In the old Ingenio Oriente in the vicinity of Sibanicú, Ignacio Agramonte joins the Camagüeyan independence forces; and so he begins the journey that led him to become one of the undisputed leaders of the Great War. Said mill was destroyed by the insurgents a short time later.
The incorporation of El Mayor is the result of his conspiratorial activity, along with other men, among which Salvador Cisneros Betancourt and Eduardo Agramonte stand out; given that he joins the Revolutionary Board of Camagüey and his name appears in the list of members of the Logia Tínima.
A marriage in the midst of conspiracies
During that time, Agramonte’s relationship with Amalia Simoni was almost consolidated. The wedding had been scheduled for August 1st, and for that reason he must not have participated in the meeting in San Miguel del Rompe.
However, a few days after the beautiful union he was involved with his cousin Eduardo -by decision of the Revolutionary Board of Camagüey- in the reception of Francisco Javier Cisneros Correa, who on behalf of the Revolutionary Board of Havana and on behalf of José Morales Lemus, visited the city to learn about the state of the revolutionary works.
The criterion assumed by the Camagüeyans both in the meeting of San Miguel del Rompe and in the Muñoz farm, was not to precipitate events; that is why the uprising of October 10th, 1868 led by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes surprised them, something that the principeños did not forget.
Raising of Las Clavellinas
However, to participate in the conspiratorial work that led to the uprising in Las Clavellinas on November 4th, 1868, he did not appear personally. One of the reasons why this did not happen was the fact that he had decided that he would remain in the city organizing the logistical securing of the insurgents.
In addition, the renowned Camagüeyan historian Elda Cento considered in her investigations that such designation was based on the intention of his comrades so that he would remain together with Amalia for a little longer.
A necessary incorporation
The incorporation of Agramonte was necessary, because figures who were not really committed to the process that had begun were seeking prominence in the ranks of Puerto Príncipe, as explained in the article Approaches to October 10th, 1868 from El Camagüey.
According to Elda Cento herself, in the days that followed, his work was made invisible, until the Meeting of the Paradero de Las Minas.
Summarizing…
The incorporation of Ignacio Agramonte to the Ten Years’ War (1868 -1878) marked the path of independence, so his premature death was a real blow to the Revolution of ’68.
Bibliography
– Adán Castaños, Yeni Yeisi. “Aproximaciones al 10 de octubre de 1868 desde El Camagüey”, publicado en http://www.ohcamaguey.cu/aproximaciones-al-10-de-octubre-de 1868 -desde- el camagüey/
– Cento Gómez, Elda. “Ignacio Agramonte. El camino hasta la reunión del Paradero de Minas”, en Cuaderno de Historia principeña 11. Patrimonio Legado al siglo XXI.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
