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LUIS MARÍA ORDOÑEZ GOÑEZ
1869-1944
The Spanish American War Fajardo confrontation between US troops and Spanish Cavalry, where the United States lost the colors to the enemy. Ordonez, a Spanish Cavalry Sergeant of Volunteers, “Battalion Patria del 3ro Provincional”, lowered two United States flags flying in the Custom House and City Hall of the city of “Fajardo” under fire from US troops and warships. An accomplished, heroic and historical military achievement of the Spanish American War. The Spanish flags had been lowered the previous day and replaced with the US flag by US Marines, prior to the arrival of the Spanish Cavalry. After the war, the Spanish took the two American flags as war trophies to Spain. They stand in exhibit at the Military Museum in Madrid “Flags taken from the enemy during the Puerto Rico campaign”. “Cronicas de la Guerra Hispano-Americana” by Rivero. Follows: Shadowbox for pharmacist Luis Ordoñez and his brother, Dr. Jose (Pepe) Ordoñez
Luis Ordonez, a doctor in pharmacy, was the son of Angel Ordoñez y Pujol, 1825-1885, Doctor of Law, an eminent attorney and author, founder and first director of the "Banco Hipotecario Español de Madrid". His Mother was Josepha Goñez from Barcelona.
His first wife was Candida Bonilla from Madrid. She died during the birth of daughter, :eopoldina. Second wife was Rosa Sabater from Madrid. She had nine children namely: Ceresa, Luisa, Maria, Luanna, Rosa, Luis, Federico, Angel and Rafael.
A DAILY HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
August 1, 1898. US Navy Warships, the Monitors Amphitrite, and Puritan, the armed steam tug and transport, Leyden, the gun ship New Orleans and Coal Ship Hannibal, laid off Fajardo. The Cruisers Cincinnati and arrived on Aug. 5th. These vessels were later joined by the battleship Massachusetts arriving from “Guanica”, Puerto Rico.
On this day, 14 American Marines from the Puritan, landed on the Canalejo Beach of Fajardo at the command of Lt. Dresset. The Marines noticed a Spanish militia of 25 including Spanish soldiers, Civil Guards and local police. The US Marines did not engage the enemy and returned to their ship.
August 2. On the overwhelming presence of US ships and troops offshore, the small detachment of Spanish troops and Civil Guards abandoned the 8,000 inhabitants of the City of “Fajardo”. That night, Lieutenant Charles Atwater, 2nd Lieutenant K. M. Bennett, Engineer D. J Henkins, US Marine cadets W.H. Boardman and Paul Foley, paymaster O. F. Cate, Surgeon A.H. Heppner and 28 US Marines returned to shore to occupy the Fajardo Lighthouse. The lighthouse was needed for navigation and positioning of the US Fleet off shore.
August 3. The residents of Fajardo were planning reprisals against the Spaniards who owned the majority of the commercial business in the city. To prevent a massacre, Dr. Santiago Veve Calzada, tried to communicate by telegraph with the Spanish Commandant Francisco Sanchez Apeñadiz in the town of “Humacao”, to request and intervention with the situation in Fajardo.
August 5. Dr. Veve informs the US Marines at the Lighthouse, that the small detachment of Spanish troops had left the city two days before. However, the Fajardo residents were planning reprisals against the Spaniards in town. Dr. Veve was then escorted to meet the American Commandant on his Flag Ship, the Massachusetts. Dr.Veve asked the Americans to occupy the City of Fajardo.
He returned to Fajardo with Captain Barclay, and 14 US Marines. The Marines disarmed the municipal police and then raised the American Flag on the City Hall “Casa de Ayuntamineto” and Custom House. The Fajardo Mayor, Cristóbal Andreu, was re-instated and confirmed. The interpreter was Enrique Bird Arias. The Judge, Antonio R. Barceló, was present representing the Puerto Rico Autonomous Government, and takes note of the situation and actions of the Spaniards, the city residents and the US Military. Mariano Geigel, was present as chief of the telegraph office.
Dr. Veve was named military governor of the district by the Americans. Immediately, Dr. Veve organized a militia of volunteers under the command of dental surgeon, Prisco Vizcarrondo. Later this day, Apeñadiz, the Commandant of the Spanish forces in Humacao, learned of the surrender of Fajardo. He then prepared to recover Fajardo from the US troops and arrest the traitors, Dr. Vive, Dr. Vizcarrondo, Modesto Bird, Enrique Bird Arias, Luis Acosta and Miguel Veve. However, Commandant Apeñadiz, was ordered to hold in “Humacao”. The City of Fajardo was not aware that Apenadiz was not coming with his Spanish troops.
August 6. Dr Vives militia became apprehensive assuming that Commandant Apeñadiz and his cavalry were marching to Fajardo. The Vives militia , disbanded. Some went into hiding in their homes, surrounding farmlands and hills. Affluent residents scrambled to The Lighthouse seeking protection from the US Marines. Some of these were the Vive family, Manuel Caminas, the Bird family, Isabel Lopez Cruz and others, in all some sixty members of prominent families.
About 700 other Fajardo residents, including the staff and servants of the prominent families, took refuge in the hills and bushes north of the Lighthouse.
Dr. Vive and his accomplices boarded the Leyden, for their safety. Some 5,000-6,000 residents stayed in town.
August 7. A Spanish Cavalry detachment of 200 men was riding to Fajardo from San Juan under the command of Colonel Pedro del Pino. The detachment consisted of the Battalion Patria composed of Spanish regulars, Civil Guards, and Puerto Rico volunteers.
Lieutenant Atwater, US Marines, expected Spanish troops to attack the US Forces in Fajardo. Atwater sent the fluent in Spanish, Lance Corporal Brown to find the Spanish soldiers. Marine Brown dressed as a "paisano" and rode west of Fajardo. Five hours later, Brown reported the Spanish cavalry column rapidly advancing.
By the early afternoon of August 7, Sergeant Ordoñez, with a reconnaissance platoon from Col. Del Pino's column, entered Fajardo by the beach road circumventing the lighthouse, which the US Marines had occupied. From a hill the platoon saw the American ships off shore Fajardo and the American Flag flying over the City Hall and Customs Building. Without waiting for Colonel del Pino and his cavalry, the platoon at full gallop rode down the hill and entered town under fire from the enemy. Ordonez and his men gallantly proceeded under fire to the Custom House and after to the City Hall, and lowered the American flags and hoistef the Spanish flag. On the way to the City Hall, Coronel del Pino's troops were entering Fajardo from the west on the main road. The Spanish full cavalry detachment arrived the City Hall at 4:30 PM.
August 8. After midnight, Coronel del Pino advanced to the Lighthouse crossing the Isthmus and then up the hill hidden from the US Navy on the east of the Lighthouse. The Spanish Cavalry dismounted and opened fire on the Lighthouse occupied by US Marines. The American ships opened fire in defense of the Lighthouse. Around 5am, without any injuries or deaths on either side, the Spanish suspended the attack on the lighthouse and the US Navy ceased fire. At sunrise, a US Marine detachment from the Cincinnati and a detachment of sailors from the Amphitrite, commanded by Lieutenant Voney Chase was sent to Fajardo to re-enforce the Marines at the light house and engage the enemy. By then the firing had ceased between the US Marines at the Lighthouse and the Spanish Cavalry. The Americans troops expecting another attack from a larger Spanish force returned to their ships. Dr. Vive and the other traitors boarded the Leyden and Amphitrite and sailed to Ponce under American protection.
August 9. After the skirmish at the lighthouse, the Spanish troops returned to the city of Fajardo. They did not leave the city until the morning of the 9th.
The Fajardo expedition was the only engagement of the SAW Puerto Rico Campaign where American forces withdrew after conflict with Spanish Troops. It was also the only campaign where the US twice lost its colors to the enemy.
An Armistice was called on August 14, 1898 with orders to cease military hostilities.
Soon after the armistice, the American troops arrested Luis Ordoñez, for his heroic valor and patriotic achievement for Spain. He was placed under house arrest in Fajardo for various weeks. Dressed as a servant and tinted with charcoal, he would leave his house under cover of night. Ordoñez would visit with local Spaniards and Puerto Rico leaders of the Autonomous Government of Puerto Rico with the intent to organize a resistance against the American occupiers.