In an old house on Reina and San Esteban Street, today República and Oscar Primelles, Javier de la Vega Basulto was born on May 6th, 1851, the son of Don Manuel de la Vega and Concepción Basulto. The history of Cuba would be in charge of engraving the name of Javier with gold letters.
With only 17 years of age, he joins full of love and hope to the great feat for the independence of his homeland, initiated by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in the East part of the country on October 10th, 1868. His call for freedom traveled from one end of the island to the other, summoning Cubans to join him.
Together with his brothers and holding the rank of Lieutenant, they join the independence forces followed by the uprising on November 4th in Las Clavellinas. He is appointed assistant to Commander Juan Agramonte Recio. He participated in his first combat under the commands of Colonel José Guerra.
His role in the fight
During the Great War he participated in multiple combats where he stood out, we will only mention some such as: the assault on Cascorro, the combats of Los Muñecos, Las Guásimas, Jimaguayú, Mojacasabe, Palo Seco, El Naranjo, La Sacra; among others who were eloquent witnesses of his warrior temperament.
He was injured six times during the war. On September 2nd, 1871, at La Sacra, he was seriously wounded; losing the handsome mambí part of the right shoulder blade and part of the arm muscle as well, consequences that accompanied him for the rest of his days.
After the war ended in 1878, Javier de la Vega supported his immense family consisting of twelve children by farming; he was joined by his loving wife Caridad Pacheco y Peláez, with whom he had married in the battlefield and accompanied him during the hard times of the war.
On June 5th, 1895, he departed again with Salvador Cisneros Betancourt to call for independence or death to war. In this new stage is where his image as a military man grows. This time he not only leaves along with his brothers, instead, his children follow him to fight side by side for the freedom of Cuba.
Fraternal ties
On June 19th he joins Máximo Gómez at the Antón farm, where he is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He zealously complies with orders, so on July 3rd he is promoted again, this time to the rank of Colonel; being assigned as head of the General Staff of the Major General Gómez.
During the second semester of the year 1895 Javier de la Vega participated in numerous battles such as those of Najasa and Jimaguayú. He is promoted to Brigadier General in January 1896.
His participation in combats is increasing; he participates in the taking of Las Tunas, Loma de Bayamo, Vuelta Abajo, San Felipe in Matanzas, Santa Rita, La Reforma; among others under the command of the Generalissimo.
His courage in the taking of Guáimaro led to the victory of the insurrectionary troops; under the command of Major General Calixto García.
On November 2nd, 1896, he was appointed Major General and head of the Third Army Corps, a rank that he had been carrying out temporarily since June 29th, replacing General Mayía Rodríguez. De la Vega led the fighting in La Purísima, La Marina, El Faro, the assaults and sabotage of the railroad to Nuevitas, which hindered the supply of the city.
With the return of Gómez to Camagüey, in September, the troops under the command of Javier de la Vega imposed a new vigor on the insurrectional struggle in the territory, actions that earned him promotion and appointment as the head of the Third Army Corps.
From his actions, they managed to limit Spanish rule only to Nuevitas, Santa Cruz del Sur and Puerto Principe, the rest of the territory being free under the control of the liberators.
At the head of the Third Corps he undertook extensive work by General de la Vega. He did not authorize the Senado and Lugareño sugar mills to grind in the harvest of the year 96-97 in compliance with the orders of Gómez, measures not well received by the president of the Governing Council. Among his military actions we can mention the combats of Jimaguayú, El Caimito, El Paraíso, El Peñón, La Industria, Saratoga, La Redonda and Vista del Príncipe among others.
On December 29th, 1897, the Governing Council agreed to suspend him from his responsibilities as the head of the Third Army Corps, a measure taken from his contradictions with the government along with disagreements with Major General Calixto García; coupled with the rejection of various members under his command who unfairly questioned his gifts to lead.
On April 3rd, 1898, the Government Council of the Republic in Arms agreed to withdraw his replacement, but two days later it accepted the resignation of Major General Javier de la Vega. Upon handing over his command, he went to meet his boss and friend Máximo Gómez.
His life was simple and peaceful, dedicated to the development of his farm. He went to proposals from veterans, President of the Territorial Council of Veterans, in addition to serving as Inspector of Prisons of Montes and Minas.
Near his end, he ordered his children to not prepare him a sumptuous burial. At dawn on November 23th, 1934, at the age of 83, the great patriot and exemplary died, whose name was engraved in gold letters by history.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
