Gumercindo Saraiva

In 1892, the Government of Júlio Prates de Castilhos entered a phase of instability. With the state of Rio Grande do Sul at a boiling point, the Federalist Revolution was starting, with rebel troops being led by the general João Nunes da Silva Tavares, known as Joca Tavares. Gumercindo decided to flee towards Uruguay, where the rebel troops were being assembled, after having refused to join the loyalist troops. On February 2, 1893, accompanied by his brother Aparicio Saravia and leading about 400 mounted troops, he crossed the border in a town called Serrilhada, entering Rio Grande do Sul and joining the men of General João Nunes da Silva Tavares, thus forming the Liberator Army, a contingent of more than 3000 men. Shortly, newcomers inflated the number of rebel troops to 12 000. Reportedly a third brother, Mariano, also took part in this revolution. In Uruguay, the three brothers Saraiva were known as the three of Cerro Largo. On April 4, 1893, the first battle against loyalist troops occurs. After several skirmishes with Government forces, realizing his disadvantage, Gumercindo Saraiva resorted to guerrilla tactics, with moderate success.

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 the rebels. Gumercindo, unable to advance, retreated to Rio Grande do Sul. He died on August 10, 1894, after being hit by a bullet while recognizing the terrain on the eve of the battle of Carovi.

After the fall of Lapa, he headed to Curitiba, finding it completely unguarded. He then left 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].

When the arrival of the troops of Gumercindo Sambrano to Exile (now Florianópolis) and Curitiba, florianistas troops left the towns desguarnecidas, abandoned their defences and retreated, leaving only a few soldiers in the rear and the population abandoned to fend for themselves. In both cities, the political elite, merchants and industrialists, resolved, to avoid looting, killings and rapes, make a deal with Gumercindo Saraiva, in this, the troops of the Maragatos, would respect an agreement of non-violence and in Exchange the population would pay a tribute to war. The agreement was established and the population was spared. But the federalists, after successive battles and acts of heroism and bravery that enrolling in the annals of history, are defeated and, with the return of the troops was made legal a bloody "reckoning". In Curitiba, on the imminence of the attack, the people turned to Baron Saw blue (Ildefonso Pereira Correia), because no other leader inspired confidence. The Government was no brainer. Formed a governing Junta of Commerce, under the leadership of Serro Azul, able to contain the excesses of a city despoliciada and dazed. Created the loan of war and were the Gumercindo Sami negotiate the invasion of Curitiba. The same happened in Exile, where the Baron of Batovi (Manoel de Almeida Coelho da Gama Lobo d ' Eça) presided over a tumultuous and historic meeting held on 29 September 1893, during which we opted for capitulation against the ships of the Armada, mutineers against the Vice-President of the Republic, the Office of President, Floriano Peixoto. Batovi didn't do but to surrender to the aspirations of the inhabitants of Desterro terrified and suddenly involved in such spectacular events. And, the hitherto quiet Curitiba and Exile, you become part of a blacklist of Floriano Peixoto. In defense of the Government of the Republic, Marshal Floriano names and send to Santa Catarina, the Fiery Lieutenant Colonel of infantry of the army. Antônio Moreira César, name the story celebrates the nicknames of Cuts. At the same time troops of Colonel Pires Ferreira occupy Curitiba, abandoned by insurgents and the Commander of the military district, general Talal, imposed martial law. In Paraná, dozens of people, including civilians and soldiers were executed summarily, in Santa Catarina that number rose to about 300 people.

The Government war propaganda accused him of atrocities, which was disproved by hundreds of witnesses, including their political enemies. Because in cases of abuses committed by their subordinates, punished in an exemplary manner, as it was with soldier Diniz. In a research study at the school of command and staff of the Army (ECEME), was considered the greatest combat leader of this revolution.

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• GOYCOCHEA, Luiz Felipe Castilhos. Gumercindo Saraiva na Guerra dos Maragatos. Rio de Janeiro: Ed. Alba, 1943.
• MEIRINHO, Jali. República e Oligarquias: subsídios para a História Catarinense, 1899–1934. Florianópolis: Insular, 1997.
• CAVALARI, Rossano Viero. O Ninho dos Pica-paus-Cruz Alta na Revolução Federalista de 1893. Porto Alegre:Martins Livreiro Editor, 2001.