Customer Reviews

Cuban Confederate Colonel

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cuban Confederate Colonel and recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Civil War or Cuban history. It's apparent from the quality of writing and comprehensive documentation that a significant amount of time and research went into this work. De la Cova's writing is very descriptive and engaging and the story flows smoothly. The chapters are organized chronologically, but also entitled by major milestones in Gonzales' life and make it easy to move around the book.

Of particular interest to me was the complicated relationship between Gonzales and his in-laws, the wealthy Elliott family of South Carolina. Gonzales was first introduced to the Elliott clan in 1852 through his friendship with fellow Freemason, William Elliott, the family patriarch. During the next three years, Gonzales socialized with the family and carried on a platonic correspondence with one of Elliott's elder daughters, Emily, who fell in love with the Cuban. However, the attraction was not mutual, and Gonzales' subsequent marriage to Emily's much younger sister, Hattie, set the stage for a lifelong feud between the spurned sister and Gonzales. Emily's jealously and bitterness, at first manifested in subtle ways, later became overt attacks on Gonzales' character as she attempted to poison his relationship with the family, especially his children.

My favorite chapters dealt with the reconstruction period when the Gonzales/Elliott families struggled to put their lives back together. Born into wealth and privilege, they initially appeared ill equipped to survive under the conditions of poverty and hardship forced upon them in the aftermath of the South's defeat. With a little cooperation between the families and some creative financing, Gonzales purchases one of Elliott's former plantations, Social Hall, and begins his quest to provide financial security for his family.

The author's skillful use of quotations from the family letters throughout the book allows the principals to speak for themselves and brings them vividly to life as their story develops. I also appreciated that quite a bit of information concerning the Gonzales children as adults was included. This is a fitting epilogue to the story and does not leave me wondering what happened to everybody else after the subject dies.

Very few people, Cuban or American, are aware of the role that Cubans have played in United States' history before the rise of Castro. However, Cubans were in the United States for more than a century before Castro's revolution. Not just bystanders, waiting for Spain to get out of Cuba, they were full participants in events around them, where ever they may be.

This biography is a fascinating look at one Cuban's involvement in the Cuban freedom movement as well as the American Civil War and his struggle for survival during reconstruction. At the same time, the author seamlessly integrates the story of Gonzales' family life, in particular his marriage into a wealthy Southern family and life long love affair with his wife, Hattie. Although very well documented and suitable for a textbook (and priced like one), this book reads like a novel and held my interest throughout. Highly recommended!!!

This is not the easiest read, the author sometimes gives too much information. That makes reading more cumbersome but at the same time it does have many interesting details and tidbits. If you are intereted in Cuban and US history as it relates to filibusters and Cuban history prior to independence buy the book.