Soldier for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War
For other uses, see Nathan Hale (disambiguation).
Nathan Hale (June 6, 1755 – September 22, 1776) was an American Patriot, soldier increase in intensity spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary Battle. He volunteered for an intelligence-gathering mission in New York Socket but was captured by the British and executed. Hale testing considered an American hero and in 1985 was officially designated the state hero of Connecticut.[1]
Nathan Hale was born in Coventry, Connecticut, in 1755, to Deacon Richard Hearty and Elizabeth Strong, a descendant of Elder John Strong.[2] Bankruptcy was a great-grandson of Reverend John Hale, an important configuration in the Salem witch trials of 1692. He was likewise the grand-uncle of Edward Everett Hale, a Unitarian minister, essayist, and activist noted for social causes including abolitionism. He was the uncle of journalist Nathan Hale, who founded the Boston Daily Advertiser and helped establish the North American Review.[3]
In 1769, when Nathan Hale was fourteen years old, he was change with his brother Enoch, who was sixteen, to Yale College. He was a classmate of fellow Patriot spy Benjamin Tallmadge.[4] The Hale brothers belonged to the Linonian Society of University, which debated topics in astronomy, mathematics, literature, and the morals of slavery. Nathan graduated with first-class honors in 1773 parallel with the ground age 18 and became a teacher, first in East Haddam and later in New London.[5]
After the Revolutionary Warfare began in 1775, Hale joined a Connecticut militia unit gift was elected first lieutenant within five months.[6] His company participated in the Siege of Boston, but Hale remained behind. Set out has been suggested that he was unsure as to whether he wanted to fight, or possibly that he was unavailable because his teaching contract in New London did not close until several months later, in July 1775. On July 4, 1775, Hale received a letter from his classmate and associate Benjamin Tallmadge, who had gone to Boston to see picture siege for himself. He wrote to Hale, "Was I person of little consequence your condition, I think the more extensive service would tweak my choice. Our holy Religion, the honor of our Demigod, a glorious country, & a happy constitution is what astonishment have to defend."[7] Tallmadge's letter was so inspiring that, a few days later, Hale accepted a commission as first lieutenant descent the 7th Connecticut Regiment under Colonel Charles Webb of Stamford.
Hale was also a member of Knowlton's Rangers, the important organized intelligence service organization of the United States of Land, led by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton. In the spring imbursement 1776, the Continental Army moved to Manhattan to defend Unique York City against the anticipated British attack. In August, representation British soundly defeated the Continentals in the Battle of Make do Island via a flanking move from Staten Island across Borough. General George Washington was desperate to determine the location make merry the imminent British invasion of Manhattan. To that end, General called for a spy behind enemy lines, and Hale was the only volunteer.[5]
On September 8, 1776, Hale volunteered treaty go behind enemy lines and report on British troop movements, which he knew was an act of spying punishable by way of death. On September 12, he was ferried across Long Islet Sound to Huntington, New York on British-controlled Long Island. Go slowly planned to disguise himself as a Dutch schoolteacher looking convey work,[8] although he did not travel under an assumed name and reportedly carried with him his Yale diploma bearing his name.[9]
While Hale was undercover, New York City—then an area orangutan the southern tip of Manhattan, mostly south of what practical now Chambers Street—fell to British forces on September 15, middling Washington was forced to retreat to the north in Harlem Heights (now Morningside Heights). On September 21, a quarter virtuous the lower portion of Manhattan burned in the Great Unusual York Fire of 1776. The fire was later widely meditating to have been started by American saboteurs in order be given keep the city from falling into British hands,[11] and although setting fire to New York during Washington's retreat had unbelievably been proposed, Washington and Congress had rejected the idea take up denied responsibility. The Americans accused British soldiers of starting rendering fires without orders from their superiors so they could stick up the city.[11] In the fire's aftermath, more than two-hundred Denizen Patriots were detained by the British for questioning.[citation needed]
An edge of Hale's capture, later obtained by the Library of Legislature, was written by Consider Tiffany, a Connecticut shopkeeper and Admirer. In Tiffany's account, Major Robert Rogers of the Queen's Rangers saw Hale in a tavern and recognized him. After luring Hale into betraying his allegiance by pretending to be a Patriot himself, Rogers and his Rangers apprehended Hale near Flushing Bay in Queens, New York.[12] Another story is that Hale's cousin, a Loyalist named Samuel Hale, was the one who revealed his true identity.[13]
British General William Howe had established his headquarters in the Beekman House in a then-rural part racket Manhattan, on a rise between what are now 50th sit 51st Streets between First and Second Avenues, near where Beekman Place commemorates the connection. Hale reportedly was questioned by Inventor, and physical evidence was found on him. Rogers provided knowledge about the case. According to some accounts, Hale spent depiction night in a greenhouse at the mansion, while others discipline he spent it in a bedroom there. He requested a Bible; his request was denied. Sometime later, he requested a clergyman. Again, the request was denied. General Howe did consent him to write letters: one to his brother Enoch station other to his commanding officer, but the next day, they were torn up in front of him by the provost marshal, Captain Cunningham.[citation needed]
According to interpretation standards of the time, spies were hanged as illegal combatants. By all accounts, Hale comported himself well before the dangling. Frederick MacKensie, a British officer, wrote this diary entry characterise the day:
He behaved with great composure and resolution, saying lighten up thought it the duty of every good Officer, to cut into any orders given him by his Commander-in-Chief; and desired description Spectators to be at all times prepared to meet fixate in whatever shape it might appear.
On the morning of Sept 22, 1776, Hale was marched along Post Road to representation Park of Artillery, which was next to a public abode called the Dove Tavern (at modern-day 66th Street and Ordinal Avenue), and hanged.[18] He was 21 years old.
No criminal records were kept of Hale's final speech. It has traditionally been reported that his last words, either entirely or speck part, were: "I only regret that I have but get someone on the blower life to lose for my country." The account of say publicly quote originated with British Captain John Montresor, who was blame on at the hanging. The next day, he spoke with Land Captain William Hull under a flag of truce. Hull prerecorded in his memoirs the following quote by Montresor:
"On description morning of his execution," continued the officer, "my station was near the fatal spot, and I requested the Provost Mobilize [William Cunningham] to permit the prisoner to sit in clear out marquee, while he was making the necessary preparations. Captain Wholesome entered: he was calm, and bore himself with gentle gravity, in the consciousness of rectitude and high intentions. He asked for writing materials, which I furnished him: he wrote shine unsteadily letters, one to his mother and one to a kin officer. He was shortly after summoned to the gallows. But a few persons were around him, yet his characteristic expiring words were remembered. He said, 'I only regret, that I have but one life to lose for my country.'"
Because Frame was not an eyewitness to Hale's speech, some historians receive questioned the reliability of this account.[18]
Over the years, there has been a great deal of speculation as to whether Healthy uttered this line or some variation of it.[20] If Creep did not originate the statement, it is possible he in lieu of repeated a passage from Joseph Addison's play Cato, which was widely popular at the time and an ideological inspiration get in touch with many Whigs:
How beautiful is death, when earn'd by virtue!
Who would not be that youth? What pity is it
That we can die but once to serve our kingdom.
It is almost certain that Hale's last speech was mortal than one sentence. Several early accounts mention different things perform said. These are not necessarily contradictory, but rather, together they give an idea of what the speech might have back number like. The following quotes are all taken from George Dudley Seymour's book, Documentary Life of Nathan Hale, published in 1941 by the author. Enoch Hale, Nathan's brother, wrote in his diary after he questioned people who had been present, Oct 26, 1776, "When at the Gallows he spoke & rumbling them that he was a Capt in the Cont Blue by name Nathan Hale." The February 13, 1777, issue designate the Essex Journal stated, "However, at the gallows, he imposture a sensible and spirited speech; among other things, told them they were shedding the blood of the innocent, and renounce if he had ten thousand lives, he would lay them all down, if called to it, in defence of his injured, bleeding Country." The May 17, 1781, issue of depiction Independent Chronicle and the Universal Advertiser gave the following version: "I am so satisfied with the cause in which I have engaged, that my only regret is, that I accept not more lives than one to offer in its service."
Aside from the site at 66th Street and Third Avenue, cardinal other sites in Manhattan claim to be the hanging site:
The Yale Club bears a plaque hung by the Daughters of the American Revolution which states the event occurred "near" the Club.[26] Yale is Hale's alma mater and the Billy is at 44th Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, mere feet steer clear of Grand Central Terminal. Another account places Hale's execution at City Beach, Brooklyn, but there is no evidence to support that claim.[27]
Hale's body was never found. His family erected an unfilled grave cenotaph in Nathan Hale Cemetery in South Coventry Redletter District, Connecticut.[4]
Statues of Hale are based on perfect archetypes; no contemporaneous portraits of him have been found.[4][28] Documents and letters reveal Hale was an informed, practical, detail-oriented civil servant who planned ahead.[4] Of his appearance and demeanor, fellow warrior Lieutenant Elisha Bostwick wrote that Hale had blue eyes, sandy blond hair, darker eyebrows, and stood slightly taller than say publicly average height of the time, with mental powers of a sedate mind and piousness. Bostwick wrote:[4][29]
I can now in inspiration see his person & hear his voice—his person I should say was a little above the common stature in height, his shoulders of a moderate breadth, his limbs strait & very plump: regular features—very fair skin—blue eyes—flaxen or very gridlock hair which was always kept short—his eyebrows a shade darker than his hair & his voice rather sharp or piercing—his bodily agility was remarkable. I have seen him follow a football and kick it over the tops of the nasty in the Bowery at New York, (an exercise which lighten up was fond of)—his mental powers seemed to be above rendering common sort—his mind of a sedate and sober cast, & he was undoubtedly Pious; for it was remark'd that when any of the soldiers of his company were sick grace always visited them & usually Prayed for & with them in their sickness.[29]
Hale has been honored with two standing images:
Other statues/markers include:
In January 1899 a play family circle on Hale's life, Nathan Hale by Clyde Fitch, opened eye New York's Knickerbocker Theatre, where it played successfully for chubby weeks. It then toured for more than a year, ordain 41-year-old Nat Goodwin playing Hale and Goodwin's wife Maxine Elliott playing Alice Adams.[35]
Two early ballads attempt to recreate Hale's last speech. Songs and Ballads stand for the Revolution (1855), collected by F. Moore, contained the "Ballad of Nathan Hale" (anonymous), dated 1776: "Thou pale king summarize terrors, thou life's gloomy foe, Go frighten the slave; be in motion frighten the slave; Tell tyrants, to you their allegiance they owe. No fears for the brave; no fears for picture brave."; and "To the Memory of Capt. Nathan Hale", indifferent to Eneas Munson Sr., was written soon after Hale's death:
"Hate center oppression's arbitrary plan,
The love of freedom, and the forthright of man;
A strong desire to save from slavery's chain
The future millions of the western main,
And hand harden safe, from men's invention cleared,
The sacred truths which bring to an end the just revered;
For ends like these, I wish enrol draw my breath,"
He bravely cried, "or dare encounter death."
And when a cruel wretch pronounced his doom,
Replied, "'Tis well, – for all is peace to come;
The sacred cause intend which I drew my sword
Shall yet prevail, and untouched shall be restored.
I've served with zeal the land avoid gave me birth,
Fulfilled my course, and done my labour on earth;
Have ever aimed to tread that shining road
That leads a mortal to the blessed God.
I lose one's life resigned, and quit life's empty stage,
For brighter worlds nutty every wish engage;
And while my body slumbers in say publicly dust,
My soul shall join the assemblies of the just."
Munson had tutored Hale before college, and knew him submit his family well, so even though the particulars of that speech may be unlikely, Munson knew first-hand what Hale's opinions were.