Gumercindo Saraiva

Gumercindo Saraiva (January 13, 1852 – August 10, 1894) was a Brazilian military man, being one of the commanders of the rebel troops (maragatos) during the Federalist Riograndense Revolution.

In 1892, the Government of Júlio Prates de Castilhos enters a phase of instability, Rio Grande do Sul is at boiling point, on the other hand the castilhistas woodpeckers and other federalists maragatos led by General John Nunes da Silva Tavares, Joca Tavares, the Federalist Revolution was starting. Gumercindo having refused to join the castilhismo, was being pursued and resolves back to Uruguay, where the rebels were forming their troops. On February 2, 1893, accompanied by his brother Aparicio Saravia and leading about 400 of Knights crossed the border by the serrated, entering in Rio Grande do Sul, joining the men of General João Nunes da Silva Tavares, thus forming the Liberator Army, a contingent of more than 3000 men, that in a short time with Adhesions, would come to 12,000. Reportedly a third brother, Mariano, also have taken part in this revolution. In Uruguay the three brothers Sami (Saravia) were known as the three of Cerro Largo. On April 4, 1893, happens the first battle with loyalist troops (woodpeckers). After several skirmishes with Government forces, realizing stand before an army better prepared and armed, Gumercindo Saraiva part for guerrillas, avoids conventional fighting, scattered legal troops to try to beat them later, in parts, this tactic that worked.

Gumercindo Saraiva and his troops headed for Dom Pedrito. From there began a series of lightning attacks against various parts of the State, destabilizing the positions conquered by loyalists. Then headed north, advancing in November about Santa Catarina and Paraná, with detainees arriving at the city of Lapa, 60 kilometers southwest of Curitiba. On this occasion, Colonel Garcia Carneiro died in February 1894 without handing their position to the enemy, in the episode which became known as the Siege of Lapa. Admiral Custódio de Melo, to heading up the Armed uprising against Floriano Peixoto, joined the federalists and occupied Desterro, current Florianópolis. From there came to Curitiba, the warlord-Gumercindo Saraiva maragato. Lapa resistance prevented the advancement of revolution. Gumercindo, so unable to advance, retreated to the Rio Grande do Sul. Died on August 10 1894, after being hit by a shot delivered the treason while recognized the terrain on the eve of the battle of Carovi.

After the fall of Lapa, headed to Curitiba to found completely unguarded, leaving then to Ponta Grossa, where he faced legal troops who had received reinforcements from São Paulo, forcing him to retreat, beginning the withdrawal and return to Rio Grande do Sul, now beset by government troops. In March by three States, since his departure from Jaguarão until the return to the South, General Gumercindo Saraiva and his troops traveled on horseback, a route of more than 3,000 km. On June 27 1894 faced his last great battle. On 10 August day died from a gunshot wound to the chest, of stalking, before starting the battle of Carovi, the place became known as Capon of the battle, in the area today in the municipality of Capão do Cipó. In a war of atrocities on both sides, two days after he buried in the cemetery, St. Anthony of Capuchins, current municipality of Itacurubi, his body was removed from the grave, got his head cut off and taken in a hatbox to Governor Júlio de Castilhos. His body was later taken and buried in the municipal cemetery of Santa Vitória do Palmar, without the head [1].

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