After years of recruiting, training and plotting, Fidel was ready to launch his revolutionary offensive. “His rebel 'army' consisted of fewer than 200 men and two women;” (Huberman 1960: 28) the group was made up of students or graduates, and almost all were young like him and his brother Raúl. Most of them were “politically active, articulate and eager young people who had been attracted by radical movements or the ardently reformist Orthodox party of Eduardo Chibas.” (Macgaffey 1962: 275) The rebels gathered outside Santiago, in Fidel's native Oriente province, where they were able to launch an attack on the Moncada barracks, the army's second largest military installation. (Huberman 1960: 28; Macgaffey 1962: 275) The attack was scheduled for 26 July 1953, at dawn, during the annual carnival celebration. (McCormick 1998: 67) “With the carnival in full swing, Castro expected the military to lower its guard.” (Leonard 1999: 9) At dawn on July 26, they split into small groups to launch the assault, each group with specific objectives. The first intention was to “surprise and capture Fort Moncada, and take upgraded machine guns, tanks, armored trucks, rifles and ammunition.” (Huberman 1960: 28) They could then take over the radio stations (Hampsey 2002: 95) and "They had to announce a revolution based on 'Creole values' (Goldenberg 1965: 151) led by new men... free from all" obstacles with foreign nations and... the appetites of politicians. They promised economic well-being and prosperity, social justice, respect for other nations, and respect for the Constitution.” (Macgaffey 1962: 275, 276) “Such publicity was designed to call the people to revolt against the dictator, Batista,” (Hampsey 200… half of document… organize a military junta). (Goldenberg 1965: 163) However, before the plan could be put into action, "the Battle of Santa" Clara took place, ending in a total fiasco for the government troops. night of December 31, Batista and his collaborators fled to the Dominican Republic (Macgaffey 1962: 293). Immediately, Fidel called a general strike and subsequently, other major cities surrendered and Fidel and his rebels marched towards Havana (Goldenberg 1965:163; Macgaffey 1962:293) "Before dawn on January 2, Fidel's army marched to Santiago and accepted the unconditional surrender of Batista's forces at Moncada." (Goldenberg 1965: 163) The war was over and Fidel and his victorious army rode in triumph from one. end of the island to the other and arrived in Havana on 8 January (Goldenberg 1965: 163; Macgaffey 1962: 293)