Bernabé Boza Sánchez, from Camagüey, joined the Liberation Army as a teenager in 1873, after his father was executed by the Spanish following the failure of the Virginius expedition. He rose to the rank of brigadier general and became head of the escort for Major General Máximo Gómez.
Born on February 4, 1858, into a wealthy family in what was then Puerto Príncipe, Bernabé's son was born into a wealthy family in what was then Puerto Príncipe. The outbreak of the Ten Years' War and his family's involvement in the revolution led to their emigration to Barcelona with an aunt, where he continued his studies. After several years, he moved to the United States.
From a young age until his death on March 16, 1908, a few days after his 50th birthday, Boza participated in numerous battles against the Spanish colonial forces. He served as a representative when the neocolonial republic was established and opposed the annexation and intervention by the United States.
He returned to Cuba after his father's execution on November 7, 1873, to join the revolutionary forces in Camagüey. "I was assigned to the first Agramonte cavalry squadron and to the platoon of Corporal Demetrio Mola, a Black man with a pure and beautiful soul, and a constant sense of shame," he would later write.
With this squadron, he participated in several battles, including those at Carril de Cachaza, La Unión de Llanes, the Carrasco Bridge, La Gertrudis, and the Assault on Cascorro. He later went to Las Villas to join the invading contingent and fought at Loma del Jíbaro, Manajanabo, Los Abreu, El Santo, and the attack on the city of Santa Clara, among others.
At the end of 1876, he returned to Camagüey territory and fought at Los Peralejos, El Oriente, Zanjón, Imías, San José del Tínima, Antón, and Tunas de Guáimarillo. At the end of the war in 1878, he was a sergeant in the First Squadron of the Agramonte Cavalry Regiment, with 20 years of service and an impressive record.
During the Fertile Truce, he resided with his family in Puerto Príncipe and alternated working the land on the El Consuelo farm, which belonged to his father, with the work of secretary of the municipal courts of San Jerónimo and Las Yeguas.
At the start of the War of Independence in 1895, during the attack and capture of San Jerónimo on June 22, he joined the forces of Major General Máximo Gómez. As a sergeant in the Agramonte Regiment, he distinguished himself in the Battle of Ciego Molina, and the Generalissimo appointed him lieutenant and head of his escort. He was promoted to captain on November 26, 1895, and to major on February 21, 1896. His work, "My War Diary from Baire to the American Intervention," is important for understanding the War of Independence.
In the preparations for the invasion, Gómez entrusted him with reorganizing his escort, ensuring he would be accompanied only by resolute and determined men.Days later, Boza presented himself to the Generalissimo and told him, "General, these men will follow us everywhere. I had already foreseen this, and I have my men ready for the moment you decide to march."
The escort proved its valor in the battles of Pelayo, Iguará, Mal Tiempo, and Calimete. Boza was promoted to lieutenant colonel in May 1897. After several more battles, in August he attained the rank of colonel and was appointed Chief of Staff to the Generalissimo.
On July 11, 1898, while on special assignment from General Headquarters in Key West, he was promoted to brigadier general. He returned in August of that same year, after completing his assigned mission.
After the war ended with the occupation of the island by the intervening American forces, he was appointed mayor of Santa María del Rosario. Upon the establishment of the Neocolonial Republic on May 20, 1902, he won a seat in the House of Representatives, elected by the province of Havana.
In 1906, after Estrada Palma's reelection and during the so-called "Little August War," despite being opposed to the government, he supported it to save the country from foreign interference. Realizing Estrada Palma's betrayal and feeling disillusioned, Boza disbanded his forces and retired to his home.
He died in Havana on May 16, 1908, from peritonitis. Saddened by not seeing a free and independent Cuba, and poor, after his family had once been one of the wealthiest in Camagüey, he was nonetheless proud of his life as a Mambí fighter.