878). The Ten Years' War (1868-1878) was the first of three wars that Cuba fought against Spain for its freedom, the other two being The Small War (La Guerra Chiquita; 1879-1880) and the Cuban War of Independence (1895-1898). The final three months of the last conflict escalated to become the Spanish-American War.

Young, wealthy, and talented, Ignacio Agramonte was a leader of the Cuban revolt against Spanish colonial rule. He also was instrumental in drafting the Cuban Constitution of 1869 of what was called the Republic-in-Arms. Agramonte died fighting for his nation's freedom. He did not foresee that democracy in Cuba would remain vulnerable to dictatorial rule followed by a communist state. Rather, he championed freedom, and for that his memory continues to be honored as a hero of the nation's liberation struggle.

Early Life

Agramonte was born in the province of Puerto Príncipe which became the province of Camagüey, Cuba to a wealthy family. Agramonte was 6'2" tall, with brown, fine hair, and pale skin, but fortified by horsemanship and fencing. He went to Barcelona, Madrid, and Havana to study law. On June 11, 1865 he graduated with a doctor of legal law degree. Agramonte returned home and married the life long love, Amalia Simoni, in August of 1868. The union was of two powerful families. Simoni's family had considerably more wealth than Agramonte's.

When the insurrection against the Spanish colonials broke out, began on October 10, 1868, under the leadership of attorney Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and seconded by a group of patriots in the sugar mill La Demajagua, they called for liberty and independence of the island. Agramonte played a pivotal role in the uprising of the province of Camagüey which began on November 4, 1868. Agramonte himself joined the insurrection a week later, on November 11th. Amalia Agramonte followed him in the struggle, but was captured on May 26, 1870 while pregnant with their second child. His wife escaped to the United States and his son was born in the U.S. and never met his father.

Meeting with other leaders who were trying to make amends with Spain, Agramonte made his thinking clear. "Stop at once all the lobbying, the awkward delays, and the humiliating demands. Cuba's only option is to gain its redemption by tearing it from Spain by armed force," he said.

Political Career

On February 1869, Agramonte and Antonio Zambrana were elected secretaries, a title equivalent to minister, to the provincial government. On April 10, 1869, a constitutional assembly took place in the town of Guáimaro in the province of Camagüey. Agramonte was subsequently elected a member and one of two secretaries – ministers – of the Cuban Congress. He was among the signatories of the act that freed the slaves on the island and was the driving force in the drafting of the first Constitution in Cuban history. He resigned his position within the Congress after Carlos Manuel de Céspedes was made president later the same year. Agramonte had strong political disagreements with de Céspedes and believed they could not work together. Agramonte had come to realize that his dream Constitution and government were ill suited to the Cuban Republic in Arms, which was the reason he quit as Secretary and assumed command of the Camaguey region. Agramonte became a Major General of the Cuban Army for the military district of the province of Camagüey, where he organized some of the most disciplined cavalry troops in the Cuban Army. Showing great vision, in spite of his lack of formal military training, his troops routinely terrified the Spanish Army.

Agramonte capped his impressive list of military achievements on October 8, 1871. His commander, Manuel Sanguily, was taken prisoner by more than 120 light cavalry while visiting a farm. Agramonte ordered 35 of his exhausted troops to track down the Spaniards. He personally led a furious charge, successfully rescuing Sanguily and routing the enemy troop, killing 11 and taking 5 prisoners.

Death and legacy

Agramonte was killed at the Battle of Jimaguayú on May 11, 1873, when he was struck in the head by a stray bullet. His body was captured and cremated by the Spanish authorities in Camagüey for fear that his troops would assault the city again and attempt to recover his body.

Henry Reeve - Brigadier General - an American volunteer, and commander of another Cavalry Corps, named him "El Mayor", implying Agramonte was the best of all the Cuban generals. Agramonte had named Reeve "Enrique - El Americano" and nicknamed him "El Inglesito." Máximo Gómez y Báez succeeded Agramonte as Chief Military Commander of the military district of the province of Camagüey.

Agramonte used a Colt revolver, Navy model 1851, worked with ivory and gold. He used several machetes and sabers, and was carrying a saber taken from a Spanish colonel.

The airport and the central park in Camagüey are named after him, and his statue is situated in the central plaza.

On the centenary of his death, Silvio Rodriguez sang in Camaguey and premiered his song "El Mayor", in honor of the fallen hero. The local radio station Radio Cadena Agramonte uses it as its identifying melody.

"El Mayor"

by Silvio Rodriguez 1973

“

El hombre se hizo siempre de todo material: de villas señoriales o barrio marginal. Toda época fue pieza de un rompecabezas para subir la cuesta del gran reino animal, con una mano negra y otra blanca mortal. Mortales ingredientes armaron al Mayor: luz de terratenientes y de Revolución: destreza de la esgrima, sucesos como un preso, Amalia abandonada por la bala, la vergüenza, el amor; o un fusilamiento, un viejo cuento modelaron su adiós. Va cabalgando El Mayor con su herida, y mientras más mortal el tajo, es más de vida. Va cabalgando sobre un palma escrita, y a la distancia de cien años resucita. Trota sobre la espuma, seguido por un mar de negros en machete y sin encadenar. Ordena a su corneta el toque de a degüello, y a un siglo de distancia entona nuestra canción y con recia garganta canta, espanta lejos la maldición. Va cabalgando El Mayor con su herida, y mientras más mortal el tajo es más de vida. va cabalgando sobre una palma escrita, y a la distancia de cien años resucita.

”

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Betancourt Agramonte, Eugenio. Ignacio Agramonte Y La Revolucion Cubana. Habana: Dorrbecker, 1928. OCLC 291247
• Ferrer, Ada. Insurgent Cuba Race, Nation, and Revolution, 1868-1898. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1999. ISBN 9780807825006
• Pérez, Louis A. Cuba between Empires, 1878-1902. Pitt Latin American series. Pittsburgh, Pa: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1983. ISBN 9780822934721
• Thomas, Hugh. Cuba; The Pursuit of Freedom. New York: Harper & Row, 1971. ISBN 9780060142599

External Links

• Ignacio Agramonte Retrieved November 18, 2007.
• Ignacio Agramonte y Loynaz Retrieved November 18, 2007.

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