Comodoro Py is not just a street in Buenos Aires
or locality of Santa Cruz.

I invite you to learn the history of this brave Marine,
Argentine Spanish birth and heart


Louis Py was born on March 22, 1819 in Barcelona, ​​Spain, studied at the Naval Academy in that city, graduating as a pilot. At the age of 24 years, in 1843, Argentina joined the Navy, starting in San Calá schooner, under orders of Nicholas George, later moving to the schooner Chacabuco and other ships in the war against the government of Defense, under the command of Admiral William Brown. He also participated in the siege of Montevideo (1843-1851).




By 1847 he joined the schooner Chacabuco again, this time as second in command, a squad that operates in the Parana River. He served under the command of Col. George Nicholas Greek and later by Colonel Jose Maria Pinedo. He also participated in operations against the Anglo-French blockade, produced between 1845 and 1850.

Path


After the battle of Caseros, which occurred on February 3, 1852, continued in service for the state government of Buenos Aires, Argentina rebel against the Confederacy, fighting against the blockade of the city, led by the fleet of the Confederacy. In 1859 he served under the command of Colonel Antonio Sussini loyal to Buenos Aires. He was later promoted to captain, working on the May 25 and other boats.

In that same year participated in the battle of the Martin Garcia Island, which helped support the army's advance into the province of Buenos Aires Santa Fe, where he was defeated at the Battle of Cepeda, contested the October 23, 1859, assisted in the transfer Buenos Aires back to the army of Bartolomé Mitre. In 1861, for a short time, Captain of the Port of Buenos Aires and then became part of the squad Jose Murature, which supported the new development of the Buenos Aires to the north, in which the winners in the battle of Pavón, issued on 17 September of that year.


Epaulet of Commodore Louis Py


In June 1861, Py took over the National Guard ship, replacing John Lamberti. A year later, the ship became the captain of the squad and defended Argentine interests on the River Uruguay. Between 1863 and 1864 remains the main vessel and patrol the river Uruguay, Paraná and La Plata, in December 1864 is designated as a stationary ship on the Uruguay River, located opposite the city of Paysandu.


Defense of Paysandu and Paraguay War

[Color = black] The National Guard was facing Paysandu when the single attack on the city, led by the revolutionary Venancio Flores and his allies in the squad and the Brazilian army. Py worked with Argentines living in the city, retreating to the province of Entre Rios before the capture of the city and the slaughter of its defenders.

After the help Paysandu, Py returned to Buenos Aires, however, soon broke the War of the Triple Alliance between Argentina, the Brazilian Empire and the State of Uruguay against Paraguay and the National Guard had to move the Argentine Army troops to the region. The ship arrived in Corrientes in May, joining the 1st Division of the Brazilian fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Francis M. Barroso.

Py and was a lieutenant colonel when he fought in the War of Paraguay. During the Battle of Paso de Cuevas, Py was on board of the National Guard, which received several shrapnel impacts. These resulted in several deaths, and one mortally wounded his son, Henry Py. He also participated in operations in the area of ​​Paso de la Patria. Transport services and support for most of the war as captain of a steamer.

He returned to Buenos Aires with the end of the war and, after being promoted to colonel graduated, he commanded a ship that supported the operation against the leader Ricardo López Jordán in Entre Ríos in 1870. He served as military commander of the island of Martin Garcia between 1871 and 1872. [/Color]

Revolution of 1874

President Sarmiento created a new team in 1874, placing under his command to Joseph Murature and Py as second. Participated in the repression of Buenos Aires marine who joined the Mitre revolution of that year, but failed to capture the ships commanded by the naval chief enemy Erasmus Obligado. He was given the task to pursue and capture the gunboat Paraná, which had revolted. Leandro N. Alem held the post of secretary in his squad.

Expedition to Santa Cruz

The gunboat Uruguay, now known as the Corvette Uruguay, is exhibited in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires.

The Chilean gunboat captured the ship Devonshire Magellan in 1878, belonging to the United States, Argentina had a permit to extract guano, this caused an international conflict. General Julio Argentino Roca, who served as Minister of War and Navy of Nicolás Avellaneda, Py sent to the region, commanding a fleet. Among the ships that were involved was the schooner Cape Horn, which was commanded by Luis Piedrabuena.


The gunboat Uruguay, now known as the Corvette Uruguay,
is exhibited in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires

He was appointed commander of the 2nd Division of the Argentina Navy, responsible for the south coast of Buenos Aires and Patagonia. In 1878 he commanded an exploration of Santa Cruz, with six vessels, with the aim of taking control of the region, where they had captured two ships operated with permission of Argentina. The government of Chile will play this territory to the national government as it tries to extend its dominance in this region to the Straits of Magellan. Py was ordered to take possession of the coast, facing the Chileans if necessary, but there were no confrontations.



Missionaries Canyon location where Py raised the flag Argentina

Commanding the Naval Division boats, among which were the monitor Los Andes, Uruguay and the bomber gunship Constitution, Py up the river Santa Cruz on November 27, 1878. Three days later it was established that would take place the artillery of the south bank of the river, with the objective of hoisting the national flag at the Canyon Missionaries.

On December 1, reaffirmed the sovereignty over the Patagonia, as the seventeen hours hoisted the national flag. He officially took possession of the mouths of rivers Gallegos, Deseado and Santa Cruz, founded in them two separate military ports. The latter summoned the town of Puerto Santa Cruz, replacing the settlement founded by Luis Pavón Piedrabuena on the island. This town was the capital of Homeland Santa Cruz, whose first governor was Carlos María Moyano, who had moved Py. He also took lessons there to pay the first class of graduates from the Naval Military School of the Nation. The ceremony was also attended by Captain Commodore Piedrabuena and future Martín Rivadavia.



Last years

After the successful company with 60 years of age, Py returned to Buenos Aires, where he was promoted to the rank of commodore and received a gold medal commemorating their work. He died in that city on February 22, 1884, the year in which the sub-prefectures created to fill Argentina's Patagonia institutionally.

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