Jesús Sablón Moreno

Cuban patriot deserving of the respect and admiration of great leaders in the independence struggle such as: Calixto García, Antonio Maceo and Flor Crombet.

He was born at the "el Calabazar" estate near Jiguaní, Oriente. His childhood was spent under difficult conditions. The little education that Jesús and his brothers received came from their father during his free time, after returning from agricultural work.

The name Jesús Rabí is closely related to his father, who was called this by everyone who knew him, and whose meaning was teacher.

From a young age he joined the struggle, distinguishing himself for his courage and military abilities. In the 1868 war he rose up in Santa Rita, joining the forces of Donato Mármol. Two days later he participated in the attack on Jiguaní and took part in the machete charge at Venta del Pino (Pinos de Baire) under the orders of General Máximo Gómez.

On January 5, 1874 he was promoted to commander and appointed chief of the First battalion of the Jiguaní regiment. He fought under the orders of Calixto García, Luis Figueredo and Antonio Maceo. He was in command of the escort of President Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, with the rank of captain.

Although he lent his support to the sedition of Lagunas de Varona on April 26, 1875, five days later it was withdrawn. In November 1876 while in Las Villas and Victoria de Las Tunas fighters refused to fight in other places or under the command of chiefs from other provinces, in Oriente, Jesús Rabí was heavily fighting enemy forces between Manzanillo and Santiago de Cuba.

With the rank of Lieutenant Colonel he joined the forces under the command of General Titá Calvar, who proposed his promotion to Colonel and granted him command of the Jiguaní Regiment. With command of this Regiment he came under the orders of Brigadier Guillermón Moncada. On March 15, 1878 the Protest of Baraguá took place. Among the high officers who accompanied Antonio Maceo in it was Jesús Rabí, who was part of his general staff. On March 17, 1878 the provisional government of Major General Manuel de Jesús Calvar promoted him to lieutenant colonel and assigned him to the Jiguaní region.

To participate in the Little War he rose up on October 5, 1879, in Jiguaní. One of the most transcendental battles of this peculiar and brief war in which he participated is the conspiracy known as La Paz del Manganeso in 1880.

In the 1895 conflict he rose up on February 24 of that year, in Las Yeguas, near Jiguaní. Two days later, by acclaim of the troops, he took command of the rebel forces in Baire and Jiguaní. In mid-April 1895 he came under the command of Major General Antonio Maceo.

After the war ended he refused to hold public office during the American military occupation.

During the Republic he served as inspector of Forests and Mines. In 1906 he communicated to intervention governor Magoon that his only desire was that they lower the American flag from El Morro Castle and raise the Cuban flag.

He died on December 5, 1915 in Baire, Santiago de Cuba.