The Cuban Rural Guard () or the Rural Guard of the Island of Cuba was a republican

military organization Military organization (American English , AE) or military organisation (British English , BE) is the structuring of the armed forces of a State (polity), state so as to offer such military capability as a military policy, national defense pol ...

in Cuba established by the

Provisional Government of Cuba The Provisional Government of Cuba ( Spanish: ''Gobierno Provisional de Cuba'') lasted from September 1906 to February 1909. This period was also referred to as the Second occupation of Cuba. When the government of Cuban President Tomás Est ...

during the

1890s The 1890s (pronounced "eighteen-nineties") was a decade of the Gregorian calendar that began on January 1, 1890, and ended on December 31, 1899. In American popular culture, the decade would later be nostalgically referred to as the "Gay Nineti ...

History

First Occupation of Cuba

During the U.S. Government's First Occupation of Cuba, the occupation government led by John R. Brooke and

Leonard Wood Leonard Wood (October 9, 1860 – August 7, 1927) was a United States Army major general, physician, and public official. He served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, List of colonial governors of Cuba, Military Governor of Cuba, ...

oversaw the formation of a new

constabulary Constabulary may have several definitions: *A civil, non-paramilitary (police) force consisting of police officers called constables. This is the usual definition in the United Kingdom, in which all county police forces once bore the title (and s ...

.Selected Papers from the 1992 (59th Annual) Meeting of the Society for Military History Hosted by the Command and Staff College of the Marine Corps University. (1994). United States: Command and Staff College Foundation. Amid the

Spanish–American War The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine (1889), USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the ...

and the withdrawal of the Spanish troops, the

United States Military Government in Cuba The Military Government of Cuba ( Spanish: ''Gobierno Militar de Cuba'') was a provisional military government in Cuba that was established in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War in 1898 when Spain ceded Cuba to the United States. Th ...

sought to address ongoing criminal activity, with

Santiago de Cuba Santiago de Cuba is the second-largest city in Cuba and the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province. It lies in the southeastern area of the island, some southeast of the Cuban capital of Havana. The municipality extends over , and contains t ...

being the most affected by

banditry Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws typically involving the threat or use of violence. A person who engages in banditry is known as a bandit and primarily commits crimes such as extortion, robbery, kidnapping, and murder, ...

. As a substitute to the

Spanish Civil Guard The Civil Guard (; ) is one of the two national law enforcement agencies of Spain. As a national gendarmerie, it is military in nature and is responsible for civil policing under the authority of both the Ministry of the Interior and the Minis ...

in Cuba, the need arose to utilize the disbanded

Cuban Liberation Army The Cuban Liberation Army (), colloquially known as the Mambises, Mambí Army () was an insurgency, insurgent army which was formed in the last third of the 19th century and fought for independence from Spain and the abolitionism, abolition of ...

for local policing duties.

Santiago de Cuba

Santiago de Cuba Province Santiago de Cuba Province is the second most populated province in the island of Cuba. The largest city Santiago de Cuba is the main administrative center. Other large cities include Palma Soriano, Contramaestre, Cuba, Contramaestre, San Luis, Sa ...

on July 11, 1898, 20 men under Capt. Manuel A. Martínez were organized into a

paramilitary A paramilitary is a military that is not a part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934. Overview Though a paramilitary is, by definiti ...

composed of

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

known as the "Rural Guard". The Rural Guard covered the four districts of

Guantánamo Guantánamo (, , ) is a municipality and city in southeast Cuba and capital of Guantánamo Province. Guantánamo is served by the Caimanera port near the site of a U.S. naval base. The area produces sugarcane and cotton wool. These are traditi ...

, Manzanillo, and Holguin. By the end of the month, the guard had expanded to 40

guardsmen Guardsman is a military rank, rank used instead of Private (rank), private in some military units that serve as the official bodyguard of a monarch, sovereign or head of state. It is also used as a generic term for any member of a guards unit of ...

, tasked with law enforcement, dismantling bandits, and safeguarding landowners' rural properties. Once the Rural Guard was formed in the province of Santiago de Cuba, similar companies were organized for police

supervision Supervision is an act or instance of directing, managing, or oversight. Etymology The English noun "supervision" derives from the two Latin words "super" (above) and "videre" (see, observe). Spelling The spelling is "Supervision" in Standard ...

of the rural districts in each province. It was later established in the provinces of Puerto Príncipe, Santa Clara, Pinar del Rio, and La Habana, where a chief of the Rural Guard managed the organization in each province.

Holguín

Holguín Holguín (, ) is a municipality-city in Cuba. After Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Camagüey, it is the List of cities in Cuba, fourth largest city in Cuba. History Before Christopher Columbus, Columbus, the Taino people settled in huts made fro ...

, on December 1, 1898, the Military Governor of Santiago de Cuba Col. Duncan Norbert Hood, son of

John Bell Hood John Bell Hood (June 1 or June 29, 1831 – August 30, 1879) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Hood's impetuosity led to high losses among his troops as he moved up in rank. Bruce Catton wrote that "the decision to replace ...

, established the province's Rural Guard to combat the bandits operating in the area.

Puerto Príncipe

Upon the organization of the guard in the Puerto Príncipe district on January 1, 1899, Military Commander Louis H. Carpenter directed that the forces be provided with Remington carbines and

Mauser Mauser, originally the Königlich Württembergische Gewehrfabrik, was a German arms manufacturer. Their line of bolt-action rifles and semi-automatic pistols was produced beginning in the 1870s for the German armed forces. In the late 19th and ...

ammunition from the Liberation Army which had been placed at his disposal in November 1898. Lt. Col. Braulio Peña, holding the rank of Colonel in the Cuban Army's Cavalry, was designated as the Chief of the Rural Guard for Puerto Príncipe Province. Roughly 160 men, drawn from former Liberation Army soldiers and veterans of the

War of Independence Wars of national liberation, also called wars of independence or wars of liberation, are conflicts fought by nations to gain independence. The term is used in conjunction with wars against foreign powers (or at least those perceived as foreign) ...

, were divided into 9 squadrons distributed throughout the province to conduct cavalry patrols and maintain public order.

Santa Clara

The Rural Guards of the

Santa Clara Province Santa Clara (also known as Las Villas or Provincia de Santa Clara after 1940) was a historical province of Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud ...

were established in a headquarters on April 7, 1899, by order of Gen. John C. Bates who was the military commander of the province. The forces were placed under the command of Col. José de J. Monteagudo acting as the Chief of the Rural Guard of the Province of Santa Clara.

La Habana

In December 1899,

met with Pablo García Menocal in

La Habana Province La Habana Province , formerly known as Ciudad de La Habana Province, is a province of Cuba that includes the territory of the city of Havana, the Republic's capital. The province's territory is the seat of the superior organs of the state and i ...

and began arrangements to organize a rural guard composed of 350 mounted troops of the Cuban army for the protection of the outlying areas of the city.Annual Reports of the War Department. (1899). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Reorganization

By April 11, 1901, the Rural Guards of all provinces were reorganized and consolidated into the National Rural Guard by order of the Military Governor. A commission was appointed on May 7, 1901, with Major Rafael Rodríguez, Acting Inspector General of the Rural Guard, Captain Federico Rasco, formerly Captain and Adjutant in Santa Clara, and Captain Ramon Martin,

Adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed ...

in Havana and Pinar del Rio. On May 20, 1901, Pablo García Menocal was appointed by the Military Governor of Cuba

as Major and

Quartermaster Quartermaster is a military term, the meaning of which depends on the country and service. In land army, armies, a quartermaster is an officer who supervises military logistics, logistics and requisitions, manages stores or barracks, and distri ...

of the Rural Guard of the Island of Cuba and Lt. Col. José de J. Monteagudo as Inspector General of the Rural Guard with the rank of

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

.Elihu Root Collection of United States Documents: Ser. A.-F.]. (1895). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office.

End of First U.S. Occupation

The first U.S. occupation of Cuba ended on May 19, 1902, when the Republic of Cuba (1902–1959), Republic of Cuba was established. The U.S. ceded control the next day while keeping intervention rights under the

Platt Amendment The Platt Amendment was a piece of United States legislation enacted as part of the Army Appropriations Act of 1901 that defined the relationship between the United States and Cuba following the Spanish–American War. The first Cuban Republic under the first elected Cuban president

Tomás Estrada Palma Tomás Estrada Palma (; July 9, 1835 – November 4, 1908) was a Cuban politician, the president of the Republic of Cuba in Arms during the Ten Years' War, and the first President of Cuba, between May 20, 1902, and September 28, 1906. His colla ...

inherited the Rural Guard in the form of a force commanded by Brig. Gen. Alejandro Rodriguez, consisting of 1,604 officers stationed at 247 posts across several provinces. In October 1902, U.S. Envoy Extraordinary and

Minister Plenipotentiary An envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, usually known as a minister, was a diplomatic head of mission who was ranked below ambassador. A diplomatic mission headed by an envoy was known as a legation rather than an embassy. Under the ...

Herbert G. Squiers reported the Rural Guard underwent a

reorganization A corporate action is an event initiated by a public company that brings or could bring an actual change to the debt securities— equity or debt—issued by the company. Corporate actions are typically agreed upon by a company's board of dire ...

and was approved for an expansion from 1,500 to 3,800 officers. Cuban citizens aged 21-45, literate in Spanish, of good character, and physically fit (120-170 lbs, 5'4" or taller), and with no prior criminal convictions or dishonorable discharges were eligible for a requirement of a four-year enlistment. In Military Governor Wood's final 1902 report, he included that the Rural Guard was found sufficient to enforce respect for law in the rural districts of Cuba. In 1904, with the guard totalling 3,020, President

suggested a 1,000-man increase in April 1904. The Cuban President, on August 20, 1906, issued an increase of 2,186 officers and men and the merger of the Cuban Artillery Corps with the Rural Guard.Magoon, C. E. (1908). Annual Report of Charles E. Magoon, Provisional Governor of Cuba, to the Secretary of War ec. 11907. United States: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Second Occupation of Cuba

In September 1906, persistent economic challenges and political unrest in the country forced U.S. president

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York (state), New York politics, incl ...

to take charge of Cuba. In the

Second Occupation of Cuba The Provisional Government of Cuba ( Spanish: ''Gobierno Provisional de Cuba'') lasted from September 1906 to February 1909. This period was also referred to as the Second occupation of Cuba. When the government of Cuban President Tomás Est ...

, American officials sought to expand the Cuban Rural Guard for stability, enlisting prominent Cuban veterans to form militia companies. An act of Cuban Congress on September 15, 1906, approved a force of 5,305 men and consolidated the Artillery Corps with the Cuban Rural Guard, all being designated the Armed Forces of the Republic. The guard had three regiments covering Havana, Pinar del Rio, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Oriente, and Camagüey. From 142 posts on September 30, 1906, it grew to 315 by the same date in 1907. In April 1908, the Provisional Government formed the Cuban Permanent Army with 2000 men and retained the Rural Guard, which had 5,180 officers and men in 380 units. A decree called for a reduction in the guardsmen under Maj. Gen. Alejandro Rodríguez to 3,600. The infantry brigade of the Permanent Army was expanded by transfers from the Rural Guard of Cuba. On July 11, 1908, The Cuban Shoemakers' League lodged a protest with Provisional Governor

Charles Edward Magoon Charles Edward Magoon (December 5, 1861 – January 14, 1920) was an American lawyer, judge, diplomat, and administrator who is best remembered as a governor of the Panama Canal Zone; he also served as Minister to Panama at the same time. He was ...

over the awarding of a $60,000 shoe contract for the Rural Guard to an American factory representative, despite Cubans offering lower prices. In 1909, additional U.S. intervention resulted in the Rural Guard being placed under U.S. control. From 1909 to 1912, Frank Parker of the U.S. Army rendered services as a military instructor of the cavalry in the Rural Guard of Cuba.

Subsequent history 1915-1959

In 1915 legislation was passed to merge the ''Guardia Rural'' and the Permanent Army into the ''Ejercito Nacional'' numbering 13,628 men. The ''Guardia Rural'' however retained its constabulary role, organised in separate detachments distributed throughout each of the eight Military Areas. The Guardia totalled 38 squadrons, still generally horse-mounted as late as 1940. By this date the regular army totalled 8,000, against 6,000 Rural Guards. The latter were expected to provide ad hoc ''Tercios'' to support the army if required. In 1952 measures were taken to firmly separate the Rural Guard from the National Army. The ''Guardia Rural'' was confirmed as a static

gendarmerie A gendarmerie () is a paramilitary or military force with law enforcement duties among the civilian population. The term ''gendarme'' () is derived from the medieval French expression ', which translates to " men-at-arms" (). In France and so ...

style force with law enforcement and internal security responsibilities outside the major urban districts. Mechanised and mounted ''Guardia'' cavalry, plus infantry units provided provincial garrisons, as well as augmenting the concentration of regular army troops at Havana. During the

Cuban Revolution The Cuban Revolution () was the military and political movement that overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, who had ruled Cuba from 1952 to 1959. The revolution began after the 1952 Cuban coup d'état, in which Batista overthrew ...

the 44 Rural Guard squadrons still nominally in existence played a generally passive garrison role, leaving field action to the anti-guerrilla battalions of the Constitutional Army. With the collapse of the Batista regime the Rural Guard was disbanded, being replaced initially by the Revolutionary Militia and subsequently by the

National Revolutionary Police Force The National Revolutionary Police Force (, PNR) is law enforcement in Cuba, under the administration of the Cuban Ministry of the Interior. Article 65 of the Cuban Constitution states that "defense of the socialist motherland is every Cuban's ...

plus the Border Troops and the Interior Special Forces.

Uniforms

Initially dressed in white (see photograph above), the Rural Guards subsequently wore khaki cotton uniforms, Mills-pattern cartridge belts, and russet leather shoes and leggings. Their hats resembled U.S. army

campaign hat A campaign hat, sometimes called campaign cover, is a broad-brimmed felt or straw hat, with a high crown, pinched symmetrically at the four corners. The campaign hat is occasionally referred to as a Stetson, derived from its origin in the company ...

s with leather bands, and they carried waterproof coats. Each hat displayed their number and the Guard insignia, which was also worn on their collars. Their saddles and tack were also russet leather.Wood, L. (1903). Civil Report of the Military Governor, 1902: pt. 1. Reports of Brig. Gen. Leonard Wood, military governor; Lieut. F.R. McCoy, aide-de-camp. pt. 2. Reports of Señor Perfecto Lacoste, secretary of agriculture, commerce and industry, Jan.-April, 1902; Señor Enrique José Varona, secretary of public instruction, Jan.-April 1902 ; Lieut. M.E. Hanna, commissioner of public schools, Sept. 1, 1901-May 20, 1902. pt. 3. Reports of Maj. W.C. Gorgas, chief sanitary officer; Maj. A.H. Glennan, chief quarantine officer; Maj. J.R. Kean, superintendent of charities and hospitals; Dr. Frank P. Menocal, superintendent of Department of immigration. United States: (n.p.).

Provincial headquarters

* Puerto Príncipe Province *

Pinar del Río Province The Pinar del Río Province is one of the 15 provinces of Cuba. It is at the western end of the island of Cuba. The capital and largest city is Pinar del Río (191,081 pop. in 2022). Geography The Pinar del Río province is Cuba's westernmost p ...

References

{{authority control 1898 establishments in Cuba Organizations established in 1898 Law enforcement agencies of Cuba Law enforcement in Cuba Mounted police 1959 disestablishments in Cuba