Calixto Garcia had traveled to New York following his release and organized the Cuban Revolutionary Committee with other revolutionaries.

He had issued a manifesto against Spanish rule of Cuba in 1878.

This having met with approval among other revolutionary leaders, a war began on August 26, 1879, led by Garcia, Jose Maceo (the brother of Antonio Maceo), Guillermo Moncada, and Emilo Nuñez.

The revolutionaries face many problems which have been difficult to overcome.

They lack experienced leaders other than García, and they have a dire shortage of weapons and ammunition.

Further, they have no foreign allies to help them, and the population is both exhausted from the Ten Years' War and lacks faith in the possibility of victory, desiring peace instead.

In the west of the island, most of the revolutionary leaders are arrested.

The remaining leaders are forced to capitulate throughout 1879 and 1880, and by September 1880, the rebels have been completely defeated.