San Antonio de los Baños and its surroundings were scenes of important events during the War of Independence that this year recalls its 150th anniversary. On January 7, 1896, next to Vereda Nueva, Palomino's battle took place, between the troops of Generalísimo Máximo Gómez and those of the Spanish General García Navarro.
On February 26, the action known as El Garro took place, between the mambisas hosts of Gómez and Ángel Guerra, against those commanded by generals Alcadea and Linares.
In December, 1896, there was a confrontation between the Cuban followers of Baldomero Acosta and those of Lieutenant Daniel's guerrilla, who perished under the edge of the machete. The same happened to the guerrilla of Captain Primo during a battle against the troops of Baldomero Acosta, in 1897.
From the region of Ariguanabo to the limits with the capital, the colonial regime had made a strong defensive ring, dominated not only by the army, but also by several volunteer guerrillas; well paid, equipped and well known for their cruelty. The most notorious was the Peral's guerrilla, self-titled "Bravos de San Quintín", who in San Pedro on December 7, 1896, killed Panchito Gómez Toro when he tried to help Maceo.
A year later, in 1897, in the limits of San Antonio with Baracoa, the Cuban forces of the brave Baldomero Acosta fought against the guerrilla and the Spanish battalion San Quintin. The result was a crushing defeat for the colonial forces. Honoring those events renews our commitment to the country and its future.
