Aniceto Recio Pedroso, protagonist of the rescue of Brigadier Julio Sanguily

Photo: Courtesy of the autor

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Aniceto Recio Pedroso, mambí of the three wars of independence, was one of the 35 centaurs who on October 8th, 1871 carried out the rescue of Brigadier Julio Sanguily. He escorts Ignacio Agramonte, son of Juan Recio and Felipa Pedroso, both descendants of slaves.

He was born on August 12th, 1847 in the town of Palma Hueca, in the old Buenaventura neighborhood, of the Pedáneo Party of Santa Cruz del Sur. His childhood was spent according to the patterns of the time. However, when the news of the uprising of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes reached the Villa, he was nurtured as he was by the constant maroonage and close to his home, by enslaved rebels in the same ranches; as well as the assaults carried out on nearby farms by the maroons, events that counted as true combats, these realities conditioned the self-emancipating spirit of the adolescent and later, young Recio Pedroso.

Incorporation to the Ten Years’ War (1868-1878)

On October 10th, 1868, the first news of the liberation of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, of his slaves and of the call to join the independence struggle arrived in the town of Puerto Príncipe; at La Damajagua sugar mill, in the east of the island.

In Santa Cruz del Sur the news was known on October 12th. Already on the 28th of the same month, a group of 25 rebels led by Pedro Recio Agramonte, began some operations in the area. Aniceto joined the Third Corps of the Liberation Army as a soldier, first in the infantry, where his fighting spirit was formed, then he moved on to the cavalry.

Along with Major General Ignacio Agramonte, he starred in the audacious rescue of Brigadier Julio Sanguily, considered one of the most brilliant actions of the Ten Years’ War.

After El Mayor fell in combat in the Jimaguayú pasture, Aniceto also formed part of General Máximo Gómez’s escort. He also participated in the Little War.

In the war of 95

In June 1895, at the age of 48 and with the experience of two wars, he joined the First Division of the Third Corps, occupying positions in the Division Headquarters. This time he joined the revolution accompanied by the eldest of his 9 children: Luis Recio la O.

Recio participated in numerous combats, always standing out for his discipline and courage, earning the rank of Commander of the Liberation Army.

During the Republic

On October 10th, 1924, homage was paid to Aniceto Recio Pedroso together with the other survivors of the Rescue of Sanguily, who were still alive on that date. Right in the equestrian sculpture of El Mayor, a great gesture of kindness and patriotic love was shown.

In 1943 he visited the capital, accompanied by his son Alberto, who entered the Mercedes Hospital. Taking advantage of the old mambí’s stay in Havana, Dr. Pedro Hidalgo invites him to a discussion in the Santa Clara Room of the House of Representatives of the National Capitol. There he exchanged with Dr. Julio Sanguily, grandson of the brigadier, and moments later he was interviewed by the Havana newspaper “El Crisol”, on March 11th, 1943.

His Death

On July 20th, 1948, at the age of 101, he died as a result of a strangulated hernia. The people accompanied him to his last resting place: the coffin with the flag, surrounded by relatives, the rain.

The people sang the notes of our Bayamo Anthem and later, the discharge of rifles was heard, as a last farewell to that brave mambí. On February 14th, 1952, by agreement of the City Council of Santa Cruz del Sur and financed by popular donation, the mausoleum that keeps his remains is unveiled.

The verses of the poet Rubén Martínez Villena about the Rescue of Sanguily

Marchaba lento el escuadrón riflero:

ciento veinte soldados de la España

que llevaban, cual prueba de su saña,

a Sanguily, baldado y prisionero.

Y en un grupo forjado por Hornero,

treinta y cinco elegidos de la hazaña,

alumbraron el valle y la montaña

al resplandor fulmíneo del acero.

Alzóse un yaguarama reluciente,

se oyó un grito de mando prepotente

y un semidios, formado en el combate,

ordenando una carga de locura,

marchó con sus leones al rescate

i y se llevó al cautivo en la montura!