10年战争爆发于1868年10月10日,在东方省巴亚莫市律师卡洛斯·曼努埃尔·德·塞斯佩德斯的领导下,一群独派人士呼吁为了自由和独立的岛屿(古巴为岛屿)而在德马哈瓜(La Demajagua)甘蔗园发动起义。在头几天,起义几乎失败。塞斯佩德斯10月11日攻打小镇亚拉(Yara),未成功,只有塞斯佩德斯等12人逃脱。10月10日在古巴被作为全国性节日(亚拉呼声,Grito de Yara)纪念。其后塞斯佩德斯带头解放自己的奴隶,到10月底重新聚集的起义军约有12000名。
Thomas, Hugh Swynnerton (1973). From Spanish domination to American domination, 1762–1909. Volume I of Cuba: the struggle for freedom, 1762–1970 . Barcelona; Mexico: Grijalbo, pp. 337. Edition of Neri Daurella. ISBN9788425302916.
José Andrés-Gallego (1981). General History of Spain and America: Revolution and Restoration: (1868–1931) . Madrid: Rialp Editions, pp. 271. ISBN978-8-43212-114-2. 20,000 Spaniards and 35,000 Cubans.
as estimated by José Martí in his work "The Revolution of 1868" cited by Samuel Silva Gotay in "Catholicism and politics in Puerto Rico: under Spain and the United States" p. 39