The Circular Campaign in Camagüey executed by Máximo Gómez, was one of the two basic operations that made possible the concentration, formation and advance of the invading contingent during the Necessary War. However, the beginning of this successful operation takes place under unsuitable conditions.
Situation of Camagüey at the arrival of Gómez
The march of El Generalísimo towards the territory of Camagüey takes place after the fall in combat of José Martí. Sick and under torrential downpours, he made his entrance to put himself at the forefront of the revolution in a real way, achieve the military organization of the territory, incorporate it into the fight of 1995, convene the Constituent Assembly and unite the men that would cooperate with the invading contingent at his command on its way through this land.
The important region was, among other elements, permeated by different influences and in the midst of a certain economic recovery, so going back to war meant destroying everything that had been achieved. However, the country demanded to take the transcendental step again. In that sense, after his arrival, small groups of men led by Oscar Primelles, Salvador Cisneros Betancourt and Alejandro Rodríguez joined him. Members of the new generations also joined, such as: Bernabé Boza, Lope Recio Loynaz and Eugenio Sánchez Agramonte.
Circular Campaign Stages
The successful campaign lasted around five months, from June to October 1895, and had three different moments. The first of them (June to July) was characterized by the speed of the actions. Fortified camps, military posts and small guerrillas in operations were attacked, as the sources consulted express. From this stage are the successes of Altagracia, El Mulato, Ceja la Larga and San Jerónimo; those that made possible a provisioning for the mambisa troops.
In the second (July to September), he distributed the forces throughout the main areas of the territory, while simultaneously attacking and harassing population centers and moving convoys. He would also ensure the development of the sessions of the Constituent Assembly in Jimaguayú, in which he would be ratified as General in Chief of the Liberation Army.
Among the combative actions of this moment, that of Ciego Molina stands out, in which he analyzed the qualities of the Spanish Mauser rifle, model 1893 and indicated countermeasures that would limit the advantages of modern weapons, in order to obtain victory.
In the third stage, the military organization of the Third Army Corps was perfected, under the command of José María Rodríguez, Mayía, who was to closely support Antonio Maceo during his time in Camagüey.
Parallel to these military operations, he issues a circular on July 1st that determines and specifies the total war against the economic bases that contributed to the support of the enemy.
Reaction of the Spanish command to the Circular Campaign
The inefficiency of the operations carried out by the Spanish general Arsenio Martínez Campos, aimed at stopping the Revolution in the East to prevent the arrival of Gómez to the land of Agramonte, and of the Hispanic information services, resulted in a deep demoralization that had as a consequence, handing in his resignation to the government of Madrid.
Conclusions
The success of the Circular Campaign favored the Liberation Army and the future invasion campaign, since it allowed the organization of the Third Army Corps, and the “Camagüey”, “Agramonte”, and “Gómez” infantry regiments. It also made it possible to obtain rifles, ammunition and supplies of all kinds.
Bibliography
Figarola, Joel James. Máximo Gómez. Hombre de Las Antillas. Ciencia y Sociedad. Vol XXX, No. 1 (Enero-Marzo 2005).
Pérez Guzmán, Francisco; Zulueta, Rolando y Yolanda Díaz Martínez. Guerra de Independencia 1895-1898. Editorial Ciencias Sociales. La Habana, 1998 .
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
