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Garcia (CALIXTO g r-the' a Cuban)
CALIXTO (gär-the'ä), a Cuban patriot; born in Holguin, Cuba, Oct. 14, 1836; and took up the profession of law. In 1868, with Donato del Marmol and Carlos Manuel Cespedes, he organized the revolution which has since been called the "Ten Years' War." Early in that struggle the Cubans won great success and captured many towns, In recognition of his services Garcia was appointed Brigadier-General under Gomez, and subsequently succeeded that officer as commander-in-chief of the Cuban army. In 1873 he was captured and sent to Spain, where he was pardoned in 1878. Returning to Cuba, he again took up arms against Spain in what is known as the "Little War."
Later he was forced to surrender and a second time sent to Madrid, where for 17 years he remained under the espionage of the police. He escaped in September, 1895, and took passage for New York. On Jan. 26, 1896, he led a successful filibustering expedition to Cuba. Later, while planning a second expedition, he was arrested by United States Government officers, gave bail, which he forfeited, and again landed in Cuba.
When Santiago was taken by the Americans in 1898 he withdrew from the Cuban army because he was not given the command of that city. Subsequently, however, he accepted the new conditions. In November, 1898, he was sent to the United States as chairman of a commission authorized to lay before President McKinley the wishes of the Cuban leaders, but before accomplishing this duty he died in Washington, D. C., Dec. 11, 1898. His remains received official and military honors in Washington.