Battle of Fajardo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Fajardo
Part of the Spanish–American War
Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan (Cape San Juan lighthouse), c. 1898. It is located on the northeastern part of the highest point of Cape San Juan in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
Date 8-9 August 1898 Location Fajardo, Puerto Rico Result inconclusive
Belligerents
Spain	United States
Commanders and leaders
Col. Pedro del Pino	Capt. Frederick Rodgers
Strength
200	2 protected cruisers 2 monitors 1 armed tug 1 collier 28 marines 1 machine gun
Casualties and losses
2 killed 3 wounded	1 died of wounds

The Battle of Fajardo was a fight between the armed forces of the United States and Spain. It happened on the night of August 8–9, 1898. This battle took place near the end of the Puerto Rican Campaign during the Spanish–American War.

Why the Battle Happened

At the end of July 1898, some U.S. Navy ships arrived near Fajardo, Puerto Rico. These ships included the USS Puritan and USS Amphitrite. They were supposed to meet U.S. Army troops there. However, the army general had changed the landing spot to another part of Puerto Rico.

Since the army wasn't there, Captain Frederick Rodgers of the Puritan sent a small team of sailors ashore. They went to check out the area near Fajardo. They saw Spanish troops and quickly returned to their ship.

Taking the Lighthouse

The next morning, Captain Rodgers sent another group of sailors ashore. They took control of the "Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan" (Cape San Juan lighthouse). They raised the American flag and told the lighthouse keepers to keep working.

Spanish officials in San Juan, Puerto Rico soon found out about the Americans. They ordered their troops in Fajardo to leave. They also told them to remove their telegraph equipment.

Fajardo Asks for Help

Dr. Santiago Veve Calzada, an important leader in Fajardo, saw that the Spanish troops had left. He worried that his town was now unprotected. He tried to get the Spanish to send troops back, but they didn't.

So, on August 5, Dr. Veve went to the lighthouse. He asked the American naval captains for help. He wanted them to protect Fajardo from any Spanish attacks. Captains Rodgers and Charles J. Barclay agreed to help. They especially wanted to protect the women and children.

Later that day, Captain Barclay and a small group of American sailors went ashore. They raised the U.S. flag over the Customs House and the City Hall in Fajardo. Captain Barclay also set up a local group of citizens to help patrol the town. He made Dr. Veve the military governor of the area.

Spain's Reaction

When Spanish Governor General Manuel Macías y Casado heard about this, he was angry. He ordered Colonel Pedro del Pino and 200 soldiers to go to Fajardo. Their mission was to take back the town. They were also told to capture Dr. Veve and anyone else who had helped the Americans.

When the people of Fajardo heard that Spanish troops were coming, they panicked. Many who had helped the Americans fled to nearby towns or into the hills. Dr. Veve and other leaders went to the American ship Amphitrite for safety. The Spanish troops entered Fajardo on the afternoon of August 7. They found the town mostly empty.

The Battle Begins

On the evening of August 6, Captain Barclay sent a group of 14 sailors back to the lighthouse. They were armed with rifles and a machine gun. Their job was to reoccupy the lighthouse and light its lamp. Another group of 14 sailors soon joined them.

Sadly, during this time, a young American naval cadet named William H. Boardman was badly hurt. His revolver accidentally fell and fired, hitting him. He died two days later. He was one of the few U.S. Navy deaths during the entire Spanish-American War.

Preparing for Attack

Meanwhile, the Spanish Colonel Pino and his troops found Fajardo almost deserted. About 60 women and children from important families, including Dr. Veve's family, were allowed to stay in the lighthouse with the American sailors. About 700 other Fajardo citizens camped in the nearby hills.

On August 8, the American sailors at the lighthouse prepared for a fight. They blocked windows and set up guards. They also put the machine gun on the roof to defend against an attack. They heard rumors that the Spanish were planning a big assault.

The Night Attack

Just before 11:00 PM on August 8, the American officer in charge, Lt. Atwater, saw movement in the woods. At 11:45 PM, he saw several men. Soon after, a burst of gunfire came from the surrounding woods.

Lt. Atwater quickly ordered the lighthouse lamp to be turned off. This was a signal to the American ships offshore that the lighthouse was under attack. The ship Cincinnati used its searchlight to light up the hill. This helped the American ships aim their guns at the Spanish troops.

Around 12:30 AM, a naval shell from an American ship hit the lighthouse walls. Luckily, it didn't explode, and no one inside was hurt. Lt. Atwater then ordered the lighthouse lamp to be turned back on. Soon after, the Spanish stopped firing, and the Americans stopped too. The American sailors fired 1,100 shots. They estimated the Spanish force had about 72 infantry and 24 cavalry. The Spanish had 2 killed and 3 wounded. The Americans kept control of the lighthouse and had no casualties during the battle itself.

After the Battle

The next morning, Captain Barclay decided to pull back the American landing party and the civilians. He felt there was no longer a good reason to hold the lighthouse. U.S. Marines and other sailors helped them leave safely. The women and children were taken to the USS Leyden and then to Ponce, Puerto Rico.

After the Americans left, Colonel Pino's men tore down the U.S. flags that had been flying in Fajardo. They then returned to San Juan, leaving only a small civil guard behind. The flags were sent to Madrid, Spain, where they are now in an army museum.

The Battle of Fajardo was the only time in the Puerto Rican Campaign that American forces left a position they had taken. However, it was not seen as a defeat. President McKinley even mentioned the event in his speech. He said that there was "no serious resistance" in Puerto Rico, except for a few fights, including the attack at Cape San Juan. He noted that by August 12, much of the island was under U.S. control.