Gregorio Benítez Pérez was one of the first from Camaguey to take up arms in November 1868 and due to his outstanding participation in the war, he reached the rank of brigadier general of the Cuban Liberation Army.

He was born in Camagüey on November 28th, 1842.During the Ten Years’ War, his first combat was that of Bonilla, where he received his baptism of fire.

He then fought in Consuegra, where he already had the rank of commander. On September 30th, 1872 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and on November 12th, 1872 he was appointed head of a battalion of the “South Brigade” of Camagüey.

Then in 1873 he was promoted to colonel and participated in the attacks on Nuevitas and Santa Cruz del Sur, as well as in the battles of “La Sacra” and “Palo Seco” where he was wounded.

Revolutionary work and dedication

Due to his outstanding participation in several combats, Major General Máximo Gómez appointed him head of the eastern and southern districts of the province of Camagüey, and remained in that position until the end of the war.

At the beginning of the Little War, Major General Calixto García, president of the Cuban revolutionary committee in New York, gave him the mission of entering Cuba, instead of Major General Antonio Maceo, with the aim of inciting major uprisings on the island. In September he disembarked at La Palometa, east of Chivirico, on the southern coast of the East region. Where he had a very unfavorable situation for his purposes and then he was persecuted by the Spanish army.

When the war failed, he returned to the East region to go back to his exile. There he was betrayed by a fisherman and the Campechuela guerrilla captured him in Loma de Haitial, jurisdiction of Manzanillo. On October 14th, 1880, the Brigadier General of the Liberation Army was macheted and killed.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García