LIFE 
 
 CAPTAIN NATHAN HALE 
 
 BY I. W. STUART. 
 M 
 
 , fofcilt fonlbf Tiriut totsf).eJ& in bain to 
 , irijgfjt an& cjmrous, founir a 
 Itbtitcj flamt fjts io^om 
 un& f)tm to fjtr .stof 
 
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 e jirtlrt of |^acc, tfji rising fjop^ of (Sltar ; 
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 fritnlrs uiuljan^ina, anlj stncm io J^taBin. 
 s^ort ^ts tourjji, i^t prt^t fioto jeatlj) toon, 
 mourns fyer 
 
 PBES. DWWHT. 
 
 WITH 1 1. L U S T K A i I N S . 
 
 HARTFORD: 
 
 P U B L I S H E I) BY F . A . B K O \V X 
 1856. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by 
 
 F. A. BROWN, 
 in the Clerk s Office of the District Court of Connecticut. 
 
 iyES^ OF AE, r TIFFANY AND, COMPANY, 
 
DEDICATED 
 
 TO 
 
 COLONEL CHARLES J. BUSS 
 
 IN MARK OF REGARD 
 
 FOR 
 
 HIS VALUABLE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE WORK 
 
 AND IN TOKEN 
 
 OP 
 
 PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 292026 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 "I DO think it hard," wrote Stephen Hempstcad, the friend 
 and companion of the subject of the following Memoir, "that 
 HALE, who was equally brave, young, accomplished, learned 
 and honorable should be forgotten on the very threshold of 
 his fame, even by his countrymen ; that while our own histo 
 rians have done honor to the memory of Andre, Hale should 
 be unknown ; that while the remains of the former have been 
 honored even by our own countrymen, those of the latter should 
 rest among the clods of the valley, undistinguished, unsought, 
 and unknown." 
 
 Most fully do we accord in sentiment with the patriotic re. 
 monstrant just quoted. It is indeed hard/ that a spirit exalted 
 as was that of Captain Nathan Hale that a life and conduct 
 like his own, so pure, so heroic, so disinterested, and so crowned 
 by an act of martyrdom one of the most galling and valiant 
 on record should not have been fitly commemorated, hitherto, 
 either by the pen of history or of biography. His remains the 
 dust and ashes of his body of these no one can tell the place 
 
ii PREFACE. 
 
 of interment. For aught that any exploration can reveal, they 
 may be now 
 
 " imprisoned in the viewless winds, 
 And blown with restless violence about 
 The pendent world " 
 
 though, it is certain, they were first deposited somewhere within 
 the circuit of the Empire-City of the Union and thousands of 
 gay-hearted mortals, at the present moment, daily and hourly, 
 walk probably over the spot, not knowing where they tread 
 and none can ever know until the Grave gives up its dead. 
 
 But this fact by no means excuses the silence of history about 
 the youthful hero. Marshall, Ramsay, Gordon, Butler, Botta 
 not one word, have they to say concerning him. Bancroft has 
 not yet reached him. Hannah Adams just mentions him. Popu 
 lar school histories merely allude to his fate. A brief sketch of 
 him by the late J. S. Bahcock, an author of Hale s native town, 
 which is beauteous for the spirit in which it is written, but is 
 comparatively barren of facts meagre notices of him in Allen s 
 Biographical Dictionary, in Pease and Niles Gazcteer, and in 
 Holmes Annals an Address before the Hale Monument Asso 
 ciation by the late Hon. A. T. Jndson, which embodies touch 
 ing comment on Hale s character, and the closing acts of his 
 career, but which does not assume to give the details of his 
 lif e _thcse, and a succinct talc which appeared in the New York 
 Sunday Times several years ago, together with a few paragraphs 
 in Sparks Life of Andre, and a few more in Thompson s His 
 tory of Long Island constitute, so far a.s we can ascertain, all 
 that has been done in the way of biographical contribution to 
 
PREFACE. ili 
 
 his memory. And as for notices of him, of any importance, 
 the other side of the Atlantic such of course we should hardly 
 expect nor arc there any, we think it may be safely affirmed. 
 In this dearth of memoir with regard to Hale feeling that 
 his life signally deserved an effort for its exhibition we began 
 to look for materials for the purpose. We consulted docu 
 ments of every kind, within our reach, that might by possibil 
 ity contain them and jotted down, one after another, each item 
 that we thought relevant and true. Fortunately we procured 
 Kale s own Camp-Book in which, for some time, he kept a 
 diary. We succeeded in obtaining some of his correspondence 
 a few letters from his own pen, and quite a number addressed 
 to him by others. We garnered the statements concerning him 
 
 made by his own faithful attendant in camp, Asher Wright 
 
 and those also of Stephen Hempstead, that confidential soldier 
 in his company to whom we have already referred, and who 
 was Kale s companion, for a portion of the time, on his last fatal 
 expedition. We consulted also many aged persons, in different 
 
 places several who were personally acquainted with Hale 
 
 and among these last, particularly, the lady to whom Hale was 
 betrothed, and the venerable Colonel SAMUEL GREEN, who, 
 at New London, was a pupil of Kale s, and remembered him, 
 and miny interesting facts concerning- him, perfectlv. We 
 made many inquiries of Kale s relatives, near and remote, end 
 among these, particularly, of two of his grand-nephews, CHAUN- 
 CEY HOWARD Esquire of Hartford, Connecticut, and Rev. 
 EDWARD E. H.VLK of Worcester, Massachusetts, to each of 
 whom we are indebted for much and valuable information. J. 
 1 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 W. BOYNTON Inquire also, of Coventry, the Secretary of the 
 Hale Monument Association Hon. HENRY C. DEMIXG, and 
 GEORGE BRINLEY Jr., Esquire, of Hartford Hon. H. E. 
 PECK, of New Haven the Rev. Dr. SPRAGDE, of Alhany, 
 New York Hon. JAMES W. BEEKMAN, of New York City 
 the late venerable Gen. JEREMIAH JOHNSON, of Brooklyn, 
 Long Island and especially HENRY ONDKRDONK Jr., Esquire, 
 of Jamaica, Long Island, author of the "Revolutionary 
 Sketches of Queens County " most politely added to our stores. 
 
 We procured also affidavits, or well-authenticated statements, 
 from various persons upon Long Island, who were cotempora- 
 ries of Hale, and conversant with his fate as from Robert 
 Townsend, a farmer of Oyster Bay, who heard the details of 
 his capture from the British officer who seized him, Captain 
 Quarme from Solomon Wooden, a shipbuilder, in 1776, near 
 the place of Hale s capture, and familiar with its incidents 
 from the families of Jesse Fleet and Samuel Johnson, who lived 
 at Huntington, East Neck, upon the very spot where he was 
 made a prisoner and particularly from Andrew liegeman, 
 and Tunis Bogart, honest farmers, who during the Revolution 
 were impressed from Long Island as waggoners in the British 
 service, and who themselves saw Hale executed. We had 
 besides in our possession the report made to General Hull by 
 an- officer of the British Commissariat Department, who also 
 saw Hale hung. 
 
 Thus furnished with materials and more abundantly than at 
 first we expected we began to prepare the present volume. 
 Yet at best considering how much really there must have been in 
 
PREFACE. V 
 
 the lite and diameter of Hale, attractive to a laudable curiosity, 
 that like the dust into which his manly frame has been dissi 
 pated, must lie hidden forever from our knowledge we were 
 but poorly equipped. Many things, to be written down, it is 
 true, were plain were easy of arrangement, an* caused no 
 embarrassment to our pen. But other things again, worthy of 
 record, were wrapt in gloom. There were points, hitherto in 
 dispute, to be settled. There were points, unknown when we 
 commenced our labor, to be developed in the progress, and by 
 the process of examination. Side by side then, or stretched 
 out in links seemingly incapable of connection, we placed our 
 various materials many of them scraps merely of information, 
 atomic, insulated, and wholly unpromising of results. Com 
 parison and contrast gradually shed light upon them. They 
 grew related. They knit together. Little family groups of 
 affiliated facts and conclusions started up from their midst, and 
 ever and anon, as new and pleasant merchandise, aided to load 
 up the train of our biography. 
 
 So we proceeded, on to our journey s end slowly but sure 
 ly, we would fain believe with all the certainty that could 
 attend our steps, and where it did not, certain of our uncertain 
 ty. We have at last, consequently, cut a road for all who wish 
 ro travel over the life of Hale not a long one to those who 
 may pursue it nor tedious, we fain would trust. We have 
 not. it will be observed, set up thickly along in its course the 
 l>osts of authorities, but content ourselves with erecting one 
 large and general one at our point of departure here in this 
 Preface in the paragraphs just above. Therewith will not 
 every traveller in our track be satisfied ? We trust that he will. 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 Sonic notes he will find by the way, but they are made, chiefly,, 
 to illustrate the text seldom for the purpose of proving its gen 
 uineness. 
 
 A Grnealoi/y nf the Family of Xathan JIalc, now for the first 
 time published, will also be found. It is from the pen of a gen 
 tleman, to whom we have already alluded as one of the grand- 
 nephews of the subject of this Memoir the Rev. EDWARD 
 E. HALE, of Worcester, Massachusetts. Prepared, as it has 
 been, with great labor of research, with scrupulous judgment, 
 and skill of arrangement, it forms a most valuable addition to 
 the present volume, and can not prove otherwise than accepta 
 ble, to all especially of tlie Jfa/c blood. Our own obligations to> 
 its worthy author for the pains he has taken in its execution., 
 and for its gratuitous use in our pages, are deep and abiding. 
 
 Pictorial illustrations also the Header will find views, first 
 of Kale s Birth-Place second, of Hale and his brothers play 
 ing the forbidden game of Morris third of his entering New York 
 with his Prize Sloop fourth, of his passing in disguise within the 
 Camp of the Enemy fifth, of his Capture sixth, of his march 
 to Execution seventh, of his Camp Basket, and Camp Book 
 eighth, of his Monument and ninth, of Andre. Save the first 
 view, which, chiefly, is copied from one by J. W. Barber Es. 
 quire in his "Historical Collections of Connecticut," and that 
 of the Monument, procured originally by the Secretary of the 
 "Hale Association," and that of Andre, from a copy of the 
 one in the Triinihiill (Jallery at New Haven they have all been 
 designed under the eye of the author of this work in the first 
 instance for his own gratification simply as an ornament for 
 
PREFACE. Vli 
 
 his parlor and without reference to publication. The second 
 owes its origin to the skilful pencil of Henry Bryant, artist, of 
 Hartford. The third is from the quick and ingenious hand of 
 W. M. B. Hartley Esquire, of New York. The rest were 
 designed by Joseph Ropes, a highly accomplished artist, also of 
 Hartford, Connecticut. They have all been copied and impress 
 ed, with most praiseworthy care, at the excellent Lithographic 
 Establishment of E. B., and E. C. Kellogg, also of Hartford. 
 
 That his labor may prove grateful, and instruct the patriot 
 ism of the Reader, and move his noblest sensibilities in behalf 
 of one, 
 
 The pride of Peace, the rising hope of War," 
 
 who, in a crisis of danger the most appalling, gave up youth, 
 hope, ambition, love, life, all, for his native land, is the fervent 
 wish of the author of the following pages. Through these, 
 NATHAN HALE, the illustrious MARTYR-SPY OF THE AMERI 
 CAN REVOLUTION, asks to be remembered by his countrymen. 
 
 I. W STUART. 
 CHARTER OAK PLACE, 
 
 Xov. 30th, 1855. 
 
COX TENTS. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Page. 
 
 KALE S birth, family, and birth place. His early training. 
 He prepares for College. He enters Yale. His career 
 in College. He graduates, and takes a school in East 
 Haddam, Conn. His occupations there. He removes to 
 New London, and continues to teach. His feelings and 
 ability as an instructor. The manner in which he spent 
 his time. His correspondence. His personal appear 
 ance. His great activity. The rich promise of his youth. 13 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The Lexington Alarm. Hale gives up his school, and 
 joins the army as a volunteer. His motives in doing so- 
 Is stationed for : while at New London. Leaves for 
 Boston. The prospect before him. Joins the brigade 
 of Gen. Sullivan. His life for six months in the Camp 
 around Boston. His skill in military discipline his 
 studies his amusements with extracts from his Diary. 35 
 
CONTKNTS. 
 
 CHAT. III. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Hale leases tin- vicinity of Boston for Xew Vork. His 
 gallant capture ol a British sloop in the East River. 
 His station, occupation, patriotism, attachments, and 
 characteristic modesty, illustrated by letters from his 
 own pen fii 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Circumstances of (lie American and British armies when 
 Hale undertook his fatal mission. The office of a spy 
 its danger its ignominy. Col. Knowltou commissioned 
 by Gen. Washington to procure some one to undertake 
 it. He appeals to American officers, and to a French 
 Serjeant in the army. They all refuse, save Hale, who 
 readily volunteers for the duty. His fellow-officers 
 warmly remonstrat< but in vain. Hale noblv persists 
 in his purpose - . 74 
 
 After receiving instructions from (icneral Washington, 
 he starts upon his expedition, accompanied by Stephen 
 Hcmpstead, a confidential soldier of his own company. 
 They reach Norwalk, Connecticut. Hale here assumes 
 a disguise, parts with his companion, and leaves for Lono- 
 
CONTENTS. XI 
 
 Page. 
 
 Island in the sloop Huntington, Captain Pond. Safe 
 passage across the Sound. His journey to New York, 
 and its risk? 9O 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 He starts on his return to the American Camp. Reaches 
 the " Cedars," East Neck, Huntington, L. I., where he 
 is captured. His behaviour on the occasion. Is carried 
 to New York. The great fire in the city at the time. 
 Is immediately taken before Gen. Howe. The head 
 quarters, appearance, and character of the British Com 
 mander-in-chief. Hale s heroic conduct upon his exam 
 ination. Is condemned as a spy, and is to be hung " at 
 daybreak the next morning " 101 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 A reflection. Hale unappalled. His confinement after 
 sentence. His jailer and executioner, William Cunning 
 ham, Provost-Marshal of the British army. Cruel treat 
 ment of Hale. His gloomy situation. His noble en 
 durance. Writes letters to his friends, and prepares 
 himself, sublimely, for the catastrophe. Is taken out to 
 die. The brutal Provost-Marshal tauntingly demands 
 from him a dying speech. That speech ! The fatal 
 swing 11<> 
 
Xll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Page . 
 Kffect of Halo s death upon (icn. Washington upon the 
 
 American army upon his relatives and friends else 
 where upon his rump attendant, Ashcr Wright. Deep 
 and general mourning. The Hale Monument Associa 
 tion. The Monument. Extracts from poetry in memo 
 ry of Hale. An epitapli hy a friend. Comparison 
 hctween Hale and Andre. Conclusion. . . 1,36 
 
 A P P E N I) I X . 
 
 Page. 
 
 A. Genealogy of the Family of Nathan Hale, .... 185 
 
 B. Sketch of the lady to whom Hale was betrothed, . . 203 
 
 C. Hale s Diary, 205 
 
 D. Remarks on Hale hy Hon. II. J. Raymond of New 
 
 York. . 227 
 
NATHAN HALE. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 Hale s birth, family, and birthplace. His early training. He 
 prepares for College. He enters Yale. His career in Col 
 lege. He graduates, and takes a school in East Haddam, 
 Conn. His occupations there. He removes to New London, 
 and continues to teach. His feelings and ability as an in 
 structor. The manner in which he spent his time. His cor 
 respondence. His personal appearance. His great activity. 
 The rich promise of his youth. 
 
 NATHAN HALE was born in Coventry, Con 
 necticut, June sixth, 1755. He was the sixth of 
 twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, 
 offspring of Richard and Elisabeth Hale, and 
 was the third in descent from John Hale, the 
 first minister of Beverly, Massachusetts.* His 
 father, a man of sterling integrity, piety and 
 industry, had emigrated early in life from New- 
 
 * See Appendix A. 
 
 2 
 
14 N A T H A N H A L E . 
 
 bury in Massachusetts to Coventry, where, as 
 farmer, magistrate, deacon in the church, and 
 representative several times in the General As 
 sembly, he passed a long, laborious and useful 
 life, and died on the first of June, 1802, much 
 lamented. His mother, the daughter of Joseph 
 and Elisabeth Strong, of Coventry, was a lady 
 of high moral and domestic worth, strongly at 
 tached to her children, and careful of their cul 
 ture. The family was eminently Puritan in its 
 faith, tastes, and manners a quiet, strict, godly 
 household, where the Bible ruled, and family 
 prayers never failed, nor was grace ever omitted 
 at meals, nor work done after sundown on a 
 Saturday night. 
 
 The nature of Nathan Halc s early training 
 may hence be understood. He must have been 
 brought up scrupulously "in the fear of God." 
 His after life proves that he was, though when 
 a stripling his lively instincts led him at times 
 to rebel a little, with some of his brothers, but 
 never rudely, against parental strictness. A 
 pleasing incident is preserved, illustrating this 
 
NATHAN HALE. 15 
 
 last remark. His father forbade his children to 
 use the morris-board, thinking the diversion 
 might lead to evil, and to restrain them, would 
 allow at times but one light in the room. This 
 he was accustomed to hold in his own hand, 
 while he sat in a* large arm-chair, and read till 
 he sank to sleep. The attempt to remove the 
 candlestick from his grasp was almost sure to 
 result in" -waking him. So the boys, Nathan 
 among them, used to cluster around his chair, 
 and play out their games on the morris-board, 
 while the sleeping father, unconsciously at the 
 time, 
 
 " Holding the tallow candle till its close, 
 Let no flame waste o er his repose." 
 
 The old-fashioned, two-storied house in which 
 scenes like this just described took place, stands 
 upon elevated ground, with a fine prospect west 
 ward, and had, at the time of which we speak, 
 the appendages of copious yards and outbuild- 
 
16 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 ings, and trees,* while the town around, the gift 
 of the Mohegan sachem Joseph to its first pro 
 prietors, was much varied by hill and dale, forest 
 and meadow, and beautified with a large lake 
 and numerous streams. 
 
 Nathan early exhibited a fondness for those 
 rural sports to which such a birthplace and 
 scenery naturally invited him. He loved the 
 gun and fishing-rod, and exhibited great inge 
 nuity in fashioning juvenile implements of every 
 sort. He was fond of running, leaping, wrest 
 ling, firing at a mark, throwing, lifting, playing 
 ball. In consequence, his infancy, at first feeble, 
 soon hardened by simple diet and exercise into 
 a firm boyhood. And with the growth of his 
 body, his mind, naturally bright and active, de 
 veloped rapidly. He mastered his books with 
 ease, was fond of reading out of school, and was 
 constantly applying his information. His moth 
 er, and particularly his grandmother Strong, 
 nourished his thirst for knowledge, and to their 
 
 * Sec Frcmtispiece. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 17 
 
 influence it was owing that his father at last 
 consented, contrary to his original purpose, 
 fit him for college. He was to be educated for 
 the ministry, as were also two of his brothers, 
 and was placed as a pupil under the care of 
 Doctor Joseph Himtington, the pastor of the 
 parish in which he was born. 
 
 Classical academies were then rare out of the 
 county towns of New England, and the country 
 boy who aspired to a liberal education was gen 
 erally compelled to learn his Latin and Greek 
 from the clergyman. And in most cases he was 
 thus well taught. In Hale s instance there is 
 no doubt of the fact. His instructor, as his 
 various controversial and other writings show, 
 was very competent. He "was considered in 
 the churches a pattern of learning," was labori 
 ous, assiduous, and mild, and when, in 1770, 
 young Nathan, then in his sixteenth year, pre 
 sented himself for admission to the halls of 
 Yale, we have reason to believe that he passed 
 the ordeal of examination with more than usual 
 2* 
 
18 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 credit in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and a 
 very reputable acquaintance with Sallust, Cicero, 
 and the Greek Testament. 
 
 Of his career in college but little is known. 
 That it was distinguished by good scholarship, 
 good behaviour, and industry, is however certain. 
 That it was marked by great popularity among 
 his fellows, and with the Faculty, is equally cer 
 tain. Doctor Dwight, his tutor, entertained a 
 very high idea of his capacity. He has beauti 
 fully eulogized him in verse. He was wonted, 
 down to the close of his life, frequently to recur 
 to him, and always in terms of admiration of 
 his course in college, and of deep regret for his 
 untimely fate.* By him, as also from relatives 
 of the pupil, we are assured that Hale was pecu- 
 
 *In the American Historical Magazine for January, 1836, is 
 a communication, signed M., and written, we are assured by 
 the Editor, by "a gentleman who was connected with the med 
 ical staff of the Revolutionary army," and who was "an early 
 acquaintance and friend of Hale." In this the writer says : 
 "Nathan Hale I was acquainted with, from his frequent visits 
 at my father s house, while an academical student. His own 
 
NATHAN HALE. 19 
 
 liarly fond of scientific pursuits, and that in 
 these he stood at the head of his class. " And 
 Science lured him to her sweet abode," is the 
 language of Doctor Dwight a fact proved also 
 by the preponderance of books in this depart 
 ment in Hale s own little library among which, 
 particularly, was a new and complete Dictionary, 
 in four large octavo volumes, of the arts and 
 sciences comprehending all the branches of 
 useful knowledge, with accurate descriptions as 
 well of various machines and instruments as of 
 the classes, kinds, preparations and uses of nat 
 ural productions, and illustrated with above 
 three hundred copperplate engravings. In the 
 languages also he was a proficient. He stood, 
 as the Commencement Exercises show, among 
 the first thirteen in a class of thirty-six. 
 
 That he was anxious for mental improvement, 
 
 remarks, and the remarks of my father, left at that period an 
 indelible impression on my mind." "His urbanity and general 
 deportment were peculiarly attracting, and for solid acquire 
 ments I am sure he would lose nothing in comparison with 
 Andre." 
 
20 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 and labored diligently to secure it, is proved by 
 other facts. While at Yale, he actively aided 
 to found and sustain the Liiiouian Society of 
 this institution and he was in the habit of epis 
 tolary correspondence with some of his class 
 mates upon literary subjects, themes of taste 
 and criticism, of grammar and philology. He 
 would correct carefully, and in writing, the 
 compositions of some of his fellows, and receive 
 the same friendly office in return. A letter from 
 Benjamin Tallmadge,* his classmate, still pre 
 served, is of this character, in which the latter 
 vindicates his own use of the comparative de 
 gree against a previous criticism by Hale. 
 
 Nor did Hale while in college forget his ath 
 letic sports. The marks of a prodigious leap 
 which he made upon the Green in New Haven, 
 were long preserved, and pointed out. His in 
 tercourse witli his mates was always affable. 
 He formed many college friendships, and they 
 
 * This kind of exercise, writes Tallmadge, gives us " oppor 
 tunity to scrutinize all manner of writing and to avoid defects, 
 and promotes careful consideration of assertions." 
 
NATHANHALE. 21 
 
 lasted till his death with James Hillhouse, Ben 
 jamin Tallmadgc, Roger Alden, John P. Wyllys, 
 Thomas Mead, Elihu Marvin, and others his 
 classmates, with whom he kept up an intimate 
 correspondence as long as he lived. He was 
 assigned, on graduating, a part with Tallmadge, 
 and William Robinson, and Ezra Samson, in a 
 Latin Syllogistic Dispute, followed by a Foren 
 sic Debate, on the question, "Whether the Edu 
 cation of Daughters be not, without any just 
 reason, more neglected than that of Sons" a 
 curious theme, as implying in that early day an 
 inattention to the mental cultivation of the 
 gentler sex which cannot be charged on our 
 own age. How Hale managed with the subject 
 we are not informed, but an especial favorite as 
 he always was with the ladies, we doubt not 
 that his nature urged him upon this occasion to 
 vindicate their claims to educational advantages. 
 Soon after graduating, which was in Septem 
 ber, 1T73, he commenced keeping school. His 
 first engagement in this way was at East Had- 
 dam, where he spent the winter of 1773-4 ; in 
 
22 NATHANHALE. 
 
 what kind of school precisely we are not in 
 formed, hut probably in some select one where 
 he was required to instruct both in English and 
 in the Classical Tongues. East Haddam was 
 at this time a place of much wealth and busi 
 ness activity, but if we are to judge from Hale s 
 own description, rather secluded from the rest 
 of the world. 
 
 "I was at the receipt of your letter," he 
 writes his friend Mead, May second, 1774, from 
 New London, " in East Haddam (alias Moodus,) 
 a place which I at first, for a long time, con 
 cluded inaccessible either by friends, acquaint 
 ance, or letters. Nor was I convinced of the 
 contrary until I received yours, and at the same 
 time two others from Alden and Wyllys. It 
 was equally, or more difficult, to convey any 
 thing from Moodus." 
 
 But though thus secluded, it is the testimony 
 of a highly intelligent old lady,* who knew Hale 
 well when he resided in East Haddam, that he 
 
 * The late Mrs. Hannah Pierson. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 23 
 
 was happy, faithful, and successful in his office 
 of teacher. " Everybody loved him," she said, 
 "he was so sprightly, intelligent, and kind" 
 and, she added withal, "so handsome!" The 
 rich scenery of the town, its rocky and uneven 
 face, the phenomena from which it derives its 
 Indian name, its numerous legends of Indian 
 Pawaws, its Mount Tom and Salmon River, 
 were all sources of great delight to the young 
 instructor, as habitually, the cares of school 
 being over, he wandered around for air and 
 exercise, for pleasure and the sports of the 
 chase there 
 
 " where the little country girls 
 Still stop to whisper, and listen, and look, 
 And tell, while dressing their snnny curls, 
 Of the Black Fox of Salmon Brook." 
 
 His happy combination of amiability, vivac 
 ity, and intelligence, soon attracted attention 
 elsewhere, and in the winter of 1773-4, we find 
 him negotiating with the Proprietors of the 
 
24 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 Union Grammar School in New London for the 
 charge of that institution. This school was a 
 select one, where none were accepted as teach 
 ers but those "whose characters bore the strict 
 est scrutiny," and where Latin, English, writing, 
 and arithmetic were taught, and where the sal 
 ary was seventy pounds a year, with the privi 
 lege of teaching, out of the regular school hours, 
 private classes. In the spring of 1774 Hale 
 took this situation, and in a letter to his friend 
 Roger Alden, dated New London, May second, 
 1774, thus describes it: 
 
 " I am at present in a school in New London. 
 I think my situation somewhat preferable to 
 what it was last winter. My school is by no 
 means difficult to take care of it consists of 
 about thirty scholars, ten of whom are Latiners, 
 and all but one of the rest are writers. I have 
 a very convenient school-house, and the people 
 are kind and sociable. I promise myself some 
 more satisfaction in writing and receiving letters 
 from you than I have as yet had. I know of 
 no stated communication, but without any doubt 
 
NATHAN HALE. 25 
 
 opportunities will be much more frequent than 
 while I was at Moodus." 
 
 In a letter to his uncle at Portsmouth, N. H., 
 dated New London, September twenty-fourth, 
 1774, he gives a further history of his school- 
 keeping, five months later. 
 
 "My own employment," he says, "is at pres 
 ent the same that you have spent your days in. 
 I have a school of 32 boys, about half Latin, 
 the rest English. The salary allowed me is 
 70 per annum. In addition to this I have 
 kept, during the summer, a morning school, be 
 tween the hours of five and seven, of about 20 
 young ladies; for which I have received 6s. 
 a scholar, by the quarter. The people with 
 whom I live are free and generous; many of 
 them are gentlemen of sense and merit. They 
 are desirous that I would continue and settle in 
 the school, and propose a considerable increase 
 of wages. I am much at a loss whether to 
 accept their proposals. Your advice in this 
 matter, coming from an uncle and from a man 
 who has spent his life in the business, would, I 
 
26 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 think, be the best I could possibly receive. A 
 few lines on this subject, and also to acquaint 
 me with the welfare of your family, if your 
 leisure will permit, will be much to the satis 
 faction of your most dutiful nephew, 
 
 "NATHAN HALE." 
 
 This letter shows that Hale s services as a 
 teacher at New London were highly apprecia 
 ted by his employers a fact which we learn 
 also abundantly from other sources, and partic 
 ularly from his pupils who, in after years, all 
 spoke in strong terms, both of his skill in instruc 
 tion, and of his excellence as a man.* 
 
 * One of these pupils, Colonel Samuel Green, now of Hartford, 
 Connecticut, still survives and the following is his testimony : 
 " Hale," he informs us, " was a man peculiarly engaging in his 
 manners these were mild and genteel. The scholars, old and 
 young, were attached to him. They loved him for his tact and 
 amiability. He was wholly without severity, and had a won 
 derful control over boys . He was sprightly, ardent and steady 
 bore a fine moral character, and was respected highly by all his 
 acquaintance. The school in which he taught was owned by 
 the first gentlemen in New London, all of whom were exceed 
 ingly gratified by Hale s skill and assiduity." With this agrees 
 
NATHAN HALE. 27 
 
 His time at New London, out of school, was 
 spent, a portion in social pleasures, but much of 
 it in self-culture. The letters addressed to him 
 which remain, as well as some letters of his own, 
 show that he cultivated the intimacies he con 
 tracted in college, as well as those which grew 
 up elsewhere, with great assiduity, and that he 
 wrote as well to improve his understanding as 
 to pour out his friendship. The labors and 
 duties of a teacher were a frequent theme in 
 his letters to his classmates engaged in the same 
 
 the testimony of Mrs. Elisabeth Poole, of New London, long 
 an inmate of the same family with Hale, who says that " his 
 capacity as a teacher, and the mildness of his mode of instruc 
 tion, were highly appreciated both by parents and pupils " 
 that " he was peculiarly free from the shadow of guile " and 
 that " his simple, unostentatious manner of imparting right views 
 and feelings to less cultivated understandings " was unsurpassed 
 by that of any individual, who, at the period of her acquaintance 
 with him, or after, had fallen under her observation. To the 
 same effect Miss Cattlkin.s, in her History of New London, 
 remarks, that " as a teacher, Capt. Hale is said to have been a 
 tirm disciplinarian, but happy in his mode of conveying instruc 
 tion, and highly respected by his pupils." 
 
28 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 vocation. Nor were the ladies forgotten by his 
 pen. He had many female correspondents, and 
 among these one, to his fancy " a bright, particu 
 lar star " he " thought to wed " a young lady 
 of his native town with whom, in his father s 
 family, he passed several years of intimacy, and 
 to whom while in college he was betrothed.* 
 
 * It is to her that William Robinson his classmate in college, 
 refers in the following passage in a letter dated Windsor, [Conn.,] 
 January twentieth, 1773, and addressed to Hale at East Haddam. 
 
 " My school is not large ; my neighbors are kind and clever, 
 and (summatim) my distance from a house on your side the 
 river which contains an object worthy the esteem of every one, 
 and, as I conclude, has yours in an especial manner, is not great." 
 
 Her maiden name was Alice Adams, and she was born in 
 Canterbury, Connecticut. Her mother was the second wife of 
 Captain Hale s father. She was distinguished both for her 
 intelligence and her beauty. [See Appendix B.] 
 
 After Hale s death she married for her first husband, Mr. Elea- 
 zer Ripley, who left her a widow at eighteen years of age, with 
 one child. The child died about a year after its father s death. 
 She subsequently married William Lawrence Esquire, of Hart 
 ford, Connecticut, where she lived highly esteemed, to a ripe old 
 age. She died September fourth, 1845, aged eighty-eight. She 
 possessed for many years a miniature of Hale, besides numerous 
 
NATHAN HALE. 29 
 
 Sometimes, though without a poet s just pre 
 tence, with no attempt at the graces 
 
 " which methods teach, 
 And which a master hand can only reach," 
 
 he threw his thoughts into rhyme but not often, 
 unless provoked by some poetical epistle which 
 he received as once by one from his friend 
 Tallmadge at Wethersfield, Connecticut, to 
 whom, in reply to an apology by the latter for 
 his Muse, Hale writes, 
 
 letters from him, and one of his Camp-Books. The miniature, 
 most unfortunately, has disappeared. So also have the letters ; 
 but the Camp-Book we have seen and examined. It is now in 
 the possession of one of the lady s grand-daughters, to whose 
 polite and careful noting of her grandmother s statements we 
 are indebted for several very interesting facts about Hale. 
 
 Shakespeare makes " the idolatrous fancy " of a surviving lover 
 "sanctify the relics" of a lover lost, and the strongest memo 
 ries of old age, it is well known, fasten upon the years and events 
 of youth. It is a striking circumstance in illustration, that 
 the lady in question, just as her pulse of life was ebbing to its 
 stop, murmured, as her last words on earth, " Write to Nathan ! " 
 
 3* 
 
30 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 " You re wrong to blame 
 Your generous Muse, and call her lame ; 
 For when arrived, no mark was found 
 Of weakness, lameness, sprain or wound " 
 
 and bestriding her himself, he describes her as 
 tripping, " without or spur or whip," back " along 
 the way she lately trod " giving 
 
 " no fear or pain, 
 Unless at times to hold the rein " 
 
 until at last, arrived at Wethersfield, Tallmadge 
 is invited, from the appearance of his Pegasus, 
 to judge, 
 
 " unless entirely sound, 
 If she could bear [Hale] such a round." 
 
 It is the testimony of all who knew Hale, both 
 at New London and elsewhere, that he was ever 
 busy. "A man ought never to lose a moment s 
 time," he enters in his Diary "if he put off a 
 thing from one minute to the next, his reluc- 
 
NATHAN HALE. 31 
 
 tance is but increased " and his own life fully 
 conformed to the injunction which he thus form 
 ally notes down. " Always employed about 
 something," testifies Mrs. Lawrence, "he was 
 ingenious and persevering." When his head 
 was not at work, his hands were. Here, for 
 example, is a large and beautiful Powder-horn, 
 
 still remaining, which he fashioned during one 
 of his college vacations.* Mrs. Lawrence, when 
 a girl and a member of his father s family, frc- 
 
 * It is now in possession of a grandson of the Mrs. Lawrence 
 mentioned in the text, William Roderic Lawrence Esq., of 
 Hartford, Connecticut who received it from his father, to 
 whom it was given by Deacon Richard Hale, the father of 
 Xathan. We are much indebted to Mr. Lawrence for the beau 
 tiful delineation of it by his own hands. 
 
32 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 quently saw him at work upon it, and remem 
 bered to her dying day the peculiar concentra- 
 tiveness of attention, and the zest with which 
 upon this, as upon everything else in the way of 
 construction that he undertook, he labored to 
 bestow shape and comeliness. 
 
 He used to say that he " could do anything 
 but spin," as he laughed with the girls over the 
 spinning-wheel at Coventry. 
 
 In height he was about five feet and ten 
 inches, and was exceedingly well proportioned. 
 His figure was elegant and commanding. He 
 had a full, broad chest, full face, light blue eyes, 
 light rosy complexion, and hair of a medium 
 brown. The elasticity of his frame is well at 
 tested by feats which he used frequently to per 
 form in New London. He not only, says Colonel 
 Green, would put his hand upon a fence high as 
 his head and clear it easily at a bound, but would 
 jump from the bottom of one empty hogshead 
 over and down into a second, and from the bot 
 tom of the second over and down into a third, 
 and from the third over and out, like a cat. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 33 
 
 u His face," adds Colonel Green, " was full of 
 intelligence and benevolence, of good sense and 
 good feeling." "Every new emotion," says 
 Mrs. Poole, " lighted it with a brilliancy per 
 ceptible to even common observers." " He had 
 marks on his forehead," says Asher Wright, 
 " so that every body would know him who had 
 ever seen him, having once had powder flashed 
 in his face. He had also a large hair mole on 
 his neck, just where the knot came. In his boy 
 hood his companions sometimes twitted him 
 about it, saying he would be hanged." 
 
 Thus, genial in his nature of refined ad 
 dress of remarkable personal beauty neat, 
 unusually so both in his habits and dress seri 
 ous or gay with the nature of the occasion or 
 subject quick to discern and to relish a joke 
 of a disposition exceedingly affectionate con 
 stant in his friendships always ready to lend a 
 helping hand it is the uniform testimony of 
 those who knew him, that no person more than 
 Hale was the idol of his acquaintances, and that 
 no young man of his day commenced life under 
 
34 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 more flattering auspices. His school, the church, 
 society, books, and pleasure, each by turns 
 received his attention each fitly and time at 
 New London rolled along with him, its sands 
 noted as they fell, and glittering with promise.* 
 
 * " Possessing genius, taste, and ardor," says Sparks of Hale, 
 "he became distinguished as a scholar; and, endowed in an 
 eminent degree with those graces and gifts of nature which add 
 a charm to youthful excellence, he gained universal esteem and 
 confidence. To high moral worth and irreproachable habits, 
 were joined gentleness of manners, an ingenuous disposition, 
 and vigor of understanding. No young man of his years put 
 forth a fairer promise of future usefulness and celebrity ; the 
 fortunes of none were fostered more sincerely by the generous 
 good wishes of his associates, or the hopes and encouraging 
 presages of his superiors." 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Lexington Alarm. Hale gives tip his school, and joins 
 the army as a volunteer. His motives in doing so. Is sta 
 tioned for a while at New London. Leaves for Boston. The 
 prospect before him. Joins the brigade of General Sullivan. 
 His life for six months in the camp around Boston. His 
 skill in military discipline his studies his amusements 
 with extracts from his Diary. 
 
 SUCH was Nathan Hale and so engaged, when 
 the Lexington Alarm, April nineteenth, 1775, 
 summoned the country to arms. Upon the 
 arrival of the express with the news from Boston, 
 the citizens of New London at once assembled 
 in town-meeting* breathed forth in speeches 
 and resolutions their spirit of patriotic resist- 
 
 * Judge Law in the chair. 
 
36 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 ance and determined that Captain Colt s Inde 
 pendent Company, the only uniformed company 
 in the place, should march to the scene of hos 
 tilities the next morning. Hale was among the 
 speakers on this occasion. " I was struck," says 
 Captain Law, from whom the fact is derived, 
 "with his noble demeanor, and the emphasis 
 with which he addressed the assembly." " Let 
 m march immediately" said he, " and never lay 
 down our arms until ive obtain our independ 
 ence!" And enrolling at once as a volunteer, 
 he assembled his school the next morning made 
 his pupils an affectionate address " gave them 
 earnest counsel prayed with them and shak 
 ing each by the hand," took his leave. 
 
 It is probable that he soon returned to New 
 London but only to discharge his duties in the 
 school temporarily, until he could arrange for a 
 permanent connection with the army. This 
 connection would interrupt his father s cherished 
 project of educating him for the ministry. He 
 wrote, therefore, to his parent stated that " a 
 sense of duty urged him to sacrifice everything 
 
NATHAN HALE. 37 
 
 for his country" and promised, soon as the 
 war was ended, to comply with his wishes in 
 regard to a profession. The old gentleman was 
 eminently patriotic. Many a time thereafter, 
 during the war, did he forbid his family to use 
 the wool raised upon his farm, that it might be 
 woven into blankets for the army. Many a time 
 did he sit upon his stoop, and watch for weary 
 soldiers as they passed his house, that he might 
 take them within, and if necessary, feed, and 
 clothe, and lodge them. He assented readily to 
 his son s design, and July sixth, Hale enlisted 
 as Lieutenant in the third company of the 
 seventh Connecticut regiment commanded by 
 Colonel Charles Webb. On the succeeding 
 morning he addressed to the Proprietors of the 
 Union School the following note : 
 
 "Gentlemen. Having received information 
 that a place is allotted me in the army, and 
 being inclined, as I hope, for good reasons, to 
 accept it, I am constrained to ask as a favor that 
 which scarce anything else would have induced 
 4 
 
38 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 me to, which is, to be excused from keeping 
 your school any longer. For the purpose of 
 conversing upon this, and of procuring another 
 master, some of your number think it best there 
 should be a general meeting of the proprietors. 
 The time talked of for holding it is 6 o clock 
 this afternoon, at the school house. The year 
 for which I engaged will expire within a fort 
 night, so that my quitting a few days sooner, I 
 hope, will subject you to no great inconvenience. 
 
 " School keeping is a business of which I was 
 always fond, but since my residence in this town, 
 everything has conspired to render it more 
 agreeable. I have thought much of never quit 
 ting it but with life, but at present there seems 
 an opportunity for more extended public service. 
 
 " The kindness expressed to me by the people 
 of the place, but especially the proprietors of 
 the school, will always be very gratefully re 
 membered by, gentlemen, with respect, your 
 humble servant, NATHAN HALE. 
 
 "Friday, July 7, 1775. To John Winthrop 
 Esq., Richard Law Esq., &c., &c." 
 
NATHAN HALE. 39 
 
 The simple modesty and sincerity with which 
 Hale speaks of himself, and his purpose, in the 
 preceding letter, are worthy of remark. No 
 bursts of patriotic sentiment no vision of 
 plumes and epaulettes no self-satisfied allusion 
 to that brave kinsman of his own, whose name he 
 bore in full, and who, in the battle-band of the 
 old French War, gallantly gave his life before 
 the bastions of Louisburgh* not even one little 
 bravado about himself, his own motives, or his 
 country though these might all have been 
 pardoned to an ardent, ambitious youth of 
 twenty-one summers. But "being inclined for 
 good reasons," as he hopes, to accept a place 
 allotted him in the army perceiving an oppor 
 tunity, as it seems to him, " for more extended 
 public service" he asks to be excused from 
 
 * This kinsman, named Xathan Hale, says the American His 
 torical Magazine for February, 1836, "was slain by the burst 
 ing of a cannon at the capture of Louisburgh, in the old 
 French war/ as it is called by aged people. He is noted in 
 the account of the battle, as a gallant officer in the Connecticut 
 Line." 
 
40 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 "keeping school any longer." Were all solicit 
 ations modestly preferred as this of Bale s 
 were all the paths of military glory entered upon 
 in a manner as unassuming, and with motives 
 as sincere, as those which actuate the youthful 
 hero we commemorate, now as he asks to step 
 out on the bloody platform of the American 
 Revolution what a world of grandiloquent 
 tongues would be hushed to repose, and how 
 surely those wars only would occur which league 
 the soldier with law, liberty, and truth ! 
 
 The company to which Hale was attached, 
 was under the immediate command of Major 
 John Latimer. It constituted part of a regi 
 ment which was raised by order of the General 
 Assembly, in 1775, both for home defence, and 
 for the protection of the country at large and, 
 until placed under the General in chief of the 
 Continental Army, remained subject to the 
 orders of the Connecticut Council of Safety. 
 Here now of interest to be inserted in this 
 place are the names of its members when 
 Hale first took charge of it as appears from 
 
NATHANHALE. 41 
 
 a Pay Roll at present in the office of the 
 Comptroller of State at Hartford. 
 
 John Latiraer, Major. 
 
 NATHAN HALE, Capt. after 1st Sept. till then Lieut. 
 
 John Belcher, Lieutenant. 
 
 Joseph Hilliard, Lieutenant. 
 
 Joseph Hillard, Lieutenant after 1st September. 
 
 Alpheus Chapman, Ensign after " 
 
 George Hurlburt, Serjeant. 
 
 Joseph Page, " 
 
 Reuben Hewitt, " 
 
 Ezra Bushnell, " 
 
 Stephen Prentice, Corporal till Sept. 1st, then Sergeant* 
 
 Joshua Raymond, Corporal. 
 
 Abraham Avery, " 
 
 Henry Hillard, 
 
 Zebulon Cheeseborough," 
 
 Ranimerton Sears, Drummer. 
 
 Robert Latimore, Fifer. 
 
 Robert Latimore, Jr., " 
 
 William Bacon, Isaac Hammon, 
 
 Christopher Beebe, William Hatch, 
 
 Amos Butler, Samuel Hix, 
 
 Richard Booge, Peter Holt, 
 
 Charles Brown, Thomas Hicox, 
 
 Jonathan Bowers, Elisha Hancock, 
 
 Asa Baldwine, Elisha Johnson, 
 
 4* 
 
42 
 
 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 Guy Beckwith, 
 William Carver, 
 James Comstock, 
 Benjamin Comstock, Jim., 
 Simeon Cobb, 
 Fairbanks Church, 
 John Chappell, 
 Benjamin Checseborough, 
 Caleb Couts, 
 Reuben Sheamks, 
 George Chunks, 
 Peter Cheeseborough, 
 Edward Clark, 
 James Dennis, 
 John Dean, 
 John Dennis, 
 Christopher Dean, 
 Enos Greenfield, 
 David Hilhouse, 
 George Hakes, 
 
 Joseph Lovatt, 
 David McDowell, 
 Abel Minard, 
 Jabez Minard, 
 Lawrence Martin, 
 Enos Nero, 
 Jared Stephens, 
 Daniel Talbott, 
 Amos Shaw, 
 Sias Pawhig, 
 John Patton, 
 Christopher Woodbridgc, 
 James Ward, 
 Samuel Woodkind, 
 Ichabod Young, 
 John Holmes, 
 Joseph Brown, 
 Joseph Peters, 
 Jeremiah Dodge, 
 David Baldwine.* 
 
 * Of the above Company, seventy-one, including the officers, 
 enlisted in July, and three in August. Three died before the 
 third day of December, 1775, viz., Corporal Stephen Prentice, 
 November twenty-second William Hatch, November twenty- 
 seventh and Jonathan Bowers, December second. Hale s 
 company, when at New York, was augmented to ninety men 
 its full complement. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 43 
 
 August third, Hale s Company, together with 
 that of Captain Shipman, was stationed, by 
 order of the Council, at New London, where 
 danger was apprehended from British men of 
 war then hovering on the adjacent coasts. 
 
 August seventeenth, its commander received 
 orders from the Council to "keep regular 
 watches and guards about his camp, and see 
 that his soldiers were properly exercised, in 
 structed, and kept clean, and free from idleness 
 and bad practices." 
 
 September fourth, the Company was ordered 
 by the Council, with other troops, " to make such 
 intrenchmeiits and works of defence as should 
 be directed by the civil authority and field offi 
 cers" in Xew London. 
 
 September fourteenth, in consequence of a 
 letter from General Washington "requiring 
 peremptorily" that all the troops last raised in 
 Connecticut should be sent to him, Major Lati- 
 mer s Company, with other troops, was " imme 
 diately ordered to march to the camp near 
 Boston." 
 
44 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 September twenty-fourth, at Rehoboth, Massa 
 chusetts, one Eliplialet Slack signs a receipt 
 written by Hale s own hand, and in Hale s own 
 Camp-Book, for five shillings and tenpence law 
 ful money for the use of his house by Major 
 La-timer s Company. 
 
 Hale then has been for two months and a half 
 attached to the army has been for about fifty 
 days stationed with his Company at New Lon 
 don, and is now, September twenty-fourth, in 
 full march for the " Camp at Boston." 
 
 He has had a brief experience of military 
 drill, and watches, and intrenchments. He has 
 exchanged the comfortable sleeping chamber for 
 the tent the schoolmaster s satchel for the knap 
 sack the dishes of the quiet house table for the 
 iron pot, tin pail, quart runlet, and wooden 
 bowl of the camp the unstinted fare of domes 
 tic life for the soldier s measured pound of beef, 
 or bit of pork and pound of flour and a salary 
 of seventy pounds a year and six shillings a 
 quarter additional for teaching girls, for forty- 
 eight pounds a year wages as Lieutenant, fifty- 
 
N A T H A N H A L E . 45 
 
 two shillings of enlistment bounty, and "six 
 pence a day as billeting money until provided 
 for by the Colony stores/ He is a soldier of 
 the Continental Line ! A usurping king, thou 
 sands of miles away, was threatening to clutch 
 the hard earnings of three millions of Colonists, 
 who worshipped God, toiled with honesty, and 
 liked some liberty to think and act for them 
 selves, and gather a little treasure for their old 
 age, and for their biers and Hale was bent on 
 straggling for this liberty. Thrice already, for 
 the same glorious purpose destined in its career 
 of accomplishment to splinter thrones and rock 
 the world thrice had his countrymen met the 
 shock of battle, and poured their blood at 
 Lexington Concord and when they made 
 
 " That silent, moonlight march to Bunker Hill, 
 
 "With spades, and swords, bold hearts and ready hands 
 That Spartan step without their flutes ! " 
 
 Hale knew well these themes. An intelligent 
 student of his country s history, he was familiar 
 
46 NATHANHALE. 
 
 with its traces of blood and prayer from Plym 
 outh down to Bunker Hill. A patriot, he felt 
 
 " the thrill 
 
 That thoughts of well-loved homes, and streams, and lands 
 Awaken " 
 
 and he is "going into the fight!" 
 
 September twenty-eighth, he reached his sta 
 tion at the foot of Winter Hill near Medford, 
 where he remained steadily encamped, in the 
 brigade of General Sullivan, till the twenty- 
 third of December succeeding, on which day he 
 started on foot with Sergeant Sage, through 
 snow 4 ancle deep, on a visit to his friends in 
 Connecticut. January twenty-seventh, he re 
 turned to camp, having in the interim, January 
 first, 1776, received a commission from Congress 
 appointing him Captain in the nineteenth Regi 
 ment of Foot commanded by Colonel Charles 
 Webb.* January thirtieth, he removed from 
 
 * It is probable that on his visit to Connecticut he went to 
 New Haven since that Officer of the medical staff in the army 
 
NATHAN HALE. 47 
 
 Winter Hill to Roxbury, and was attached to 
 the brigade of General Spencer, where he re 
 mained until the April succeeding, when with 
 the troops under General Heath, he removed, 
 by way of Norwich, Connecticut, to New York. 
 His history during this period of about six 
 months, from the last of September, 1775, to 
 April, 1776, in the Camp around Boston, is 
 marked by no highly conspicuous event. We 
 have no military successes, of dazzling splendor, 
 in which he acted a part, to record. The 
 American army, as is well known, during this 
 time was not drawn out in battle array. There 
 was no combination of hosts upon the field. 
 
 quoted on page eighteen of this volume, thus pleasantly testi 
 fies respecting him : " Hale remarked to my father, that he was 
 offered a commission in the service of his country, and exclaimed, 
 Duke et decorum est pro patria monV These were some of the 
 last expressions I ever heard fall from his lips. The remarks 
 of my father, after Hale left the house, were, That man is a 
 diamond of the first water, calculated to excel in any station 
 he assumes. He is a gentleman and a scholar, and last, though 
 not least of his qualifications, a Christian ! " 
 
48 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 All was siege and counterplot one army in a 
 city, shut in from every direction but the sea, 
 another around that city building intrenchments, 
 mounting batteries, and striving by means of 
 storming parties, by distant cannonading, and 
 by straitening supplies, to drive off the invader. 
 Halo s post, however, was one frequently of 
 much peril, and his labors at times were very 
 arduous. " I see you are stationed," writes one 
 of his friends* to him, October ninth, "in the 
 mouth of danger. I look upon your situation 
 as more perilous than any other in the camp." 
 The enemy were constantly making sorties 
 and in the direction, particularly, in which Hale 
 was encamped for cattle, for provisions, and to 
 weaken the American lines. They hurled shot 
 and shells almost daily from the Boston Com 
 mon, from Copp s Hill, from Bunker s Hill, and 
 from their floating batteries upon the Ameri 
 can force. The strictest watch was therefore 
 necessary against surprise, and in this duty Hale 
 
 * Gilbert Saltonstall. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 49 
 
 participated actively. " Mounted picket guard 
 mounted main guard slept little or none" 
 such are frequent entries in a Diary which he 
 kept during most of this period, and which is 
 fortunately preserved.* In charge often of an 
 advance station, he was sometimes so near the 
 enemy that he could hear them at work with 
 their pickaxes, and his men could distinguish 
 their countersign! as it echoed from their Grand 
 Rounds faintly through the midnight. Once, 
 probably, exposed to a hot fire from a ship in 
 the bay and a floating battery, he marched down 
 to repulse the British from a landing at Lech- 
 mere s Point. The following is his own account 
 of the affair, November ninth, Thursday. 
 
 "1 o cl. P. M. An alarm. The Regulars 
 landed at Lechmere s Point, to take off cattle. 
 Our works were immediately all manned, and a 
 detachment sent to receive them, who were 
 
 * We give it entire in the Appendix to this Volume. See 
 App. C. 
 fe. g. "Hamilton." 
 
 5 
 
50 N A T H A N H A L E . 
 
 obliged, it being high water, to wade through 
 water near waist high. While the enemy were 
 landing, we gave them a constant cannonade 
 from Prospect Hill. Our party having got on 
 to the point, marched in two columns, one on 
 each side of the hill, with a view to surround 
 the enemy, but upon the first appearance of 
 them, they made their boats as fast as possible. 
 While our men were marching on to the point, 
 they were exposed to a hot fire from a ship in 
 the bay and a floating battery also after they 
 had passed the Hill. A few shot were fired 
 from Bunker s Hill. The damage on our side is 
 the loss of one Rifleman taken, and 3 men 
 wounded, one badly, and it is thought 10 or 
 more cattle carried off. The Rifleman taken 
 was drunk in a tent, in which he and the one 
 who received the worst wound were placed to 
 take care of the cattle, horses &c., and give 
 notice in case the enemy should make an at 
 tempt upon them. The tent they were in was 
 taken. What the loss was on the side of the 
 enemy we cannot yet determine." 
 
NATHAN HALE. 51 
 
 With the exception, perhaps, of the affair just 
 narrated and during the erection by his com 
 pany, the succeeding spring, of a breastwork in 
 Dorchester, in a situation very much exposed to 
 British balls and once also in a trip to one of 
 the islands in Boston harbor to carry off stock 
 Hale does not seem to have been thrown, during 
 his stay around Boston, into any particular col 
 lision with the enemy. Yet he had opportuni 
 ties to distinguish himself, and did so, in other 
 ways and particularly in the care he took to, 
 prepare his men, by careful discipline within 
 the camp, for the onsets of the battle field aj 
 duty urgently demanded in an army raw and 
 restless under restraint as the American army 
 was when first collected. 
 
 " It is of the utmost importance," he enters 
 in his Diary, November sixth, " that an officer 
 should be anxious to know his duty, but of 
 greater that he should carefully perform what 
 he does know. The present irregular state of 
 the army is owing to a capital neglect in both 
 of these [points.]" "Studied," he enters No- 
 
52 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 vember seventh, " the method of forming a regi 
 ment for a review, [the] manner of arraying 
 the companies, also of marching round the 
 reviewing officers" and he proceeds to write 
 down carefully and at length minute directions, 
 from the General Orders, for the guards. The 
 knowledge of the military art which it is thus 
 obvious Hale took pains to secure, he was able 
 to apply in a manner highly conducive to the 
 public good. His own company, from the skill 
 and taste with which he managed it, soon be 
 came a model for others, particularly in the 
 adoption of a simple uniform an example 
 which was noticed with applause by officers and 
 companies generally, and which was extensively 
 followed. 
 
 When in November, 1775, the army was 
 threatened with dissolution by the expiration of 
 enlistments, Hale rendered conspicuous service. 
 He cheered General Lee, and other officers, 
 when sadly cast down by the prospect, and 
 going around in person to the men, urged them, 
 by every patriotic consideration which he could 
 
NATHAN HALE. 53 
 
 address, to remain and fight the battles of their 
 country and not content with this, in the case 
 of his own company, promising them his own 
 wages if they would tarry for a given period, 
 nobly and promptly redeemed his pledge by 
 borrowing the money of a brother officer on the 
 credit of his own advance pay. Here is an 
 entry which he made of the fact, in part, Tues 
 day, November twenty-eighth, 1775, in his 
 Diary which we give, with his name appended, 
 to serve also as &fac simile of his hand writing. 
 
 When Congress had decided upon a new 
 establishment, Hale was one of ten officers, who, 
 
 upon the first offer of a paper for the purpose, 
 
 5* 
 
54 N A T H A N H A L E . 
 
 put down their names for new commissions, and 
 both in camp, and in that journey home to which 
 reference has already been made, he labored 
 assiduously to procure recruits. It is obvious 
 that the soldiers, particularly of his own com 
 pany, were exceedingly attached to him. He 
 had charge of their clothing, their rations, their 
 wages. Many are the entries in his Camp-Book 
 of his trips from Winter Hill to Cambridge, or 
 Mystic, for money and continental stores, and 
 he notes " ill usage upon the score of provisions" 
 as the chief reason why the soldiers generally, 
 November twenty-third, would not extend their 
 term of service. 
 
 When off duty, Hale devoted much time to 
 reading and reflection, to history, works of taste, 
 and to the newspapers and bulletins of the day. 
 A history of Philip, and work of Young s, as 
 well as works on the military art, are particu 
 larly noted in his Diary. A poet of the day, 
 Timothy Dwiglit Junior, availed himself of the 
 young officer s literary taste, as well as of his 
 politeness and benevolence, to procure sub- 
 
NATHAN HALE. 55 
 
 script-ions for his poem within the circle of Hale s 
 acquaintance in camp. 
 
 Hale maintained also during this period of his 
 life an active correspondence. He was thus 
 well informed of important events that trans 
 pired elsewhere, all of which, as the taking of 
 St. John s, the expedition of Arnold, the capture 
 of prizes by American privateers, the menaces 
 coastwise of the British fleet, he enters in his 
 Diary; and there are many proofs in letters 
 addressed to him, at the time,* of a careful and 
 affectionate interest in his welfare among a large 
 circle of friends of both sexes. In these the 
 ladies are sure to send him their love, undis 
 guised half the time by the cold phrase of 
 4 compliments, and hope he will " send them a 
 line." His male friends seem to long for his 
 presence again. The sergeants of his own 
 company, subscribing themselves his good old 
 friends, ! regret services which detach them 
 
 * Quite a number of these, fortunately, are preserved, 
 te. g. John Hurlburt, one of Hale s sergeants. 
 
56 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 from his society. Some sergeants of other com 
 panies write to ask births in the army under 
 him* and even among the boys, his former 
 pupils at New London, there are those who 
 assure him that, if their < mothers would but 
 consent, they would prefer being with him to 
 " all the pleasures which the company of their 
 relatives can afford. "f 
 
 Camp life has its amusements too, as well as 
 its dreadful notes of preparation. Peaceful 
 games of chance and strength succeed at inter 
 vals the sounds of armorers accomplishing the 
 knights, and 4 busy hammers closing rivets up, 
 and occupy, with advantage to the soldier, sea 
 sons otherwise of inactivity. In these Hale at 
 times participated at the period now under con 
 sideration, as the following, his own entries, 
 show : 
 
 * c. g. Thomas Updike Foster, sergeant in Saltonstall s com 
 pany. 
 
 t e. g. Robert Latimer, in a letter dated New London, De 
 cember twentieth, 1775. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 57 
 
 u Oct. 24. Winter Hill came down to wrestle, 
 with a view to find our best for a wrestling 
 match to which this hill was stumped by Pros 
 pect, to be decided on Thursday ensuing. Eve 
 ning prayers omitted for wrestling. 
 
 " Oct. 26. Grand wrestling match no wager 
 laid. 
 
 " Nov. 6. Day chiefly spent in jabber and 
 checkers. 
 
 " Nov. 7. Rain pretty hard most of the 
 day spent most of it in the Major s, my own 
 and other tents in conversation (some check 
 ers.) 
 
 "Nov. 8. Cleaned my gun played some 
 foot-ball and some checkers." 
 
 At other times of leisure, Hale occupied him 
 self in walks and rides often to Mystic, to dine 
 with his friend Colonel Hall, or to visit his 
 laundress for clothes, or " to get brick and clay 
 for [his] chimney " at Winter Hill sometimes 
 to view the works around Boston, at Cobble 
 Hill, Roxbury, and elsewhere and sometimes 
 u down to Dorchester with a view to go on upon 
 
58 N A T H A N H A L E . 
 
 the point." He often called upon his brother 
 officers at Prospect Hill, and was to them espe 
 cially attentive, when, as in the case of Major 
 Brooks and Captain Hull, they were confined 
 by sickness. He was the frequent guest of 
 General Putnam at Cambridge dining with 
 him often at his quarters and strolling there 
 to introduce his friends from Connecticut, as 
 they happened to visit him in camp. Fre 
 quently also at the quarters of General Sullivan, 
 General Lee, and General Spencer, he seems to 
 have been an especial favorite with these officers. 
 They read to him at times their private advices 
 from Congress, and consulted with him in much 
 confidence about the administration of the 
 army. 
 
 In the midst of all this occupation, military 
 and social, Hale never forgot his duties of a 
 religious nature. " Captain Hale was a praying 
 man," says Asher Wright.* The services of 
 
 " He prayed for his first waiter, when he was sick with a 
 fever," continues Wright. " This waiter was from New Lon- 
 
NATHAN HALE. 59 
 
 Sunday, when performed in camp, he attended 
 with great regularity, as the entrie^ in his Diary 
 show, of which the following are specimens : 
 
 " Sab. Oct. 29th. Went to meeting in the 
 barn one exercise. 
 
 " Sunday, [Nov.] 5th, A. M. Mr. Learned 
 pr. John, 13. 19. excellentissime. 
 
 "Sabbath Day, 19th. Mr. Bird pr. one 
 service only beginning after 12 o cl. Text 
 Esther 8th. 6. For how can I endure to see the 
 evil that shall come upon my people, or how 
 can I endure to see the destruction of my kin 
 dred ? The discourse very good the same as 
 preached to Gen. Wooster, his officers and sol 
 diers, at New Haven, and which was again 
 preached at Cambridge a Sabbath or two ago 
 now preached as a farewell discourse. 
 
 don. His father came after him. He recovered after a while, 
 but when he was taken down, Captain Hale was a mind I 
 should take his place. And I did, and remained with him 
 till he went on to Long Island." 
 
60 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 "17th. Sunday. Went to Mistick to meet 
 ing." 
 
 So passed, as we have now described, the first 
 six months of Hale s life in the Army of the 
 Revolution without opportunity " to speak his 
 patriotism in the thunders of victorious bat 
 tle " but in careful and praiseworthy discharge 
 of all his other duties as an officer, a man, and 
 a Christian. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Hale leaves the vicinity of Boston for New York. His gallant 
 capture of a British sloop in the East River. His station, 
 occupation, patriotism, attachments, and characteristic mod 
 esty, illustrated by letters from his own pen. 
 
 IN April, 1776, with the troops under General 
 Heath, Hale removed, by way of Norwich, Con 
 necticut, to NCAV York. 
 
 Of the period which follows, down to that 
 which is signalized by his death from April, 
 1776 to the ensuing September we have but 
 little to record for here memorials almost fail 
 iis. One incident however occurred, which 
 well illustrates the energy and courage of his 
 nature. 
 
 A British Sloop, laden with supplies, was 
 anchored in the East River under the sixty-four 
 
62 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 guns of the British ship of war Asia, Captain 
 Vandeput, and Hale formed the bold design of 
 capturing the vessel. The following is the 
 account of the affair given by Asher Wright, 
 Hale s own confidential camp-attendant, to the 
 late Honorable Andrew T. Judson, Judge of the 
 United States Court for the District of Connec 
 ticut. 
 
 " At the hour appointed," describes Wright, 
 u the party assembled, and crossed the river in 
 their faithful little bark, skimming so lightly 
 over the water as to excite no alarm from any 
 quarter. They passed cautiously down by the 
 shore to a point of land nearest the sloop, where 
 they ceased to ply the oar, and waited for the 
 moon to sink below the horizon. It was at the 
 dead hour of the night, and all was hushed in 
 silence, excepting only the watch-man on the 
 quarter deck of the Asia. His voice came in 
 the breeze, all is well, when Captain Hale s 
 men pulled away for the sloop, and soon found 
 themselves along side and in an instant more 
 she was boarded, and away she came with Cap- 
 
N A T H A N II A L E . 63 
 
 tain Hale at the helm, and the British tars in 
 the hold ! When she struck the wharf, this new 
 commander and his American crew were received 
 with three cheers, and soon the liberal hand of 
 Captain Hale distributed the prize goods to feed 
 the hungry, and clothe the naked of our own 
 army."* 
 
 Of Hale s station and occupation, otherwise, 
 during the period now in question, in New York, 
 as well as of his patriotism, attachments, and 
 characteristic modesty, some valuable hints are 
 furnished in the three following letters, written 
 by him in May, June, and August the last a 
 week before the battle of Flatbush and ad 
 dressed to one of his brothers. Except a portion 
 of the second, which is but a repetition of the 
 
 * To this incident Halo s correspondent E. Marvin refers, in 
 a letter to him from New London, dated June eleventh, 1776. 
 The following is the passage : " Am much obliged for your partic 
 ular history of the adventure aboard the prize ; wish you would ac 
 quaint me with every incident of good or ill fortune which befalls 
 you in your course of life. The whole journal T hope some 
 time or other to peruse." 
 
64 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 statements of the first, we give them in their 
 chronological order. 
 
 " New York, May 30th, 1776. 
 " Dear Brother. 
 
 " Your favor of the 9th of May, and another 
 written at Norwich, I have received the former 
 yesterday. You complain of my neglecting 
 you I acknowledge it is not wholly without 
 reason at the same time I am conscious to 
 have written to you more than once or twice 
 within this half year. Perhaps my letters have 
 miscarried. 
 
 " I am not on the end of Long I. but in New 
 York, encamped about one mile back of the 
 city. We have been on the Island, and spent 
 about three weeks there, but since returned. 
 As to Brigades : we spent part of the Winter at 
 Winter Hill in Gen 1 Sullivan s thence we were 
 removed to Roxbury, and annexed to Gen 1 
 Spencer s from thence we came to New York 
 in Gen 1 Heath s ; on our arrival we were put in 
 Gen 1 Lord Sterling s ; here we continued a few 
 days, and were returned to Gen 1 Sullivan s ; on 
 
NATHANHALE. 65 
 
 his being sent to the Northward, we were re 
 verted to Lord Sterling s, in whose Brigade we 
 now remain. In the first detachment to the 
 Northward under Gen 1 Thomson, Webb s regi 
 ment was put down ; but the question being 
 asked whether we had many seamen, and the 
 reply being yes, we were erased and another put 
 down in our place. 
 
 " We have an account of the arrival of Troops 
 at Halifax, thence to proceed on their infamous 
 errand to some part of America. 
 
 " Maj r Brooks informed me last evening, that 
 in conversation with some of the frequenters at 
 Head Quarters, he was told that Gen 1 Washing 
 ton had received a packet from one of the sher 
 iffs of the city of London, in which was contained 
 the Debates at large of both houses of Parlia 
 ment and what is more, the whole proceedings 
 of the Cabinet. The plan of the summer s 
 Campaign in America is said to be communica 
 ted in full. Nothing has yet transpired ; but 
 the prudence of our Gen 1 we trust will make 
 6* 
 
66 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 advantage of the Intelligence. Gen 1 Gates 
 (formerly Adj* Gen 1 now Maj r Gen 1 ) is gone to 
 Philadelphia probably to communicate the above. 
 
 " Some late accounts from the northward are 
 very unfavorable, and would be more so could 
 they be depended on. It is reported that a fleet 
 has arrived in the River ; upon the first notice 
 of which our army thought it prudent to break 
 up the siege and retire that in retreating they 
 were attack d and routed, Numbers kill d, the 
 sick, most of the cannon and stores taken. The 
 account is not authentic : We hope it is not 
 true. 
 
 " It would grieve every good man to consider 
 what unnatural monsters we have as it were in 
 our bowels. Numbers in this Colony, and like 
 wise in the western part of Connecticut, would 
 be glad to imbrue their hands in their Country s 
 Blood. Facts render this too evident to admit 
 of dispiite. In this city such as refuse to sign 
 the Association have been required to deliver 
 
NATHAN HALE. 67 
 
 up their arms. Several who refused to comply 
 have been sent to prison. 
 
 "It is really a critical Period. America be 
 holds what she never did before. Allow the 
 whole force of our enemy to be but 30,000, and 
 these floating on the Ocean, ready to attack the 
 most unguarded place. Are they not a formid 
 able Foe ? Surely they are." 
 
 " New York, June 3d, 1776. 
 " Dear Brother. 
 
 * * * Continuance or removal from 
 here depends wholly upon the operations of the 
 
 War. 
 
 " It gives pleasure to every friend of his coun 
 try to observe the health which prevails in our 
 army. Dr. Eli (Surgeon of our Reg 1 ) told me 
 a few days since, there was not a man in our 
 Reg 1 but might upon occasion go out with his 
 Firelock. Much the same is said of other 
 Regiments. 
 
 " The army is every day improving in disci 
 pline, and it is hoped will soon be able to meet 
 
68 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 the enemy at any kind of play. My company 
 which at first was small, is now increased to 
 eighty, and there is a Sergeant recruiting, who 
 I hope has got the other 10 which completes 
 the Company. 
 
 " We are hardly able to judge as to the num 
 bers the British army for the Summer is to con 
 sist of undoubtedly sufficient to cause us too 
 much bloodshed. 
 
 " Gen 1 Washing ton is at the Congress, being 
 sent for thither to advise on matters of conse 
 quence. 
 
 " I had written you a complete letter in 
 answer to your last, but missed the opportunity 
 of sending it. 
 
 " This will probably find you in Coventry if 
 so remember me to all my friends particularly 
 belonging to the Family. Forget not frequently 
 to visit and strongly to represent my duty to 
 our good Grandmother Strong. Has she not 
 repeatedly favored us with her tender, most im 
 portant advice ? The natural Tie is sufficient, 
 but increased by so much goodness, our grati- 
 
NATHAN HALE. 69 
 
 tude cannot be too sensible. I always with 
 respect remember Mr. Huntington, and shall 
 write to him if time admits. Pay Mr. Wright 
 a visit for me. Tell him Asher is well he has 
 for some time lived with me as a waiter. I am 
 in hopes of obtaining him a Furlough soon, that 
 he may have opportunity to go home, see his 
 friends, and get his Summer clothes. 
 
 " Asher this moment told me that our Brother 
 Joseph Adams was here yesterday to see me, 
 when I happened to be out of the way. He is 
 in Col. Parson s Reg*. I intend to see him to 
 day, and if possible by exchanging get him into 
 my company. 
 
 " Yours affectionately, N. HALE. 
 
 u P. S. Sister Rose talked of making me 
 some Linen cloth similar to Brown Holland for 
 Summer wear. If she has made it desire her 
 to keep it for me. My love to her, the Doctor, 
 and little Joseph." 
 
70 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 " New York, Aug. 20th, 1776. 
 " Dear Brother, 
 
 44 1 have only time for a hasty letter. Our 
 situation has been such this fortnight or more 
 as scarce to admit of writing. We have daily 
 expected an action by which means, if any one 
 was going, and we had letters written, orders 
 were so strict for our tarrying in camp that we 
 could rarely get leave to go and deliver them. 
 For about 6 or 8 days the enemy have been 
 expected hourly, whenever the wind and tide in 
 the least favored. We keep a particular look 
 out for them this morning. The place and 
 manner of attack time must determine. The 
 event we leave to Heaven. Thanks to God ! we 
 have had time for compleating our works and 
 receiving our reenforcements. The Militia of 
 Connecticut ordered this way are mostly arrived. 
 Col. Ward s Reg 4 has got in. Troops from the 
 Southward are daily coming. We hope under 
 God, to give a good account of the Enemy when 
 ever they choose to make the last appeal. 
 
 " Last Friday Night, two of our fire vessels 
 
NATHAN HALE. 71 
 
 (a Sloop and Schooner) made an attempt upon 
 the shipping up the River. The night was too 
 dark, the wind too slack for the attempt. The 
 Schooner which was intended for one of the 
 Ships had got by before she discovered them ; 
 but as Providence would have it, she run athwart 
 a bomb-catch, which she quickly burned. The 
 Sloop by the light of the former discovered the 
 Phoenix but rather too late however she made 
 shift to grapple her, but the wind not proving 
 sufficient to bring her close along side, or drive 
 the flames immediately on board, the Phcenix 
 after much difficulty got her clear by cutting 
 her own rigging. Sergt Fosdick who com 
 manded the above sloop, and four of his hands, 
 were of my company, the remaining two were 
 of this Reg 1 . 
 
 " The Gen 1 has been pleased to reward their 
 bravery with forty dollars each, except the last 
 man who quitted the fire Sloop, who had fifty . 
 Those on board the Schooner received the same. 
 
72 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 " I must write to some of my other brothers 
 lest you should not be at home. Remain 
 " Your friend and Brother 
 " Mr. Enoch Hale." " N. HALE." 
 
 Upon the day succeeding that in which the 
 letter last quoted was written, Hale began again 
 to note in his Diary a practice which for some 
 time just previous he had omitted and the fol 
 lowing, in reference to the chief events of this 
 and the two succeeding days, are the last brief 
 entries which ever flowed from his pen. 
 
 " Aug. 21 st . Heavy Storm at Night. Much 
 and heavy Thunder. Capt. Yan Wyke, a Lieut, 
 and Ens. of Col Mc.DougalFs Reg* kilPd by a 
 Shock. Likewise one man in town, belonging 
 to a Militia Reg 1 of Connecticut. The Storm 
 continued for two or three hours, for the great 
 est part of which time [there] was a perpetual 
 Lightning, and the sharpest I ever knew. 
 
 " 22 d Thursday. The Enemy landed some 
 troops down at the Narrows on Long Island. 
 
 " 23 d Friday. Enemy landed more troops 
 
NATHAN HALE. 73 
 
 News that they had marched up and taken 
 Station near Flatbush, their adv ce Gds being on 
 this side near the woods that some of our 
 Riflemen attacked and drove them back from 
 their posts, burnt 2 stacks of hay, and it was 
 thought kilPd some of them this about 12 o cl. 
 at Night. Our troops attacked them at their 
 station near Flatb. routed and drove them back 
 H mile." 
 
 But three days more, and that storm of war 
 whose portentous approaches Hale thus hur 
 riedly sketches, descended in fury and we now 
 reach the period marked by that great event 
 which signalises his character, and closes his 
 life. 
 
 7 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Circumstances of the American and British armies when Hale 
 undertook his fatal mission. The office of a spy its danger 
 its ignominy. Col. Knowlton commissioned by Gen. "Wash 
 ington to procure some one to undertake it. He appeals to 
 American officers, and to a French serjeant in the army. 
 They all refuse, save Hale, who readily volunteers for the 
 duty. His fellow-officers warmly remonstrate but in vain. 
 Hale nobly persists in his purpose. 
 
 To understand properly the event to which 
 allusion is made at the close of the last chapter, 
 j let us look first at the circumstances in which it 
 \ originated. 
 
 The disastrous battle of Long Island had been 
 fought,* and the American troops, filled with 
 
 *It does not appear that Hale participated in this battle. He 
 was however at the time, on the Long Island side. Asher 
 Wright said that in the retreat to New York, one of the last 
 things done by him was to bring over Halo s baggage. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 75 
 
 despair, had retreated to the Island of New 
 York. As if the thunder of the British arms 
 had deafened their ears to the solicitations of 
 patriotism, the militia began to desert by com 
 panies, and even by entire regiments. Of those 
 that remained, fresh as they were from the 
 workshop and the field, a large portion was im 
 patient of restraint, and clamorous for pay. 
 One-fourth of them were on the sick list. One- 
 third were without tents. They had clothes, 
 shoes, and blankets, only for a summer cam 
 paign, and winter was approaching. Food and 
 forage were difficult to obtain. The military 
 chest was entirely empty of money, and had 
 been so for two months. In positive suffering 
 then from want of supplies without confi 
 dence without subordination importunate in 
 complaints the American army fourteen thou 
 sand only fit for duty in the early part of 
 September, 1776, lay stretched along detached, 
 agitated, and full of gloom from the Battery 
 in New York far to Kingsbridge. 
 
 And facing them from the extreme southern 
 
76 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 point of Long Island to a point opposite the 
 Heights of Harlem posted at Bedford, Bush- 
 wick, Newtown, Flushing, and Hellgate riding 
 in ships and transports whose formidable batter 
 ies frowned on the American shores from the 
 Narrows to Panlus Hook, and up the East River 
 to Flushing Bay was arranged a British army 
 of not less than twenty-five thousand men a 
 land and naval force magnificently equipped 
 with artillery, military stores, and warlike mate 
 rials of every kind, for the special purpose, as 
 it was proclaimed, of " looking down and ending 
 forever the opposition of the rebels" and which, 
 under the command of the most able and dis 
 tinguished generals, was now in the first flush 
 of victory was haughty, emulous, impatient of 
 farther conquest, and confident of success. 
 
 What now, under these relative circumstances 
 of the two armies, would be General Howe s 
 next step ? It was a question, it Avill be seen at 
 once, of infinite moment to Washington, and his 
 enfeebled, dispirited army. Would the British 
 make a direct attack upon the city of New 
 
NATHAN HALE. 77 
 
 York ? Or would they land above the city at 
 Turtle Bay or Horcn s Hook ? Or cross from 
 Montresor s Island to Harlem? Or passing 
 higher up the Sound, land at Morrisania or 
 Throg s Point or perhaps, sailing around Long- 
 Island, land at some point on the Main still 
 farther east? Would they attempt above or 
 below Kingsbridge, to cut off the communica 
 tion of the American army with the country ? 
 Or was it their purpose, moving as they did fre 
 quently with their ships of war up the North 
 River, to make a descent from this direction 
 at Blooming-dale, or elsewhere ? Or would they 
 simultaneously land parties on the North River 
 side, and the East River side stretch across 
 New York Island, and intrench themselves 
 and supporting their flanks with shipping, cut 
 off the divisions of the American army, and 
 hem in the town ? 
 
 Upon the solution of these questions with 
 
 regard to which Washington writes, September 
 
 sixth, " we cannot learn, nor have we been able 
 
 to procure the least information of late " de- 
 
 7* 
 
78 NATHANHALE. 
 
 pended at this time the fate of the American 
 army. Should it forced as it then was, in 
 entire uncertainty as to the real point of attack, 
 to guard very extensive lines, whose extremities 
 were at least sixteen miles apart should it be 
 concentrated or not? If so, at what point? 
 Should the city of New York be held and de 
 fended at all events, or evacuated in whole, or 
 in part? Should Manhattan island lest a 
 hostile landing at Kingsbridge might stake the 
 Revolution on a single battle against a far supe 
 rior force be altogether abandoned? Where, 
 and to what extent, should lines and works of 
 defence, intrenchments, redoubts, batteries, and 
 abattis be established ? 
 
 All these vital points, without precise infor 
 mation as to the enemy s designs, could not be 
 settled. In vain to catch some hints of these 
 designs, did American scouts venture near the 
 British lines. In vain did American eyes strain 
 through the darkness, when night settled upon 
 the armies, in search of some Hessian deserter, 
 
NATHAN HALE. 79 
 
 allured by bounty land,* who might communi 
 cate the intentions of the British generals. In 
 vain did American officers convene sad and 
 thoughtful around their beloved commander, 
 and attempt, from the positions of the foe, to 
 work out the problem of their plan. All places 
 of their own encampment seemed almost equally 
 menaced. All points of the British encamp 
 ment seemed almost equally supported, and 
 ready to disgorge fire and death upon the brok 
 en-hearted patriots. It was the policy of Howe 
 to blind and thus far he had succeeded. 
 
 Some one, reasoned Washington, must pene 
 trate the British camp, and lift this veil of 
 secrecy, or the American army is lost and he 
 communicated this opinion to his Board of Offi 
 cers. The Board agreed fully with the views of 
 the Commander in chief, and Colonel Knowlton 
 was instructed to select some competent person 
 for the hazardous office. 
 
 An office not alone hazardous. What else 
 
 * Such had been offered to deserters from the British army. 
 
80 N A T H A N H A L E . 
 
 was it ? To appreciate the position of Hale, it 
 is necessary to dwell a moment upon it. It was 
 an office also ignominious. In the judgment of 
 every civilized nation, in the eye of all national 
 law, the use of spies is deemed " a clandestine 
 practice and deceit in Avar." It is a fraud un 
 worthy of an open, manly enemy scarcely 
 redeemed in motive by any exigency of danger 
 and pregnant with the worst mischief in stimu 
 lating, from a sense of betrayal, the vengeance 
 of a foe, and in undermining those sentiments 
 of honor, which, like shoots of sunlight upon a 
 thunder-clouded sky, tend to soften the black 
 ness of war. 
 
 The spy is the companion of darkness. He 
 lurks he hides or if he moves in the light, it 
 is behind walls, in the shadow of trees, in the 
 loneliness of clefts, under the cover of hills, in 
 the gloom of ditches, skulking with the owl, 
 the mole, or the Indian. Or if he enters the 
 camp of an enemy, he insinuates himself, and 
 winds treacherously into confidence. Caught, 
 his sure penalty is the halter. " Nathan Palmer, 
 
NATHAN HALE. 81 
 
 a lieutenant in your King s service," wrote 
 General Putnam from his camp at Peekskill to 
 Governor Try on, " was taken in my camp as a 
 spy he was tried as a spy and you may rest 
 assured, Sir, he shall be hanged as a spy. P. S. 
 Afternoon. He is hanged" This pithy, laconic 
 epistle, communicating the fate of one tory agent 
 of the sort of which we speak, during our 
 Revolution, only too truly describes the quick 
 aversion, particularly of soldiers, to all those 
 who disguisedly enter a military camp to bear 
 off its secrets to an enemy, and the instantane- 
 ousncss almost with which such persons pass 
 from capture to the gallows. And yet, notwith 
 standing all this the employment of a spy in 
 some crisis of the last importance, is not judged 
 unworthy a great commander. His success is 
 thought most meritorious, and is followed, if 
 not preceded, by honors and rewards. Only a 
 sovereign may not ordinarily command the 
 service so is it deemed disgraceful but save 
 from an enemy s subjects, he may accept it Avhen 
 
82 N A T H A N H A L E . 
 
 voluntarily offered, u without offence to honor 
 or justice."* 
 
 The exigency of the American army which 
 \ve have just described, would not permit the 
 employment, in the service proposed, of any 
 ordinary soldier, unpractised in military obser 
 vation, and without skill as a draughtsman 
 
 least of all of the common mercenary, to whom, 
 allured by the hope of large reward, such tasks 
 are usually assigned. Accurate estimates of 
 the numbers of the enemy, of their distribution, 
 of the form and position of their various en 
 campments, of their marchings and counter- 
 marchings, of their concentration at one point or 
 another of the instruments of Avar, but more than 
 all of their plan of attack, as derived from the 
 open report, or the unguarded whispers in camp 
 of officers or men estimates of all these things, 
 requiring a quick eye, a cool head, a practised 
 pencil, military science, general intelligence, and 
 pliable address, were to be made. The common 
 
 Vattel. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 83 
 
 soldier would not answer the purpose, and the 
 mercenary might yield to the higher seductions 
 of the enemy, and betray his employers. 
 
 Knowlton, therefore, appealed to officers to 
 those of his own regiment, and some of others, 
 assembled for the purpose and in the name of 
 the Commander in chief invited the service. 
 The solemn pause which followed his appeal was 
 long unbroken and not strangely. To meet 
 the enemy face to face boldly to oppose his 
 breast to the reeking sabre, the blood-red bayo 
 net, and the volleys of battle, and " foremost 
 fighting fall" here was the soldier s true place, 
 and " Honor decked the turf that wrapped his 
 prostrate clay." But to play the spy the hated 
 spy and an officer to do it ! It was too irre 
 deemably humiliating and one after another 
 of the officers present, as Knowlton repeated 
 his appeal individually, declined. 
 
 His task seemed hopeless. He appealed in 
 his extremity, it is said, to a French serjeant who 
 had served in the French War, trusting that a 
 
84 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 sense of shame in his breast less poignant, and 
 the spirit, in him remarkable, for hazardous ad 
 venture, might induce him to undertake. " No ! 
 no!" he replied promptly. "I am ready to 
 fight the British at any place and time, but I do 
 not feel willing to go among them to be hung up 
 like a dog! " What was to be done ? 
 
 From the group of reluctant, half-resentful 
 officers at the moment when all hope for the 
 enterprise seemed at an end, and the heart of 
 Knowlton, saddened with the thought of future 
 misfortune, was fast yielding to the torture of 
 disappointment there came a voice with the 
 painfully thrilling, yet cheering words " I will 
 undertake it!" That was the voice of Captain 
 NATHAN HALE. He had come late into the 
 assembly of officers. Scarcely yet recovered 
 from a severe illness, his face still pale, without 
 his accustomed strength of body, yet firm and 
 ardent as ever of soul, lie volunteered at once, 
 reckless of its danger, and though doubtless 
 
NATHAN HALE. 85 
 
 % 
 
 appalled, not vanquished by its disgrace, to dis 
 charge the repudiated trust. 
 
 His family, his fellow-officers, many of them, 
 remonstrated at his choice. Young, ardent, 
 educated, accomplished, the darling of the sold 
 iery, the pride of his commander, why should 
 he put life and reputation thus at hazard ? The 
 legitimate stratagems of war are " feints and 
 evasions performed under no disguise are 
 familiar to commanders form a part of their 
 plans, and executed with tact, exact admiration 
 from the enemy " but who respects the char 
 acter of a spy, assuming the garb of friendship 
 but to betray? "Did his country demand the 
 moral degradation of her sons to advance her 
 interests ? ? Would he not have ample oppor 
 tunity, in the progress of the war, by exertions 
 daily felt, " to give his talents and his life, 
 should it be so ordered, to the sacred cause to 
 which he was pledged ? " Why then, by one 
 fatal act, crush forever " the power and the 
 opportunity Heaven offered him for his country s 
 8 
 
86 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 glory, and his own happiness?" Why sadden 
 the hearts of his doating parents, his relatives, 
 and friends looking and expecting as they all 
 were to see him climb undisguisedly and grace 
 fully the rounds of Fame s military ladder 
 why cloud all this fond expectation with the 
 dark martyrdom of a felon ? 
 
 Such were the considerations addressed to 
 Hale, with even tearful entreaty, by some of his 
 brother soldiers, and by none with more assidu 
 ity than by General William Hull, then an offi 
 cer of the same grade in the army with Hale, 
 and who, for three years Hale s classmate in 
 College,* and his intimate afterwards in the 
 camp, enforced his views with all the pride 
 natural to the soldier, and with all the warmth 
 of private friendship. Hear Hale s reply ! 
 
 " 1 think I owe to my country the accomplish 
 ment of an object so important, and so much 
 desired by the Commander of her armies and 
 
 *IIull Graduated 
 
N A T H A N H A L E . 87 
 
 I know no other mode of obtaining the informa 
 tion^ than by assuming" a disguise, and passing 
 into the enemy s camp. I am fully sensible of 
 the consequences of discovery and capture in 
 such a situation. But for a year I have been 
 attached to the army, and have not rendered any 
 material service, while receiving- a compensation 
 for which I make no return. Yet I am not 
 influenced by the expectation of promotion or 
 pecuniary reward. I wish to be useful, and 
 every kind of service necessary for the public 
 good, becomes honorable by being necessary. 
 If the exigencies of my country demand a pecu 
 liar service, its claims to the performance of 
 that service are imperious!" 
 
 He spoke, says Hull, " with warmth and de 
 cision!" 
 
 What grandeur of self-sacrifice what appre 
 ciation intense as rare, of the obligations of 
 duty what glorious abandonment of fear even 
 where fear is deemed a virtue what sublime 
 confidence in the redeeming power of a holy 
 
88 N A T H A N HALE. 
 
 purpose immortalize these the words of the 
 martyr Hale, as he respectfully confronts the 
 solicitations of his friends, and firmly, move- 
 lessly, bolts and bars himself within his noble 
 resolution ! 
 
 True, military pride revolts at the disgrace 
 which I propose to undergo, he reasons. True, 
 the mean death that awaits me with the enemy, 
 under the sanction of national law, should I 
 fail in the undertaking. True, my kindred, my 
 friends, all to whom I am bound by the sweet 
 ties of love, may have to mourn my loss in an 
 employment from which all dreams of greatness 
 flee. But pressing as are all these considera 
 tions delicate and hazardous, in every view, as 
 is the task " the soldier should never consult 
 his fears when duty calls." 
 
 It is the wish of the Commander in chief. 
 Would he ask such a service and from an 
 officer if he did not deem it utterly vital to 
 the army ? The gloom which a triumphal foe 
 casts over the American cause is awful if the 
 
NATHAN HALE. 89 
 
 spy can lift it, why not the end sanctify the 
 means, and I that spy I that have not been 
 able hitherto "to render any material service?" 
 The liberty of three millions of people, freshly 
 risen to vindicate their rights, and now rocking 
 at hazard in the stormy cradle of war, is staked 
 on the particular enterprise in prospect. Its 
 solitude, its darkness, its craft, its hypocrisy, its 
 waste and sacrifice of the soldier s honor, its 
 last horrible penalty may these not all be vin 
 dicated by the patriotic spirit with which they 
 may be endured, and by the glorious boon which 
 it may be the spy s fortune to offer to his bleed 
 ing, imperilled country? The importance of 
 the service outweighs every other considera 
 tion "I go!" And he presented himself to 
 General Washington. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 Hale, after receiving instructions from General Washing-ton, 
 starts upon his expedition, accompanied by Stephen Hemp- 
 stead, a confidential soldier of his own company. They 
 reach Norwalk, Connecticut. Hale here assumes a disguise, 
 parts with his companion, and leaves for Long Island in the 
 sloop Huntington, Captain Pond. Safe passage across the 
 Sound. His journey to New York, and its risks. 
 
 RECEIVING from the Commander in chief partic 
 ular instructions, and a general order upon all 
 the American sloops or galleys in the Sound to 
 convey him across to any point upon Long Island 
 which he should designate, Hale, about the mid 
 dle of September, bearing in his hands materials 
 for a disguise, and accompanied by Stephen 
 Hempstead, a confidential soldier of his own com 
 pany, left the Camp at Harlem Heights, intend 
 ing to cross the Sound by the first opportunity. 
 
 Many vessels of the enemy were at this time 
 cruising along East River, and in the Sound. 
 Their guns might be heard, at frequent inter- 
 
NATHAN HALE. 91 
 
 vals, reverberating along the Main as some 
 adventurous Yankee craft, small boat or galley, 
 glided out from some bay or inlet, and provoked 
 pursuit. Hostile scouting and forage parties 
 too, lined the Long Island shore, and no friendly 
 flag appeared not even one of those little pri 
 vateering whaleboats, whose press-gangs or crews 
 of well armed volunteers, so often at this period, 
 and sometimes so uncavalierly, annoyed the 
 British and tories until Hale and his compan 
 ion reached -Xorwalk, fifty miles up the Sound 
 on the Connecticut shore. Here they found 
 one or two row-galleys, and the armed sloop 
 Hunting-ton, commanded by Captain Pond. The 
 sloop. Hale quickly engaged. 
 
 Thus far he had come upon a friendly shore 
 among his own countrymen where here and 
 there only some powerless tory shrank from his 
 sight as he glided by in the undress of a Conti 
 nental officer.* He was now to pass to a shore 
 
 * " He had on a frock, when I last saw him, made of white 
 liiu ii, and fringed, such as officers used to wear. He was too 
 
NATHAN HALE. 
 
 occupied, or controlled to a great extent, by the 
 British and their abettors. How then disguise 
 himself? What character should he assume as 
 best calculated to lull suspicion, and promote 
 the opportunities he desired? He decided upon 
 one to him perfectly familiar in which his own 
 experience had given him ease and self-posses 
 sion, and which from its unassuming and some 
 what itinerant nature, was calculated, in those 
 days when men rarely stirred abroad without 
 watchwords and passes, to engender confidence, 
 or at least not to awaken an active jealousy. 
 He was to play the Schoolmaster ! * 
 
 Stripping off his uniform then, he placed it, 
 together with his military commission, and all 
 the papers he had with him, public or private, 
 save perhaps one to be shortly mentioned, in the 
 hands of his companion Hempstead. To these 
 
 good looking to go so. He could not deceive. Some scrubby 
 fellow ought to have gone." Testimony of Asher \Vricjlit. 
 
 * Hempstead says that Hale told him he intended to play 
 " the Dutch Schoolmaster." Probably so not seriously, how 
 ever but only by way of jest. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 93 
 
 he added his silver shoe buckles, remarking that 
 these " would not now comport with his character 
 as Schoolmaster." His watch also he is reported 
 to have handed to his friend, but after a moment 
 of reflection to have resumed it, with the dec 
 laration that "he would risk his watch where 
 he would risk his life" as if satisfied that 110 
 treachery lurked in that little unostentatious 
 monitor of time, especially in the hands of one, 
 
 " Who in some noisy mansion, skilled to rule, 
 As village master taught his little school." 
 
 Putting on a plain suit of citizen s brown 
 clothes, and a round broad-brimmed hat, and 
 retaining, it is said, as an introduction to his 
 assumed calling, his college diploma the class 
 ical vellum on which the Reverend Doctor 
 Napthali Daggett had certified his Baccalaur 
 eate he leaped on board the sloop after the 
 night had fallen, bade his friend, with a cheerful 
 voice, await his return, or news from him at 
 Norwalk, and was soon under way, the patriot 
 
94 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 spy, with a cool head, and a bold heart, for the 
 head of Huiitiiigton Bay. 
 
 His passage across the Sound was prosperous, 
 and about two hours before daybreak, the little 
 craft which bore him, gliding midway between 
 Eaton and Lloyd s Necks, hove to near the shore 
 of East or Great Neck an elevated tract of 
 land remarkable for its extensive, and pictur 
 esque, but then lonely scenery, on t^e east side 
 of the harbor of Huntington. 
 
 Semifyft. 
 
 A. Place where Hale landed, and probable place of his capture. 
 
 A boat was immediately lowered. Hale took 
 his station in the stern, and four stout oarsmen 
 propelled him quickly to the shore. The point 
 where he landed was a neighborhood known as 
 
N A T H A N H A L E . 95 
 
 "the Cedars" and is still so called at the pres 
 ent day. One Jesse Fleet had there a farm 
 still, we understand, in the tenure of his fam 
 ily and near his dwelling stood that also of 
 Widow Rachel Chichester, familiarly called 
 "Mother Chich" who, herself a loyalist, made 
 her house a rendezvous, somewhat famous, for 
 all the tories of her region. Hale passed this 
 dangerous vicinity in safety, and following the 
 course of a road which led from the beach 
 towards a settlement on the east side of Hunt- 
 ington harbor, after about a mile s walk, reached, 
 in the centre of a large field, the residence of 
 Mr. William Johnson. Attracted by a light 
 streaming through a window, Hale, it is affirm 
 ed on good authority, approached the house 
 with a quick and assured step. The door was 
 opened by Mr. Johnson himself, who, " after a 
 confidential interview, gave Hale such informa 
 tion as his case required, and the comforts also 
 of a hearty breakfast, and a bed to rest upon 
 for a few hours. When the morning had some- 
 
96 N A T H A N H A L E . 
 
 what advanced," says the account from which 
 we derive these facts, "the stranger departed." 
 
 Whither now, particularly by what routes 
 with what experiences ? Would it not be pleas 
 ant to know? 
 
 We have 110 means, however, of tracing his 
 progress hence to New York, and back to the 
 point of his capture. His risk his watchful 
 ness his fatigue his hurry his delays his 
 skill of imposture his anxiety of mind his suf 
 fering from cold his loss of sleep his bivouac 
 by the rock, the fence, upon the tree or in the 
 ditch his stealthy noting of posts, situations, 
 numbers, plans, by the glare of day, or by the 
 dim moon-light, or flickering lantern his delu 
 sion of patrols and guards his conciliation of 
 camps all these the particulars of that vital 
 quest in which Hale was engaged, we are left, 
 in the dearth of any memorials, to conjecture. 
 
 Yet we are assured that his survey was accu 
 rate and successful. We know that, when 
 taken, exact drawings of the works of the 
 enemy, with accompanying descriptions and 
 
NATHAN HALE. 97 
 
 notes, were found between the soles of his 
 pumps. We know that several days elapsed 
 between his departure from the American camp 
 and his capture.* We know that before he 
 reached New York, the British Line had landed 
 two miles above the city at Kip s Bay that 
 General Howe with one portion of his victorious 
 troops occupied the town that General Clinton 
 with another portion, higher up, between " the 
 seventh and eighth milestones," lay stretched 
 across the whole island from the East to the 
 North River while other portions of the foe 
 still covered important points upon Long Island, 
 reaching from Red Hook to Flushing Bay, and 
 from Brooklyn far back, in patrolling and forag 
 ing parties, into the interior. We know also 
 
 Capt. Hale went away was gone about a fortnight before 
 I knew what was become of him. When he left us, he told me 
 he had got to be absent awhile, and wanted I should take care 
 of his things, and if the army moved before he returned, have 
 them moved too. When he went away, he did not tell me 
 where he was going." Testimony of Asher Wriglit. 
 
 9 
 
98 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 ^ 
 
 that Hale was not taken until, having achieved 
 his purpose, he was far back on his return to 
 the American camp. 
 
 He must, therefore, have passed through the 
 entire British army. It is not difficult then, 
 under these circumstances, to conceive his posi 
 tions and occupation. 
 
 \ He must have encountered on his way En 
 glish, Highlanders, Waldeckers, and Hessians, 
 tories and refugees, British sutlers and marau 
 ders, armed and unarmed, and been exposed 
 momently to the peril of detection. Now by 
 day, as he passed through Queen s County, we 
 can see him listening from some place of con 
 cealment to the echo of the British Lighthorse, 
 as they galloped past in piirsuit of some leading 
 whigs now watching some company of British 
 Foot, as they scoured the country in search of 
 grain, or lay quartered around some magazine 
 of forage now, remote from the road, interro 
 gating some Cowboy about the latest news from 
 camp now upon the highway communicating 
 with some teamster impressed to carry hay and 
 
mm 
 
NATHAN HALK. \W 
 
 straw to New York now in some solitary farm 
 house questioning some billeted soldier of the 
 foe over an evening mug of cider. 
 
 Now, as he approached the chief encampments, 
 we can see him straining his gaze at squads of 
 the enemy as they fortified their field-works, or 
 mustered and inarched. Now by night he is 
 counting at a distance their fires, and listening 
 to the hum of their tents, or walking in the 
 black hours from watch to watch to receive the 
 secret whispers of their fixed sentinels. Now, 
 probably, while the badge of loyalty, a red rib 
 bon, or a strip of red flannel, streamed from his 
 hat, he ventures within the very bosom of their 
 camps, and there, smiling the tory, seems to 
 unite heartily in the coarse jibe and laugh at the 
 expense of those whose cause he served or cat 
 echised, perhaps, in his profession as a School 
 master by some group of jesting Redcoats, 
 
 " to see how much he knew, 
 If he could read and cipher too," 
 
 he responds to all their raillery with a loose 
 
 grace, and specimens of his attainments. 
 9* 
 
100 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 Now in the city of New York, occupied, every 
 street of it, more or less, with British soldiers bil 
 leted in houses left vacant by the Wliigs, he cau 
 tiously pursues his way exposed each instant, 
 as was every citizen at the time who went abroad, 
 to the peril of arrest, and of confinement if his 
 loyalty could not at once be made out or to the 
 chance, perhaps, of being hung up at the first 
 convenient post, from a misapprehension of his 
 character, or a conviction that he sympathized 
 with the rebels or liable to be sent to suffer and 
 starve with the Long Island prisoners in the old 
 " Sugar House," from whose fearful gateway the 
 6 4 Dead Cart" already bore its daily morning 
 freight of victims, six or eight in number but 
 through all these varied positions, at each peri 
 lous moment for observation, "interpreting all 
 motions, looks, and eyes," he resolutely pursues, 
 and works out that problem of the British plan 
 given him by his beloved Commander in chief, 
 whose solution, it was thought and hoped, would 
 prove the salvation of his country. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Hale starts on his return to the American Camp. Readies the 
 " Cedars," East Neck, Huntington, L. I., where he is cap 
 tured. His behaviour on the occasion. Is carried to New 
 York. The great fire in the city sit the time. Is immediately 
 taken before Gen. Howe. The head-quarters, appearance, 
 and character of the British Commander-in-chief. Hale s 
 heroic conduct upon his examination. Is condemned as a 
 spy, and is to be hung, " at daybreak the next morning." 
 
 FROM the midst of all these dangers, Hale 
 started undetected and unharmed on his 
 return to the American camp. Crossing the 
 East River, probably at Brooklyn, he threaded 
 his way back through the woods, and around all 
 the British posts and parties upon Long Island, 
 until he reached in safety that point on the shore 
 near Huntington where he first landed, and 
 where it had been arranged that a boat of his 
 own countrymen should meet him, and set him 
 over to the Connecticut Main. 
 
102 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 There he is now at " the Cedars" alone. It 
 was morning early the time of his arrival at 
 this point. It was also still a solitude com 
 pared with the country he had left behind him. 
 His ear could not perceive- the echo of one hos 
 tile tread, nor did he dream, at such a time and 
 place, remote as he thought himself from any 
 British station, that he could be intercepted. 
 He started forth to reconnoitre, expecting be 
 hind some sheltering headland, in some snug 
 inlet, or within some little channel thick cano 
 pied with trees and bushes, to find the wished 
 for boat. 
 
 It did not, however, immediately appear 
 and feeling secure in his treble disguise of dress, 
 manner, and conversation, Hale betook himself 
 for a while, according to one accoimt of the 
 transaction, to that tory rendezvous of which 
 we have already spoken the tavern of " Mother 
 Chicli " and from this point was soon betrayed. 
 
 * Doctor Ray, of Hunting-ton, Loll"- Island, who has given 
 much attention to Male s fate, says that in a few days after 
 Hale left Mr. Johnson, having- during the intermediate time 
 
NATHAN HALE. 
 
 According to another account, he continued his 
 lookout along the shore for the expected boat 
 
 passed through Long Island to New York City und returned by 
 the same route, making- memoranda of the information lie had 
 gathered, he again appeared at the Cedars, and feeling secure in 
 the simplicity of his dress, as well as in his disguised manner, 
 and address, entered the tavern of Widow Chichester, familiar 
 ly called Mother Chieh. "A number of persons," proceeds 
 Dr. Ray, "were seated in the room, and, as he had to wait 
 several hours for the appearance of a boat to convey him away, 
 he trusted to his ready powers of conversation to make himself 
 agreeable, and to avert suspicion. A moment after, a man 
 with a familiar face left the room. 
 
 "Long- before the time had elapsed for the arrival of the ves 
 sel expected by the stranger, Widow Chichester suddenly an 
 nounced to her guests that a strange boat was seen approaching 
 the shore. This news produced consternation and scampering 
 among the loyalists, while the breast of the stranger thrilled 
 with joy, as he left the bar-room for the beach, where the boat 
 had already struck. Soon he found himself within range of 
 several muskets pointed at him while a voice cried out, Sur 
 render or die ! 
 
 " In a moment of surprise he was seized by what proved to 
 be a part} from a British armed vessel lying around the point 
 of Lloyd s neck, out of view from the Cedars. To his mortifi 
 cation and astonishment, he discovered among the boat s crew 
 
104 NATHAN HALF:. 
 
 up to the very moment of his capture. Be 
 these circumstances as they may have been, all 
 the accounts we have received agree, in the 
 main, as to the manner in winch he was finally 
 seized and it was as we shall now narrate. 
 
 A barge, to all appearance such an one as 
 Hale was expecting, quietly impelled, was seen 
 approaching the shore. Confident of the friend 
 ly character of the crew, and expecting to receive 
 at once a hearty welcome, Hale walked deliber 
 ately down to the water side when lo ! to his 
 utter surprise, as the barge struck the shore, 
 she proved to he British ! 
 
 the very person who had so suddenly left the tavern as he en 
 tered the door, and whom he now recognized as an unworthy 
 relative. 
 
 "Longer concealment was useless, and the stranger avowed 
 himself to be NATHAN HALE, lie left the American Camp, 
 at Harlem Heights, at the request of Gen. Washington, to ascer 
 tain the condition of the British forces on Long Island. He 
 was taken to New York by water, examined by Gen. Howe, and 
 condemned to be hung as a spy, which sentence was carried into 
 effect the next day with circumstances of aggravated cruelty, 
 by Capt. Cunningham, the Provost Marshal. 
 

NATHAN HALE. 105 
 
 He attempted at once to retrace his steps. 
 A loud summons commanded him to stop. He 
 glanced over his shoulder, and saw the whole 
 crew now standing erect, and levelling at him 
 with their muskets. " Surrender or die!" an 
 imperious voice exclaimed. He was close within 
 reach. Their shot would inevitably prove fatal. 
 Escape was impossible. He turned, and com 
 plying with their command, passed on board the 
 barge. The guardship to which she belonged 
 the Halifax, Captain Quarme and from which, 
 it is said, she had been sent ashore for water 
 lay off at a little distance, hid from sight by the 
 intervening point of Lloyd s Xeck. To the 
 deck of this armed vessel Hale was soon trans 
 ferred at last, and at the very moment when 
 his heart was palpitating with triumph at his 
 supposed success a prisoner. 
 
 No suspicion at first, it has been stated, was 
 entertained of his true character, till he was 
 unfortunately met and recognised by a fellow- 
 countryman and a relative, a tory and renegade, 
 who, divulging his previous life and actual 
 
106 NATHAN HALK. 
 
 situation in the Continental Army, and cor 
 roborating his statements in part by the pro 
 duction of Hale s college diploma, infamously 
 betrayed him. Be this account true or not 
 and we arc fully inclined to the opinion that 
 it is not the fact of Hale s arrest at the point 
 described seems well made out, and as his cap 
 tors stripped and searched him, the plans and 
 memoranda found in his pumps proved his 
 strong accusers.* What had he a plain School 
 master to do with laborious profiles of intrench- 
 ments, forts, fieldworks, and batteries and these 
 exact counterparts of those occupied and manned 
 by the royal army? Why write his notes and 
 in the suspicious society of military draughts 
 in Latin a contrivance, it was thought, disguis 
 ing and unintelligible to the world generally as 
 the mysterious ciphers of correspondence, or 
 the anaglyphs of the pyramids? Why too was 
 
 * " They stopped him, searched, and found drawings of the 
 works, with descriptions in Latin, under the inner sole of the 
 pumps which he wore." Testimony of Asher Wright. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 107 
 
 the prisoner at a point so remote alone, and 
 hardly day-break and why did he retreat at 
 first with such obvious disappointment from his 
 captors ? 
 
 Here was an indictment difficult to meet. 
 How Hale attempted to meet it at first, we know 
 not probably with ingenious pretences, and the 
 semblance of simplicity, with careless self-pos 
 session, and conciliating jocularity. But even 
 the rudest sailor could interpret the facts. Hale 
 must be a spy. As such Captain Quarme 
 treated him, though with kindness, we are 
 assured won by the noble traits of his char 
 acter, and regretting, as he afterwards said, 
 " that so fine a fellow had fallen into his power." 
 As such, he soon sent him, as Avas his custom 
 with prisoners, to New York, in one of the boats 
 of the Halifax back, under the guard of a 
 detachment of his captors bearing the evidences 
 of his guilt, to that city, swarming with his 
 foes, from which he had just escaped. 
 
 It was Saturday, the twenty-first of Septem 
 ber, when Hale reached his destination a day 
 
108 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 long to be remembered in American annals, not 
 only as that which decided the fate of the pat 
 riot we describe, but also for the horror and 
 alarm, from another event, in the midst of which 
 his fearful sentence was past. New York, that 
 day, after two o clock in the morning, was on fire. 
 From Whitehall Slip the devouring element 
 fanned by a violent southwest wind, and unpro 
 vided against by any force of engines shooting 
 aloft its hot clouds of smoke lurid with sparks, 
 and hurling its fiery flakes in every direction 
 among wooden buildings came roaring and 
 leaping along both sides up Broadway mounted 
 the spires of Trinity Church, as if to signalise 
 its triumph to the whole adjoining country 
 and in one insufferable wave of blaze, rolled on 
 towards St. Paul s till beyond, near Barclay 
 Street, arrested by the College Green and a 
 change of wind, it stopped at last, having laid 
 four hundred and ninety-three houses, nearly one- 
 third of the city, in ashes. The dark confusion 
 of that morning and day as the British soldiers 
 
NATHAN HALE. 109 
 
 fought the flames the peal of the alarm bells 
 the loud shouting of voices in wonder and terror, 
 mingled with the louder roar of timbers, walls, 
 and roofs, as they cracked, rocked, and tumbled 
 to the ground had hardly yet subsided the 
 broad sky itself not long lost its startling sem 
 blance of conflagration when the guard with 
 Hale, landing probably at one of the slips of 
 the city, started to seek the prisoner s judge, the 
 British Commander in chief. 
 
 General Howe, at this time, had his quarters 
 near Turtle Bay, on the East River, at Mount 
 Pleasant the then family seat of James Beek-^ 
 man Esquire, a sterling Whig, who, on the near 
 approach of the British army, had retreated with 
 his family for security to Esopus. The old man 
 sion which he occupied, and which was subse 
 quently occupied by General Clinton and British 
 officers of rank and among the rest by Andre, 
 on the very night before he went up the Hudson 
 on his ill-fated expedition stood three and a 
 quarter miles from the present City Park of 
 10 
 
110 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 New York, and at the corner of the present 
 fifty-first street and first avenue a spot just dis 
 tant enough from the Provost Jail, and old Sugar 
 House, to save the knightly cars of the British 
 Commander in chief from the waitings of Amer 
 ican prisoners, and the profane echoes of his 
 own cavalry in the churches, and yet in conven 
 ient location to hear the reports of his officers, 
 as one after another some captive of note, or 
 citizen of questionable loyalty, was brought up 
 from the city for examination. The building is 
 still standing, with the original decorations, blue 
 and gold, of the room occupied by General Clin 
 ton yet unchanged and near it stood a green 
 house an airy apartment, that at the time 
 of which we speak, had a shingle roof, was 
 empty of plants, and is reported and believed 
 by many descendants of Mr. Beekman to have 
 been the spot where Hale received his sentence. 
 Be this as it may, there can be no question but 
 that General Howe had his quarters at Mount 
 Pleasant at the time of Hale s condemnation 
 
NATHAN HALE. Ill 
 
 and thither, beyond all reasonable doubt, to the 
 mansion house, or the green-house adjacent, the 
 young captive was taken.* 
 
 Tall, graceful, dignified, as was General 
 Howe in personal appearance much resembling 
 
 * Among other proofs of the facts stated in the text are the 
 following. 
 
 1 . Jerome B. Holgate, in his American Genealogy, says : 
 44 Three miles from the City Hall [New York] stands an old 
 mansion built by James Beekman, and occupied by British offi 
 cers during the war. One room near the head of the stairs 
 was occupied by Andre, the night before he went up the River, 
 on his ill-fated expedition ; and (strange Providence !) but a few 
 yards distant still stands the green-house where Captain Nathan 
 Hale of the American army received his trial and condemnation." 
 
 2. Two letters from Hon. James W. Beekman of New York, 
 grandson of James Beekman mentioned in the text, and present 
 owner of the premises in question. Mr. Beekman has carefully 
 scrutinized all the circumstances in the case, and as to the Head 
 Quarters of Gen. Howe, at the time under consideration, says to 
 the writer, " I consider, with you, the fact clearly established 
 that they were on the 21st Sept. 1776, at my Grandfather s 
 corner of fifty-first street and first avenue, at present." The gar 
 dener of James Beekman made a cotfinporaneons record of the 
 fact. 
 
112 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 Washington, yet with features more pointed, 
 and in temper sharp and harsh towards the 
 unfortunate patriots who fell in his power it 
 was not, we may believe, without something of 
 awe, and a dark anticipation of his fate, that 
 Hale found himself ushered into the sombre 
 presence of his judge. 
 
 The charge was soon made the proof pro 
 duced. What said the youthful prisoner then ? 
 Did he explain, prevaricate, deny throw himself 
 on the laws of war, and demand trial by a Court 
 Martial that right accorded to every military 
 offender save a mutineer? Did he continue 
 still to wear the semblance of the Schoolmaster, 
 and inventing time, place, and name, resolutely 
 offer to prove the genuineness of his profession ? 
 Or playing the loyalist and tory, did he suppli 
 cate to swear in his hatred of the rebels, and 
 his fealty to King George ? Or, taking advan- 
 age of Howe s thirst for raising provincial troops, 
 and of the King s bounty, in confiscated lands, 
 houses, money, and in honors, to those of his 
 
NATHAN HALE. 113 
 
 countrymen who would recruit the royal army 
 did lie profess his readiness to co-operate there 
 after, heartily, "in suppressing the unnatural 
 rebellion in North America," and at once for 
 this purpose to join the company of some " Royal 
 American Regiment," or "Prince of Wales 
 American Volunteers," or "King s American 
 Dragoons"* a course which, doubtless, in the 
 peculiar exigency of the British general at that 
 time, would have saved the life of the spy, since 
 we find it afterwards protecting even such mal 
 efactors as robbers and murderers?! Or, his 
 young heart crushed and riven by the horror of 
 his situation the memories of home, and love 
 
 * The actual names of American regiments raised during the 
 war for the British service. 
 
 f " The provincial corps," or soldiers raised in America, were 
 frequently abandoned men, fugitives from justice, who enlisted 
 to escape punishment. Even such recruits were hard to be 
 obtained at a high bounty ; and if they committed a crime, the 
 officers were loth to lose them, or give them up to punish 
 ment to replace them was so difficult." Ondfrdonk s Revol. 
 Incidents of Queen s County, jj. 182. 
 
 10* 
 
114 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 of life, pleading too keenly and powerfully in 
 his bosom did he appeal to the benignity, the 
 compassion, to the mercy of his judge? 
 
 Nothing nothing of all this though his sit 
 uation so varied are the chances of life, such 
 and so many the happy accidents that snatch us 
 from the grave was not yet all bereft of hope. 
 Open and sincere as he was by nature incapa 
 ble, save for the high patriotic end he then pur 
 sued, of delusion, and already overweary proba 
 bly of the burden of deceit his conscience too, 
 before an august tribunal, and under staggering 
 circumstances, impelling him, too sensitively 
 perhaps, to resume his wonted truthful charac 
 ter Hale frankly, and at once, acknowledged 
 his mission confessed himself an American 
 officer and a spy proudly yet respectfully sta 
 ted his success bemoaned that his hope of serv 
 ing his country was now suddenly cut off and 
 stood calm and fearless before his judge await 
 ing his decision. 
 
 That decision was soon made. A piece of 
 
NATHAN HALE. 115 
 
 paper a pen ink a few lines and under the 
 initials of " George Rex," and by the hand and 
 seal at arms of William Howe Commander in 
 chief, William Cunningham, Provost Marshal 
 of the Royal Army, was directed to receive into 
 his custody the body of Nathan Hale, a cap 
 tain in the rebel army, that day convicted as a 
 spy and further, to see him hung by the neck 
 until dead, "to-morrow-morning at daybreak."* 
 
 * There can be no doubt that a formal Avarrant, in purport 
 the same with that described in the text, was given by Howe. 
 Such appertained to his function as Commander. Such apper 
 tained to the function of Cunningham as Provost Marshal. Such 
 were entered by Cunningham in his Kecords, which he habitually 
 kept for his own justification, and official report. That in the 
 text is given, almost verbatim, by Buckingham, the author of 
 Revolutionary Tales in the New York Sunday Times in his 
 Sketch of Hale whether from copy of the actual warrant, or 
 from the imagination of what it must have been, we know not. 
 Of its substantial correctness, however, we entertain no doubt. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A reflection. Hale unuppallcd. His confinement after sentence. 
 His jailor and executioner, William Cunningham, Provost 
 Marshal of the British Army. Cruel treatment of Hale. 
 His gloomy situation. His noble endurance. Writes letters 
 to his friends, and prepares himself, sublimely, for the catas 
 trophe. Is taken out to die. The brutal Provost Marshal 
 tauntingly demands from him a dying speech. That speech! 
 The fatal swing. 
 
 u To-morrow-morning at daybreak! How 
 quick to die! The sands of life left how few! 
 The interval for thought, recollection, for last 
 memorializing wish, if pity were not turned to 
 stone, how cruelly brief! And yet this sudden 
 ness of sentence these startling inches only of 
 life s space ere the soul s last plunge forced not 
 one word of remonstrance not a complaining 
 
NATHAN HALE 
 
 117 
 
 no t a quiver, even involuntary, of fear 
 from the condemned patriot and under a strong 
 guard, he was borne from the presence of his 
 judge. 
 
 Whither ? To some barrack, or tent, or build 
 ing adjacent to the quarters of Howe or to the 
 Provost? It is impossible to tell with any cer 
 tainty so meagre is History on this point, and 
 the few facts she offers are so vague and con 
 flicting.* If confined near the spot of his con- 
 
 * Yet these facts incline a few of them strongly to the 
 Provost as the prison of Hale. This building was then in use 
 as a jail. It was a receptacle for offenders who were most noto 
 rious. It was the safest of all places in which to keep a prisoner. 
 It was adjacent to the spot where public executions at this period 
 usually took place. Tradition, quite uniformly, points to it 
 as the prison of Hale. Two old gentlemen of Lyme, Connecti 
 cut, who died several years ago, and who were men of integrity, 
 stated, we are assured, that they saw Hale there the night 
 before his execution. A Hessian straggler, passing through 
 Coventry just after the event, told a Mr. Brigham with whom 
 he staid over night, that he saw Hale hung in New York City, 
 near Chambers [then Barrack] street. Upon the whole we are 
 strongly inclined to think that the Provost was his prison and a 
 
118 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 demnation, an armed British guard, of course, 
 paced around him, and clattered their muskets, 
 and rung their dread watchwords in upon his 
 bondage. But if taken down to the Provost, as 
 was most probably the case, the ear of the cap 
 tive was filled and agonized with other and more 
 afflictive sounds with the echo of bolts and 
 bars through black prison vaults with the cease 
 less clank of chains with the wail of captive 
 countrymen of his own and with the felon s 
 muttered curse. 
 
 It was a gloomy, terrific abode indeed that 
 jail the Provost ! Destined for the more noto 
 rious rebels, civil, naval, and military it stood 
 upon the eastern boundary of the Park, about 
 
 spot adjoining, the place of his execution though the facility 
 with which executions were effected at this period upon a 
 tree, or at a lamp post at the first convenient point in or out 
 of the presence of the Army and the distance of three miles 
 which intervened between Kale s place of trial and the Provost 
 and the fact that Cunningham often moved about with the Brit 
 ish army, from place to place cause our judgment in the mat 
 ter somewhat to waver. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 119 
 
 midway, at a time when this enclosure had 
 within it neither City Hall or Almshouse. The 
 building stands there now and is the present 
 Hall of Records. Two sentinels guarded, day 
 and night, its entrance door. Two more were 
 posted at its first and second barricades, which 
 were grated, barred, and chained. Others watch 
 ed at its rear door, or upon platforms on flights of 
 steps which led to rooms and cells in the second 
 and third stories. It was surrounded by a yard 
 back of which on the present site of the old 
 Almshouse was a range of barracks and 
 beyond these, on the upper side of Chambers 
 street between Broadway and Centre, an old 
 Burying-yard, which long served both as a place 
 of execution, and as a last resting-place for the 
 dead of the neighboring prison. At the time of 
 which we speak, it was under the charge of a 
 
 Commissary to whom we have already alluded 
 
 William Cunningham a man than whom none 
 more infamous for cruelty ever disgraced the 
 annals of any prison upon earth. Associated 
 
120 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 as he darkly was with the patriot whose fate 
 we commemorate, let us pause here just a mo 
 ment for his portrait. 
 
 A large, lusty Irishman of rough, forbid 
 ding aspect having served early in life in 
 the British Dragoons, he came to New York 
 before the Revolution, and when the war broke 
 out, becoming at once a tory and a renegade, 
 joined Sir William Howe, and was by him 
 appointed Provost Marshal of the British army. 
 Avaricious cruelly so he at times dosed his 
 prisoners with arsenic in their flour, "for the 
 sake of cheating his king and country by contin 
 uing fora time to draw their nominal rations." 
 Wonted, to sit in his quarters at the Provost, 
 opposite the guard-room on the right hand of 
 
 * lie was only restrained from putting them to death in a 
 more violent way, it is said, " five or six of them of a night, 
 back of the prison yard, by the distress of certain women in the 
 neighborhood, who, pained by the cries for mercy which they 
 heard, went to the commander in chief, and made the case known, 
 with entreaties to spare the lives of the sufferers in future." 
 Watson s Olden Times in the City of New York. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 121 
 
 the main door, and drink punch till his brain 
 was 011 fire he would then stagger out into the 
 corridors followed often by his negro Richmond, 
 the common hangman, with coils of rope about his 
 neck and pouring forth volleys of tempestuous 
 abuse on the wretched sufferers who happened to 
 be outside their cells, drive the " dogs," as he 
 called them, back to their " kennels," the " rebel 
 spawn," as he varied it, "in to their holes "or 
 vent his spite, as he passed up and down the 
 hall, by kicking over vessels of soup which the 
 charitable sometimes placed there for poor and 
 friendless captives or clanking his keys, reel to 
 the door of the prison, and strain his drunken 
 gaze for fresh victims. Such another victim 
 on the night of the twenty-first of September, 
 1776 either at the Provost, or at the head quar 
 ters of General Howe he found in Captain 
 Nathan Hale and such was the ruffian jailor 
 and executioner whom Hale found in William 
 Cunningham ! 
 
 On receiving his prisoner, Cunningham, accor 
 ding to his custom, questioned him minutely as 
 11 
 
122 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 to his name, rank, size, and age,* read the war 
 rant for his death, and ordered him to be rigidly 
 confined. Hale calmly requested that his hands 
 might be unpinioned, and that he might be fur 
 nished with writing materials and a light. He 
 wanted, he said, to address a few lines to his 
 parents and friends. The request was at first 
 brutally refused. He asked for a Bible, that he, 
 a dying man, might receive the last holy conso 
 lations of the religion which he professed. This 
 request too was met at first with coarse denial 
 with curses too, it is highly probable, on the 
 stupidity of last hour repentances, and impious 
 taunts of tortures beyond the grave for all trait 
 ors to their king.f But there was one heart 
 
 * " When a prisoner, escorted by soldiers, was led into the 
 hall, the whole guard was paraded, and he was delivered over, 
 with all formality, to Capt. Cunningham or his deputy, and 
 questioned as to his name, rank, size, age, c., all of which were 
 entered in a record-book." Dunlap s Hist. N. York, Vol. II., 
 p. 137. 
 
 t Cunningham s brutal demeanor is strikingly illustrated in 
 the case of another son of Connecticut, the Rev. Moses Mather 
 
NATHAN HALE. 123 
 
 near, which for a moment throbbed with pity 
 for the prisoner so young, so graceful, so treat 
 ed, yet so mild, so firm, so soon to die, and 
 alone! Moved in spite of himself, the young 
 
 D. D., of Darien, Conn. This exemplary and distinguished 
 divine, July twenty-second, 1781, was taken captive with about 
 forty of his congregation, while worshipping on the Sabbath, by 
 a party of British troops consisting chiefly of tory refugees, 
 which came over from Long Island, and suddenly surrounded 
 the Church. The following extract from Barber s Historical 
 Collections of Connecticut, shows his subsequent treatment. 
 
 " Dr. Mather having been taken into New York, was confined 
 in the Provost Prison. Here his food was stinted, and wretched 
 to a degree not easily imaginable. His lodging corresponded 
 with his food. His company, to a considerable extent, was 
 made up of mere rabble ; and their conversation, from which he 
 could not retreat, was composed of profaneness and ribaldry. 
 Here also he was insulted daily by the Provost Marshal, whose 
 name was Cunningham a wretch remembered in this country 
 only with detestation. This wretch, with other kinds of abuse, 
 took a particular satisfaction in announcing from time to time 
 to Dr. Mather, that on that day, the morrow, or some other time 
 at a little distance, he was to be executed. 
 
 " But Dr. Mather was not without his friends friends, how 
 ever, who knew nothing of him, except his character. A lady 
 of distinction, [the mother of Washington Irving, according to 
 
124 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 Lieutenant of Halc s guard interfered in his 
 behalf, it is said, earnestly and was so far suc 
 cessful as to procure for him the privilege of 
 writing. With pen, ink and paper therefore, a 
 light, and hands unraanacled, he was thrust, 
 late it would seem in the night, into some 
 separate abode some lonely tent or gloomy 
 barrack or desolate chamber or grated cell 
 and for a while, was left to himself. 
 
 There, without a friend without the solace of 
 even one kind word without the glimmer even 
 of a hope of escape on the verge of an ignomin 
 ious death for the last time, to transcribe for 
 those he loved the deep emotions of his heart ! 
 There in the dread twilight of eternity not as 
 it creeps mantling with silver over the sick 
 man s tended couch but as it wears the scaf- 
 
 informution obtained in Darien,] having learned his circumstan 
 ces, and having obtained the necessary permission, sent to him 
 clothes and food, and comforts, with a very liberal hand. He 
 died Sept. 21st, 1806, venerated by all who knew him, in the 
 88th year of his age. He was educated at Yale College, of 
 which he was a Fellow thirteen years." 
 
NATHAN HALE. 125 
 
 fold s ghastly hue to commune with his soul, 
 and with his God ! What a night to Hale ! 
 
 The hours flew as seconds. Weeks and 
 months to one death-doomed, endure but as 
 single sands ebbing in Time s smallest glass. 
 Light runs into shade, and shade into light, with 
 scarce a gradation marked by that eye on which 
 all light and shade are soon to close forever. 
 But quick as must have passed to Hale his 
 prison hours, there was one to whom these hours 
 doubtless seemed laggard he to whose hands 
 the captive was consigned and the deeper shad 
 ows of the night had scarce faded into misty 
 gray, the rose of an autumn sun, low and faint, 
 but just begun to "blush in the east, when the 
 executioner sought his victim. It was morn 
 ing daybreak morning too of the i hallowed 
 day but War knows no Sabbaths the fatal 
 hour had come ! 
 
 Cunningham found Hale ready. Doubtful 
 it is if on that straw, or rug, or coarse blanket, 
 11* 
 
126 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 or "oaken plank," which formed his bed,* he 
 had slept at all the thoughts of home and 
 death rushing, as they must have done, impetu 
 ously on his nerves. He handed the letters he 
 had written to the Provost Marshal for ultimate 
 delivery one certainly to his mother another, 
 it is said, to his sisters a third probably to the 
 lady to whom he was betrothed or perhaps his 
 messages to all may have occupied a single letter, 
 or a single sheet. Be this as it may, what he 
 had written was at once insolently scrutinised 
 by Cunningham, who, as he read, grew furious 
 at the noble spirit which breathed in every 
 line of the composition and for the reason 
 afterwards given by himself that the rebels 
 should never know they had a man who could 
 die with such firmness" he tore the paper into 
 
 * "An oaken plank, it was our bed, 
 
 And very scanty we were fed." 
 
 AVo//i Peter St. John s account one of the Provost prisoners, 
 and captured at Darien, Conn , with the Rev. Moses Mather D. D., 
 and others. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 127 
 
 shreds, and ordered his victim to begin his death 
 march. 
 
 That march its accompaniments the place 
 of the scaffold its preparations the scene 
 around it these are points upon which history 
 does not throw much light, yet enough materi 
 ally to aid conjecture. The general practice in 
 executions, at this period, and particularly Cun 
 ningham s, we have ascertained from various 
 sources.* That they were conducted chiefly in 
 
 *In 1782, two British soldiers, named Jbjc/iand Porter, were 
 hung at the "Wallabout, on a chestnut tree, for robbing and mur 
 dering a farmer of Flushing named James Hedges. Cunning 
 ham presided over the execution, which took place in the pres 
 ence of a large detachment of the British Army. The late ven 
 erable General Jeremiah Johnson of Brooklyn, L. I., witnessed it r 
 and in a letter to the writer describes it as below. The extract 
 we give materially aids our conception both of the manner in 
 which an execution was conducted in the times of which we 
 speak, and of the Provost Marshal, with his black ham/man. 
 
 " The execution," writes General Johnson, " was conducted 
 as follows. At 10 A. M., about 1000 men were marched to the 
 place of execution, and formed a hollow square, Avhich enclosed 
 a large chestnut tree on the land (then) of Martin Schenck. 
 A short time after the square was formed, Cunningham, followed 
 
128 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 an old graveyard near the Provost, in Chambers 
 [then Barrack] Street, is a fact well made out. 
 
 by his mulatto neyro hangman, who carried a ladder and cords, 
 entered the square. The negro placed the ladder against an 
 horizontal limb of the tree, which was about 15 feet from the 
 ground. He then ascended the ladder, and adjusted one halter, 
 lie then moved the ladder about four feet, and adjusted the sec 
 ond halter. The nooses dropped about five feet. A short time 
 after the halters were adjusted, the criminals were escorted into 
 the square. Their arms were pinioned, and they were dressed 
 in white jackets, and white overhauls, and they wore white caps. 
 Tench ascended the ladder first, and the hangman stepped up 
 close behind him, and fixed the halter around the culprit s neck, 
 drew the cap over his face, descended, and immediately turned 
 the man off the ladder, when he hung about five feet above 
 ground. The ladder Avas then placed at the second halter. 
 Porter ascended the steps firmly, followed by the negro, who 
 fixed the halter, drew down the cap, descended, and immedi 
 ately turned Porter off towards Tench. The bodies struck 
 against each other, and dangled some time before tliev were 
 still. The men struggled little in dying. 
 
 " The field and staff officers were stationed inside the square. 
 After the execution, I saw Cunningham go to the commanding 
 officer (said to be Grey), to whom I suppose lie reported, and who 
 appeared to treat, him with contempt. The troops marched off to 
 their camp. The dead bodies were taken down, and buried under 
 the tree." 
 
NATHAN HALE. 129 
 
 It is probable, therefore, that this was the spot 
 of Male s suffering though it may have been 
 elsewhere above the city and on some tree 
 near the place of his trial. As a spy, his exe 
 cution would, of course, be public we know 
 that it was so would be attended with the ordi 
 nary formalities all that were calculated to 
 strike terror and with many in addition, for 
 the purpose of accumulating disgrace and in 
 the case under consideration, we know, was 
 accompanied with every contrivance which bru 
 tality could suggest to wound the sensibilities of 
 the victim.* 
 
 * Among other testimony in proof of the fact stated in the 
 text is the following. Tunis Bogart, an honest farmer of Long- 
 Island, who for five weeks remained impressed as a waggoner in 
 the British service, witnessed Hale s execution. In 1784, being 
 asked to witness another execution then about to take place, he 
 replied : " No I have seen one man hung, a spy, [alluding to 
 Hale,J and that s enough for me. I have never been able to 
 efface the scene of horror from my mind it rises up to my imag 
 ination always. That old Devil Catcher Cunningham was 
 so brutal, and hung him up as a butcher would a calf! The 
 
130 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 His arms then, probably, pinioned close behind 
 him over his body a coarse white gown or 
 jacket trimmed with black, the winding sheet of 
 the scaffold on his head a cap of white, trimmed 
 too with black near him a box of rough pine 
 boards, his coffin, borne in a cart, or upon the 
 shoulders of attendants before him a guard 
 leading the way behind him another guard 
 with loaded muskets and fixed bayonets in the 
 rear of these Cunningham himself, with other 
 officers , as formal witnesses of the event and 
 near, mulatto Richmond, the common hangman 
 of the Provost, bearing a ladder, and with a 
 coil of rope about his neck such were the cir 
 cumstances, it may fairly be presumed, under 
 which Hale moved to the place of his execution 
 there where some tree sent out from its ill-omened 
 trunk a rigid horizontal limb, or where from 
 among the bones of those already dead, two 
 
 women sobbed aloud, and Cunningham swore at them for it, 
 and told them they would likely enough themselves come to the 
 *amc fate." 
 
NATHAN HALE. 131 
 
 straight poles, supporting a cross beam in their 
 crotches, shot into the air and where, just 
 beneath, a heap of earth, thrown freshly out, 
 marked a new-made grave. 
 
 Early morning as it was, the sun hardly risen, 
 yet quite a crowd was collected around the spot 
 many whom the fire in the city had kept out of 
 their beds all night men and women a few 
 American waggoners, who, impressed from Long 
 Island into the British forage service, happened 
 to be in town some soldiers and officers of the 
 royal army, and among these last that officer of 
 the British Commissariat Department, whose 
 subsequent narrative of the circumstances to 
 General Hull forms one of our chief sources of 
 information. But in all that crowd there was 
 not one face familiar to Hale not one voice to 
 whisper a word of consolation to his dying agony. 
 Yet though without a friend whom he knew 
 though denied that privilege granted usually to 
 the meanest criminal, the attendance of a chap 
 lain though degraded by every external mark 
 
132 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 of ignominy yet did his spirit not give way. 
 His gait, as he approached the gallows, in spite 
 of his pinioned arms, was upright and steady. 
 No offending soldier to whom the choicer penalty 
 has been assigned to receive the shot of his com 
 rades, ever, in the midst of sympathy, and with 
 the consciousness that he was allowed at least a 
 soldier s death, marched more firmly to kneel 
 upon his coffin than did Hale to meet the felon s 
 doom. Through all the horror of his situation 
 he maintained a deportment so dignified, a reso 
 lution so calm, a spirit so exalted by Christian 
 readiness to meet his fate, and by the conscious 
 ness of duty done, and done in the holy cause of 
 his country, that his face, we cannot but think, 
 must have worn almost the aspect of a seraph s 
 lifted as it was at frequent intervals to heaven, and 
 so radiant with hope, heroism, and resignation. 
 Thus looking, he stood at last the few simple 
 preparations being ended elevated on one of 
 the rounds of the gallows ladder ready for the 
 fatal fall. The coarse voice of Cunningham, 
 whose eye watched every arrangement, was now 
 
NATHAN HALE. 133 
 
 heard scoffingly demanding from his victim his 
 dying speech and confession* as if hoping that 
 the chaos of Hale s soul at that awful moment, 
 would lead him to utter some remark, strange 
 or ridiculous, which might serve to glut the 
 curiosity of the crowd, or be remembered as a 
 kind of self-made epitaph by a rebel captain. 
 
 Never was torturer more cheated of his pur 
 pose never a victim endowed with utterance 
 more sublime ! One glance, it is said, at Cun 
 ningham one slight momentary contraction of 
 his features into contempt and he turned his 
 look, filled again with holy energy and sweet 
 ness, upon the spectators now impressed, most 
 
 * That such a demand was made by Cunningham, rests 
 chiefly on the statement of the late H. A. Buckingham Esq., 
 of New York. He assured us that he received it from unques 
 tionable authority, having consulted, as we know he did, very 
 many aged persons in New York who were conversant with it, 
 and with some other particulars regarding the execution of 
 Hale. We see no reason to doubt the statement, but on the 
 other hand, we perceive everything in the character and con 
 duct of Cunningham to corroborate it amply. 
 
 12 
 
134 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 of them, with solemn awe and some of them, 
 the females, not forbearing to sob aloud. With 
 a voice full, distinct, slow which came mourn 
 fully thrilling from the very depths of his 
 being in words which patriotism will forever 
 enshrine, and every monument to Halo s mem 
 ory sink deepest into its stone, and every temple 
 of liberty blazon highest on its entablature at 
 the very moment when the tightening knotted 
 cord was to crush the life from his young body 
 forever he ejaculated as the last immortal 
 testament of his heroic soul to the world he was 
 
 leaving 
 
 
 
 "3 onto regret tl)at 3 l)aue but one life to lose 
 for mji count ! " 
 
 Maddened to hear a sentiment so sublime burst 
 from the lips of the sufferer, and to witness 
 visible signs of sympathy among the crowd, 
 Cunningham instantly shouted for the catastro 
 phe to close. "Swing the rebel off!" we con- 
 
NATHAN HALE. 135 
 
 ceive we hear him vociferating even now 
 u swing him off!" The ladder disappeared 
 the cord strained from the creaking beam or 
 bough and with a sudden jerk, the body of 
 Hale dangled convulsively in the air. A few 
 minutes fluttering to and fro a few heavings 
 of its noble chest its manly limbs at moments 
 sharply bent by the pang it at last hung 
 straight and motionless from its support. 
 All was still as the chambers of death 
 
 of 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Effect of Halc s death upon Gen. Washington upon the 
 American army upon his relatives, and friends elsewhere 
 upon his camp attendant, Asher Wright. Deep and general 
 mourning. The Hale Monument Association. The Monu 
 ment. Extracts from poetry in memory of Hale. An epi 
 taph by a friend. Comparison between Hale and Andre. 
 Conclusion. 
 
 THE death of Hale was deemed of sufficient 
 importance, in the British army, to demand its 
 formal notification to the American Commander 
 in chief. From a motive probably of military 
 policythat the capture and summary execu 
 tion, at the hands of British vigilance, of an 
 American spy, might operate as an example and 
 a warning upon the American army Colonel 
 Montaznar of the royal forces was deputed, un- 
 
NATHAN HALE. 137 
 
 der a flag of truce, to announce the event to 
 General Washington. He fulfilled his mission. 
 The melancholy tidings were received with 
 what sorrow with what sympathy, on the part 
 of the Commander in chief, we are left, in great 
 degree to conjecture. Washington s grief, how 
 ever, must have been profound for he was a 
 man himself instinct with sensibility, and Hale, 
 we learn from various sources, was one of his 
 favorites. In the camp at Cambridge, he had 
 met him in the tents of those generals in the 
 army with whom Hale was familiar, and at 
 various places upon the field of encampment, 
 and at his own Head Quarters. He had noticed 
 particularly his skill in discipline, and the ex 
 cellent appearance of his company on parade 
 and was gratified with the numerous evidences 
 which the young officer gave of intelligence, 
 patriotism, and activity. Moreover, it was at 
 his own instigation that Hale had been employed 
 upon the perilous mission in which he had lost 
 his life. 
 
 12* 
 
138 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 A cloud then, we doubt not, settled on his 
 spirits when the report first reached him of 
 Hale s fate and upon the spirits too of the 
 American army generally, wherever, from rank 
 to rank, from soldier to soldier, the sad news 
 was circulated. Hale s acquaintances in camp 
 were very numerous. The soldiers of his own 
 regiment all knew him. He was known also to 
 many of other regiments. He had many inti 
 mate friends among the officers. All loved him. 
 The blow which severed him from his military 
 companions, therefore, was extensively felt, and 
 was universally lamented. And to his own 
 family to his doating parents particularly,* and 
 a large circle of relatives and friends, to whom 
 he was clasped in affection by hooks of steel 
 what a bereavement! Every face, within this 
 circle particularly, 
 
 "Bearing its deadly sorrow charactered," 
 
 * " It almost killed his father and mother," said a lady, who 
 witnessed their agony, to the late Professor Kingsley of Yale 
 College, our informant. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 139 
 
 was a face of despondency. Death could hardly 
 have struck down a more shining mark its fatal 
 dart have hardly pierced one nobler bosom its 
 rude, inexorable blast have scarcely nipped one 
 fairer bud of promise.* But upon no one did 
 the news fall with more stunning effect than 
 upon poor Asher "Wright Hale s faithful at 
 tendant in camp. It completely unstrung his 
 nerves. It impaired his self-control. And he 
 wore the pall of a somewhat shattered under 
 standing down to his grave, f Back to the 
 
 * " Those who knew Capt. Hale in New London," says Miss 
 Caulkins in her History of this town, " have described him as 
 a man of many agreeable qualities ; frank and independent in 
 his bearing ; social, animated, ardent, a lover of the society of 
 ladies, and a favorite among them. Many a fair cheek was wet 
 with bitter tears, and gentle voices uttered deep execrations 
 on his barbarous foes, when tidings of his untimely fate were 
 received." 
 
 t We commend the following extracts from a letter addressed 
 to us by the Secretary of the Hale Monument Association, J. 
 W. Boynton Esq., of Coventry, to the notice of the Reader. 
 They furnish very interesting particulars about "poor Asher." 
 
 " It is said that Wright was never in a sound mind after the 
 
140 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 mansion of Deacon Richard Hale, on his return 
 to Coventry, he bore treasured memorials of his 
 
 sad fate of Hale was made known to him. He was left in 
 charge of Halo s uniform, at his quarters in New York. When 
 the British crossed over to the city, Wright had much difficulty 
 in obtaining a team to remove the effects of Hale, and came 
 near being taken, and often said that he would not have left 
 without the effects, although he might have been captured by the 
 British. 
 
 "Wright did not return to Coventry for some years after he 
 was discharged from service, and it was ever supposed that the 
 fate of Hale, and the deranged state of mind consequent upon 
 it, were the causes. Until the last years of his life he could not 
 converse upon the subject without weeping. 
 
 "His grave is about 150 feet directly north of the monument 
 of Hale, and about 30 feet north-west of the graves of the Hale 
 family ; and a plain marble slab, erected by his administrator, 
 bears the following inscription : 
 
 ASHER WRIGHT 
 
 A REVOLUTIONARY 
 
 SOLDIER AND 
 ATTENDANT OF 
 
 Captain Nathan Hale 
 
 DIED 
 JUNE 20th 1844 
 
 ACiED 90. 
 

NATHAN HALE. 141 
 
 beloved employer some articles which Hale, 
 when he last parted with him, had left in his 
 custody and among these, particularly, Hale s 
 Camp-Basket and Camp-Book pictures of 
 which the print opposite accurately presents 
 and which, now that we are inditing this para 
 graph, melancholy remembrancers indeed, rest 
 upon the table by our side. How vividly do 
 they call up the image of the youthful martyr 
 how bring 
 
 " Back on the heart the weight that it would fling 
 Aside forever" 
 
 yet a weight not all made up of sadness, but 
 rainbow-tinted at least with one inspiring joy 
 joy that our Country, in one of her agonies of 
 
 " Asher Wright received a pension of $>96 per annum. David 
 Hale, of New York, was at all times rendering assistance to 
 him, not only by a needful supply of provisions, but also by 
 repairs upon his dwelling house. He was also often remem 
 bered by Mr. Hale s family in seasonable donations of clothing, 
 &c. &c." 
 
142 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 distress when she stretched out her shattered 
 imploring hands for a service from which all 
 others shrank away found one Soul from the 
 russet shades of old Connecticut heroic enough, 
 taking the cross upon his own shoulders, for her 
 sake to do, and dare, and die ! * 
 
 That in the midst of a grief so general and 
 poignant as that which we describe, so little 
 public record should have been preserved of a 
 man so note-worthy as Hale, excites our sur 
 prise.! Strange that he should not have been 
 
 * The Camp-Basket is made of ozier, neatly intertwined. It 
 is divided into two compartments by a partition in the centre. 
 The interior is carefully lined with plaited straw, and fragments 
 of glass, the debris of bottles, that when whole belonged to 
 Hale, still remain within it. 
 
 t Take the following specimens of the meagreness of records. 
 1. Extract from a letter of an American officer to his friend, 
 dated Harlem, September twenty-sixth, 1776, and published in 
 the Boston Gazette, October seventh, 1776 "One Hale, on 
 suspicion of being a spy, was taken up, and dragged without 
 ceremony to the execution post, and hung up." 2. Extract 
 from a letter written September twenty -fifth, 1776, by James 
 Drcwctt, on board the British frigate Mercury " On the 22nd 
 
NATHAN HALE. 143 
 
 signalized, in his own day and time, by appro 
 priate obsequies, by funereal devices, by solemn 
 eulogies, by resolutions expressive of his merits, 
 by tablets of brass, and durable monuments of 
 stone. Surely no one of all those who shed 
 their blood for the glorious liberty we now enjoy, 
 better deserved to have been thus commemora 
 ted for upon no one, save himself, devolved a 
 task so perilous, bitter, and fatal. Thirty-three 
 years after his death, a fort in the harbor of 
 New Haven, Connecticut built of brick upon 
 an insulated rock, two miles from the end of 
 Long wharf was called after the hero " Fort 
 Hale." But it has been long ungarrisoned, and 
 in decay.* A nobler memorial than this was 
 
 we hung a man who was sent as a spy by Gen. Washington." 
 3. Extract from a letter written by a British officer, and pub 
 lished in the Middlesex [London] Journal, No. 1196, December, 
 1776 "New York Island, Sept. 26, 1776. Yesterday [a mis 
 take as to time] we hanged an officer of the Provincials who 
 came as a spy." 
 
 * One of the New Jersey Chapters of the Order of United 
 Americans, instituted November twenty-first, 1849, is entitled, 
 
144 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 desired and now, at last in one locality at 
 least public gratitude has erected it and in 
 an imposing and enduring form. 
 
 For many years, in his native town, a simple, 
 rude stone, by the side of his father s grave, in 
 the burial-ground near the Congregational 
 church, told the passer-by that "Nathan Hale 
 Esq., a Capt. in the army of the United States, 
 was born June 6th, 1755 received the first 
 honors of Yale College Sept. 1773" and "re 
 signed his life a sacrifice to his country s liberty 
 at New York, Sept. 22d, 1776, aged 22."* But 
 
 we perceive, the "Nathan Hale Chapter, tfo. 3, 0. U. A." 
 Another Association of the same kind, entitled " Nathan Hale 
 Chapter, No. 66, 0. U. A." is established at Williamsburgh, 
 New York. At a " fraternal visit " paid by this to the Wash 
 ington Chapter in New York city, September twenty -eighth, 
 1855, Hale was eloquently called to remembrance in speeches 
 upon the occasion, by D. L. Northrop Esq., of Brooklyn, Hon. 
 Joseph H. Petty, Mr. Shelley, and others. 
 
 * An entry also of his death was made upon the town records 
 of Coventry by his brother Major John Hale at a time when 
 the particulars of his capture were not known accurately. It 
 runs thus : " Capt. Nathan Hale the son of Deac" Richard 
 
NATHAN HALE. 145 
 
 this did not satisfy the wishes of the citizens of 
 Coventry, and vicinity, and of many in Connec 
 ticut who fondly cherished the memory of the 
 martyr and accordingly, in November, 1837, 
 an Association called the "Hale Monument 
 Association" was formed, for the purpose of 
 erecting a cenotaph in his honor one that 
 should fitly commemorate his life and services.* 
 Appeal was made, chiefly, to the patriotism 
 of individuals for the accomplishment of the 
 purpose . Congress though several times mem 
 orialized for aid, and though Select Committees 
 reported in favor of an appropriation yet 
 from motives, to us wholly unsatisfactory, of 
 
 Hale was taken in the City of New York By the Britons and 
 executed as a spie sometime in the Month of September A. D. 
 1776." 
 
 * The day on whieh it was formed was the anniversary day 
 of the evacuation of New York. Hon. A. T. Judson delivered 
 an address upon the occasion. About twenty revolutionary 
 soldiers were present, and a large party partook of a substantial 
 repast. It was a day of great interest to the people of Cov 
 entry. 
 
 13 
 
NATHAN HALE. 
 
 public policy refused to grant anything. Rep 
 resentatives from Connecticut particularly Hon 
 orable Messrs. A. T. Judson, J. H. Brockway, 
 and J. M. Niles urged the matter with a most 
 commendable zeal but in vain.* Congress re 
 mained deaf as an adder to their appeal as it 
 has been habitually, of late years, to all appeals 
 
 * The late lion. Judge Judson, in behalf of a Select Commit 
 tee of the House, upon petitions praying that a monument might 
 be erected to the memory of Hale, submitted a favorable Report 
 and Resolution, January nineteenth, 1836. Hon. Mr. Niles, in 
 the same year, strongly supported the project, when petitions 
 from sundry inhabitants of Connecticut came before the Sen. 
 ate. Hon. Mr. Brockway, May twenty-fifth, 1842, in behalf of 
 a Select Committee of the House on the subject, also submitted 
 a favorable Report and Resolution, and pressed the matter with 
 patriotic earnestness. For eight successive years applications, in 
 one form and another, were made to Congress but all of them 
 failed, as stated in the text. The first petition on the subject 
 emanated from Coventry, and was headed by Doctor Nathan 
 Howard, who married Joanna, the sister of Captain Nathan Hale. 
 The second was drawn up by Hon. Thomas S. Williams of 
 Hartford, and was numerously signed by citizens in various 
 parts of Connecticut. Upon this a report was made by a Com 
 mittee of Congress, appropriating one thousand dollars for a 
 monument, but the report was not acted upon. 
 
N A T H A N H A L E . 147 
 
 of this character and would not bestow a stiver 
 to honor one who died signally, not for the lib 
 erty of Connecticut alone, but for that of all 
 the United Colonies.* So the Association to 
 
 * In times that have past, Congress could expend thousands 
 of dollars and most justly upon a pedestrian statue of the 
 Father of his country, and thousands more to commemorate, 
 through the painter s art, some of the grand historical events of 
 our Revolution. It could erect monuments to Montgomery, 
 Mercer, Nash, De Kalb, Gerry, and Brown. It could grant to 
 Williams, and Paulding, and Van "VVart, the captors of Andre, 
 each a farm of the value of five hundred dollars, and an annuity of 
 two hundred dollars through life, and a magnificent silver medal. 
 It could employ the sculptor s art on busts of Jay, Ellsworth, 
 and Marshall. It could vote medals of gold, and swords of 
 costliest workmanship, to Jackson, Scott, Ripley, Harrison, and 
 to numerous officers besides, for gallant deeds upon the land, 
 and to Decatur, Hull, Perry, Truxton, McDonough, and many 
 naval heroes more, for glorious exploits upon the seas. It 
 could recite in its resolutions, in glowing terms, the services of 
 each, and proclaim, as it did in Commodore Truxton s case, that 
 the testimonials of the American nation were bestowed because 
 their recipients " exhibited an example worthy of the American 
 name." And yet the nation could not say as much for Captain 
 Hale, when petitioned in /its behalf nor do aught in his honor 
 How was it with England, and her martyr spy t Very different. 
 
148 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 which we have alluded under the auspices, 
 always unclouded, of J. W. Boynton Esquire, its 
 patriotic and indefatigable Secretary moved on 
 alone and by means of private subscriptions, 
 by Fairs, by Tea Parties, and by the exhibition 
 of a Drama illustrating the services and fate of 
 Captain Hale, collected funds, and excited pub 
 lic interest until in May, 1846, the State of Con 
 necticut granted one thousand dollars, and in 
 May, 1847, two hundred and fifty dollars more, 
 from its public Treasury in furtherance of the 
 great object* and the Monument, of which, 
 
 British gratitude erected to Andre a splendid mausoleum, even 
 in Westminster Abbey and among the most illustrious dead of 
 the British Empire ! See Appendix D. 
 
 * The ladies of Coventry, Connecticut, were particularly ac 
 tive in procuring means to erect the monument to Hale, and 
 deserve, as they will receive, the especial thanks of the Public. 
 In 1844, on the first Wednesday in May, they held a Fair in 
 the old church of the First Ecclesiastical Society, at which many 
 useful and fancy articles were collected, and contributions were 
 made of cash, from Coventry, Hartford and other places. More 
 than three thousand persons were present, and the receipts were 
 two hundred and sixty-eight dollars. Refreshments were pro- 
 
NATHAN HAL?:. 149 
 
 opposite, we give a picture arose, " a fit emblem 
 both of the events in memory of which it was 
 raised, and of the gratitude of those who reared 
 it" arose " to meet the sun in his coming" to 
 u let the earliest light of the morning gild it, 
 and parting day linger and play on its summit ! 
 
 vided, and the Marshfield Brass Band, and the Coventry Glee 
 Club, were in attendance gratuitously. A song, beautifully 
 printed on satin was prepared for the occasion. It addressed 
 the " Daughters of Freedom," as having assembled, 
 
 with choicest flowers 
 To deck a hero s grave 
 To shed the light of love around 
 The memory of the brave. 
 
 " Ye came," glide on the strains 
 
 - Ye came with hearts that oft have glowed 
 
 At his soul-stirring tale 
 To wreathe the deathless evergreen 
 
 Around the name of Hale. 
 
 Here his memorial stone shall rise, 
 
 In Freedom s hallowed shade 
 Prouder than Andre s trophied tomb, 
 
 Mid mightiest monarchs laid. 
 
 So shall the patriot s honored name 
 
 Go down to other days 
 And Love s own lyre shall sound his fame. 
 
 In thrilling notes of praise." 
 
 13* 
 
150 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 It stands upon elevated ground, near the Con 
 gregational Church, in South Coventry and 
 within a space, enclosed by a neat iron picketed 
 fence, which abuts on an old Burying-yard, that 
 holds among other ashes, those of Hale s own 
 family. Its site is particularly fine for on the 
 north it overlooks that long, broad, and beauti 
 ful lake of Wangumbaug, into whose oozy depths, 
 with great constancy, Hale 
 
 The Drama, to which reference is made in the text, was in 
 five acts, and was written for the Hale Monument Association 
 by David Trumbull Esq. It was exhibited at the Meeting- 
 House in South Coventry, with accompanying Tableaux. One 
 of the Tea-Parties, to which reference also is made, was given 
 March eleventh, 1 846, by the young ladies of South Coventry 
 with good success. One dollar, for the benefit of the Hale Asso 
 ciation, admitted a gentleman and lady. By May, 1846, the 
 whole amount collected was fifteen hundred dollars. 
 
 Thus one way and another with untiring zeal the noble 
 design of a Monument to Hale, worthy of the patriot, was 
 prosecuted till the appropriation from the Treasury of Con 
 necticut in behalf of which memory pleasant to our soul 
 we had the satisfaction, in Senate, of giving heartily our own 
 voice and vote rendered the project certain of consummation. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 151 
 
 " Cast to the finny tribe the baited snare, 
 Then flung the wriggling captives into air " 
 
 while on the east, commanding a view of scenery 
 that is truly noble, it literally looks through a 
 long and captivating natural vista to greet " the 
 sun in its rising." The Monument the origi 
 nal plan of which was drawn by Henry Austin 
 Esquire, of New Haven consists of a pyramidal 
 shaft, resting on a base of steps, with a shelving 
 projection about one-third of the way up the ped 
 estal. Its material is hewn Quincy granite, solid 
 from foundation to capstone, and embracing one 
 hundred and twenty-five tons of stone. It is 
 fourteen feet square at the base, and its height 
 is forty-five feet.* It was completed in 1846 
 
 * The transportation of the material from Quincy to Norwich, 
 at an estimated cost of four hundred dollars, was a generous 
 gratuity on the part of the Old Colony, Boston and Worcester, 
 and Norwich and Worcester Rail Road Companies. The Hon. 
 Xathan Hale of Boston, nephew and namesake of the patriot we 
 commemorate, and at the time President of the second of these 
 Companies, was nobly active in procuring this result. From 
 
152 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 under the superintendence of Solomon Willard 
 Esquire, the architect of the Bunker Hill Monu 
 mcnt at a cost, everything included, of three 
 thousand seven hundred and thirty-three dollars 
 and ninety-three cents, and bears upon its sides 
 the following inscriptions. 
 
 [North siclc.J 
 
 Captain Nathan Hale. 
 1776. 
 
 [West side.] 
 
 B o K N A T COVENTRY. 
 JUNE 6 . 1755. 
 
 Norwich to Coventry the material was transported by ox-teams, 
 at an estimated cost of about five hundred and twenty-five dollars. 
 On the seventh of April, 1846, the ground was first broken for 
 the foundation of the monument, which was laid of stone quar 
 ried about three-quarters of a mile east of its site. Messrs 
 Hazelton & Co., of Boston, erected the cenotaph, at a cost of 
 three hundred dollars, and completed it on the seventeenth day 
 of September, 1846. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 153 
 
 [East side.] 
 
 DIED AT NEW YORK. 
 SEPT. 22. 1776. 
 
 [South side.] 
 
 " onljj ncjrtt tfjat fjabt tut one lift to lost for mji rountrjj." 
 
 Hale s fate, as might be expected, has called 
 out at times the Muse of Poetry but rarely 
 however, for the parchment roll of his history 
 has been, hitherto, wanting to Calliope, and Clio 
 has missed him in her half-opened scroll. Yet 
 are the ten lines from Doctor Dwight on the 
 Title Page of this Volume nobly commemora 
 tive and so also are many lines in a, poem of 
 considerable length which was dedicated to the 
 memory of Hale, but a short time after his death, 
 by a personal acquaintance and friend one 
 who knew and loved him well.* In this poem, 
 
 * The name of the author is unknown. His entire poem, 
 consisting of one hundred and sixty lines, may be found in the 
 
154 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 the author describes Hale as in personal appear 
 ance erect and tall, with a "beauteous face," 
 that was marked by "innate goodness," and a 
 frame, which, possessing great symmetry and 
 grace, was " vigorous, and active as electric 
 
 February number of the American Historical Magazine, published 
 in New Haven in 1836. He prefaces it with the following quo 
 tation from Virgil : 
 
 " lieu ! miserande puer, si qua fata aspera ruuipas, 
 Tu Marcullui? cris " 
 
 and also with the following letter, bearing date " New Haven, 
 Aug. 9, 1784." 
 
 "I was personally acquainted with, and entertained a high 
 opinion of the aimiable Capt. Nathan Hale, who suffered death 
 in New York by the hands of the British troops, in 1776; a 
 character on some accounts similar to Major Andre, and on 
 many, greatly superior. Every man who regards the welfare 
 of his country, must revere a patriot who died in its defence : 
 and while the English Magazines, News, &c., were filled with the 
 praises of Major Andre, it gave me no small degree of regret 
 that Capt. Hale s virtues should be so little celebrated in the 
 country where, and for which he died. This I am able to im 
 pute to nothing but the great distress in which America was at 
 that time involved. This gave rise to the following piece, which 
 was wrote soon after Hale s death." 
 
NATHAN HALE. 155 
 
 flame." He represents him at college as a most 
 dutiful pupil, and as possessing "erudition far 
 beyond his years" as developing a lively fancy, 
 solid judgment, great fondness for science, and 
 intense admiration for 
 
 " those polished lines, 
 Where Grecian wit and Roman genius shines " 
 
 and as having his soul fired by the examples of 
 those great worthies of a former age, who "live 
 in the poet s and historian s page." 
 
 He speaks of his "blameless carriage, and 
 modest air" characterizes him as 
 
 "Above the vain parade and idle show, 
 
 Which mark the coxcomb, and the empty beau " 
 
 and describing his qualities of temper and con 
 duct, says that 
 
 " Removed from envy, malice, pride, and strife, 
 
 He walked through goodness as he walked through life ; 
 
 A kinder brother nature never knew, 
 
 A child more duteous, or a friend more true." 
 
156 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 The poet next follows him into the army near 
 Boston where, he says, Washington early 
 marked him as "a genius fit for every great 
 design" 
 
 " His virtues trusted, and his worth admired, 
 And mutual friendship both their bosoms fired." 
 
 He next follows him to New York narrates 
 the task imposed on him by Washington his 
 execution of it his arrest his arraignment 
 before his enemies his undaunted demeanor 
 upon the occasion, and his noble frankness. 
 
 " Hate of oppression s arbitrary plan, 
 The love of freedom, and the rights of man, 
 A strong desire to save from slavery s chain 
 The future millions of the western main " 
 
 these are the ends for which, most truthfully, 
 Hale is portrayed as having " served with zeal 
 the land that gave him birth" and as having 
 at last met his fate in a scene, to paint which, 
 the poet exclaims, 
 
NATHAN HALE. 157 
 
 " the powers of language fail, 
 Love, grief and pity break the mournful tale. 
 Not Socrates, or noble Russel died, 
 Or gentle Sidney, Britain s boast and pride, 
 Or gen rous Moore, approached life s final goal, 
 With more composed, more firm, and stable soul. 
 The flesh sunk clown, to mix with kindred clay, 
 The soul ascended to the realms of dav." 
 
 With similar pathos, and not ungracefully, 
 does a poet of Hale s own native place the late 
 lamented J. S. Babcock sing of his departed 
 townsman. "Full stern was his doom," he 
 rehearses 
 
 " but full firmly he died, 
 No funeral or bier they made him, 
 Not a kind eye wept, nor a warm heart sighed, 
 O er the spot all unknown where they laid him. 
 
 He fell in the spring of his early prime, 
 With his fair hopes all around him ; 
 
 He died for his birth-land a glorious crime 
 Ere the palm of his fame had crowned him. 
 
 14 
 
158 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 He fell in her darkness he lived not to see 
 
 The morn of her risen glory ; 
 But the name of the brave, in the hearts of the free, 
 
 Shall be twined in her deathless story." 
 
 Nor ungracefully cither but on the other 
 hand with much of lyric force does Francis M. 
 Finch Esquire in his Poem before the Linon- 
 ian Society of Yale College at its Centennial 
 Anniversary in 1853 sing of the departed pat 
 riot. "To drum-beat," he proceeds, in a few 
 verses which we extract from a series 
 
 " To drum-beat and heart-beat, 
 
 A soldier marches by ; 
 There is color in his cheek, 
 
 There is courage in his eye, 
 Yet to drum-beat and heart-beat 
 
 In a moment he must die. 
 
 By star-light and moon-light, 
 
 He seeks the Briton s camp ; 
 He hears the rustling flag, 
 
 And the armed sentry s tramp ; 
 And the star-light and moon-light 
 
 His silent wanderings lamp. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 159 
 
 With slow tread and still tread, 
 
 He scans the tented line ; 
 And he counts the battery-guns 
 
 By the gaunt and shadowy pine ; 
 And his slow tread and still tread 
 
 Gives no warning sign." 
 
 This warning sign, however, as the poet 
 describes, soon comes. " With a sharp clang, a 
 steel clang, the patriot is bound" and now, 
 
 "With calm brow, steady brow, 
 
 He listens to his doom ; 
 In his look there is no fear, 
 
 Nor a shadow trace of gloom ; 
 But with calm brow, and steady brow, 
 
 He robes him for the tomb. 
 
 In the long night, the still night, 
 
 He kneels upon the sod ; 
 And the brutal guards withhold 
 
 E en the solemn Word of God ! 
 In the long night, the still night, 
 
 He walks where Christ hath trod. 
 
160 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 Neath the blue morn, the sunny morn, 
 
 He dies upon the tree ; 
 And he mourns that he can lose 
 
 But one life for Liberty ; 
 And in the blue morn, the sunny morn, 
 
 His spirit-wings are free. 
 
 From Fame-leaf and Angel-leaf, 
 
 From monument and urn, 
 The sad of Earth, the glad of Heaven, 
 
 His tragic fate shall learn ; 
 And on Fame-leaf and Angel-leaf 
 
 The name of HALE shall burn ! " 
 
 Romance too has been busy with Hale. He 
 has been made the hero of tales, and the origi 
 nator of sentiments, in which the imagination, 
 and not fact, has had the principal part to play. 
 It is not to be regretted however, that even in 
 these forms, exaggerated though they be, his 
 memory is kept alive. So we are able to sepa 
 rate the true from the fanciful, we can pardon 
 almost any idealization of Hale s character. 
 We can forgive the halo for the sake of the 
 
NATHAN HALE. 161 
 
 truly noble shape which it encompasses. When, 
 however, we encounter a tribute to his memory, 
 not heightened in coloring, but chaste and 
 natural, like that which we are now about to 
 introduce it is indeed most grateful as our 
 Readers also, we think, will find it to be. 
 
 It proceeds, in the form of an epitaph, in 
 the old style, from the antiquarian pen of our 
 worthy friend George Gibbs Esquire, Librarian 
 formerly of the New York Historical Society, 
 who has kindly furnished us with it and we 
 here give it place. 
 
 " .Strancjtr Bnuatf) tfjte 
 Hits tljt tet of 
 
 & sps 
 fof)o pcrtsf)& upon tfj* (Gti 
 
 tfjc Storufr mariUs of tf)* <5rtat 
 
 tf) f)riius of $ero*s 
 fntomfo not oiu, more luortf)j of 
 
 S^onor 
 
 tfjan ^tm to^o ten 
 slttys fjis last 
 
 u* 
 
162 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 Nations 
 
 fcoto tottf) xtbmiut itforc tf)t fcust 
 
 of fjim tofio fott* 
 
 a ejlorious IBeatf) 
 
 urcjcfc on fcg tf)t jsounb" of tfjt 
 
 anfc tf)t scouts of 
 
 i3ut iy^at rtitrtnct, ix^at Ijonor 
 is not but to ont 
 
 tofjo for fits rountrj tntounttrtfc 
 tbtn an infamous btatfj 
 5oot^elj ts no jssmpatfjj 
 animate ij no prat st." 
 
 In connection, and in comparison with Hale, 
 the image of the brave and unfortunate Andre 
 rises, of course, to the contemplation of the 
 Header. Let us look at them side by side 
 and in contrast the one an American, the other 
 a British spy each a distinguished victim the 
 one to his love of country the other to "his 
 own imprudence, ambition, and love of glory"- 
 
NATHAN HALE. 168 
 
 each a martyr the one for liberty the other 
 for power. They were both gallant officers. 
 They were both accomplished men Andre the 
 most so by education, as having enjoyed the 
 highest advantages, and more used than Hale 
 to polished society. He could both draw 
 and paint exquisitely which Hale could not 
 and he was better versed than the latter in ele 
 gant literature. They were both men of striking- 
 personal appearance. They would have been 
 called graceful, beautiful, and manly, by all. 
 Each possessed a lively sensibility. Each was 
 cheerful, affable, amiable, honorable, magnan 
 imous. Each was admired in all social circles, 
 and won the hearts of hosts of friends. 
 
 Let us look at the two now in their respective 
 missions. Andre, upon his own, did not volun 
 teer. It was upon Arnold s solicitation, forti 
 fied by considerations of friendship between 
 Andre and the traitor s accomplished wife and 
 at the direct request of Sir Henry Clinton him 
 self, of whose military family Andre formed a 
 part, and to whom, for kindness that had been 
 
164 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 " lavish," Andre confesses obligations the most 
 profound that the British Aid de Camp, not 
 dreaming to enact the spy, and with in fact no 
 dangers then in prospect, consented, not prof 
 fered to undertake his task. 
 
 But not so with Hale. He, upon his mission, 
 volunteered. Soon as the wish of Washington 
 was made known biassed by no considerations 
 of private friendship, and without thought of 
 requiting personal obligations either to the 
 Commander in chief, or to any other officer or 
 man in view of dangers most imminent, from 
 which all others shrank in full view of them 
 and in the face of earnest entreaty to the con 
 traryoffered himself to discharge the trust. 
 
 Andre, when he left New York, had no idea 
 of passing within the American lines. He was 
 specially instructed by Clinton not to do so 
 not to change his dress as a British officer and 
 he did not, until, as he says himself, he was 
 " betrayed into the vile condition of an enemy in 
 disguise." He was to go to Dobb s Ferry 
 only upon the borders merely of neutral 
 
NATHAN HALE. 165 
 
 ground and there, under a flag of truce, settle 
 with Arnold the "pretended mercantile trans 
 action" and it was the voice of the sentinel, 
 in the darkness of night, at Smith s house, 
 which first gave him intimation of the "unex 
 pected circumstance" that he was within the 
 American beat, and in danger. "Against my 
 stipulation, my intention, and without my 
 knowledge beforehand," he writes to Washing 
 ton, "I was conducted within one of your 
 posts I was involuntarily an impostor." 
 
 Hale, on the other hand, started from the 
 American camp, fully aware beforehand that 
 he was to change his dress, and assume a dis 
 guise that he was to pass within the British 
 lines into their midst up to the very muzzles 
 of their muskets, and the mouths of their ord 
 nance that he was in fact to be, in all the 
 shifts, and shades, and aims, and efforts of his 
 mission, the spy. He undertook then, at the 
 outset, what Andre not only did not, but never 
 even contemplated, nor would, we believe, but 
 for an unforeseen necessity, have for a moment 
 
166 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 endured. His moral courage, therefore, rises 
 higher than that of Andre s higher far. For 
 the sake of the sublime cause in which he was 
 engaged, he became voluntarily an impostor. 
 He took upon himself a great ignominy to start 
 with. Andre took none bore no burden what 
 ever upon his spirits. Not even a fancied 
 shadow projected itself, for a moment, over the 
 dial of his honor, when he left the Head Quar 
 ters of his Commander in chief, and he pushed 
 forward to the Vulture at Teller s Point, " carol 
 ling as he went." 
 
 The motives which inspired Hale and Andre 
 in their respective expeditions, are well worthy 
 of consideration, and furnish striking contrast. 
 " What was to have been your reward, in case 
 you had succeeded?" inquired Major Tall- 
 madge of his prisoner, as the latter sat on the 
 after seat of the barge in which he was borne, 
 under escort, from West Point to Tappan. 
 u Military glory was all that I sought," replied 
 Andre "and the thanks of my general, and 
 the approbation of my king, would have been 
 
NATHAN HALE. 167 
 
 a rich reward for such an undertaking." Yes, 
 military renown martial preferment the office 
 of Brigadier General in the British army, offered 
 him in advance as a glittering prize the c big- 
 wars and the plumed troop to make his 
 6 ambition virtue these, and Clinton s thanks, 
 and the compliments of royalty, were the 
 motives which prompted Andre motives which, 
 however elevated they may be thought to be, 
 and in certain relations are, yet in true great 
 ness, and dignity, fall far below those which 
 prompted Hale. 
 
 Was Hale willing to hazard his life, that as a 
 warrior, and in this character alone, he might 
 "instil his memory through a thousand years?" 
 Not at all. No martial allurement, of any kind, 
 enslaved his imagination ardent though it 
 was or flattered his hope, or stimulated his 
 ambition. No promotion was promised none 
 was expected. No reward in pelf was pledged. 
 " Surrounded from his birth," as one of his 
 
168 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 grand-nephews* has justly said, "with the doc 
 trine that men should do right because it is 
 right, he went upon his hazardous mission just 
 because it was right to go not thinking what 
 bodies would say, nor expecting or caring to be 
 a hero." It was a pure sense of duty a mag 
 nificent inspiration direct and deep from the soul 
 of patriotism itself that impelled Hale to his 
 task, and that bore him onward unlike Andre, 
 thoughtless of fame unlike Andre, thoughtless 
 of reward unlike Andre, with no motive but 
 the one engrossing, unpolluted, serene thought 
 of being useful to his country onward to 
 risk, to capture, and to death. f 
 
 The peril while engaged in their expeditions 
 here again the parallel between Andre and Hale 
 is in favor of the latter. Andre experienced 
 scarce any exposure until he reached Smith s 
 
 * The late Rev. David Hale, of New York. 
 
 t " Viewed in any light," says Sparks, most justly, the act 
 of Hale " must be allowed to bear unequivocal marks of patri 
 otic disinterestedness and self-devotion." 
 
NATHAN HALE. 169 
 
 house near Haverstraw and there but slight 
 a little more at King s Ferry, on his attempted 
 return, near certain Whig loungers over a bowl 
 of punch more still near Crompond, in the 
 immediate presence of an American patrolling 
 party, and of the inquisitive Captain Boyd but 
 after this time, but little again until from the 
 bushes at Tarry town, he was seized and secured 
 by the patriot hands of Paulding, and Williams 
 and Van Wart. Thirty-six hours only elapsed 
 from the time he left the secure deck of the 
 Vulture, and the shrouded foot of Mount Long 
 Clove, till he became a captive and during this 
 short interval, his chief, nay almost his only 
 peril was among the Cowboys and Skinners who 
 infested the far-famed neutral ground of West- 
 chester County. But Hale was upon his mis 
 sion, ere he was made a prisoner, about two 
 weeks * a long period indeed as compared with 
 that occupied by Andre and filled up, the 
 
 * Hale " was gone about a fortnight before I knew what had 
 become of him." Asher Wright. 
 
 15 
 
170 NATHAN HALK. 
 
 whole of it, with risks far more constant and 
 glaring, not alone among bandits unprincipled 
 and perfidious as those in whose proximity 
 Andre journeyed, but also in the immediate 
 presence of the foe, and within the very circuits 
 of their encampments. 
 
 The behaviour of Hale and Andre immedi 
 ately after their capture merits comparison it 
 was in some points so strikingly similar. Truth 
 ful by impulse "too little accustomed to du 
 plicity," either of them, long to succeed in 
 it staggering too, each of them, under the 
 weight of evidence that seemed resistless they 
 both made a clean breast of it, and confessed. 
 The British officer did it, seeking some mitiga 
 tion of his case, but only such, however, "as 
 could be granted on the strict principles of 
 honor and military usage." Hale sought no 
 alleviation of his own case, of any kind but 
 respectfully triumphed over his success, such as 
 he had obtained, and proudly confronted im 
 pending punishment. 
 
 Andre acknowledged himself an Adjutant 
 
NATHAN HALE. 171 
 
 General in the British army but not a spy- 
 certainly not an intentional one. It was his 
 purpose, as in his letter to Washington he says, 
 to rescue himself "from an imputation of 
 having assumed a mean character for treacher 
 ous purposes, or self-interest." Hale acknowl 
 edged himself a Captain in the American Con 
 tinental service but no scruples of fancied 
 honor, no penitential casuistries, stood for a 
 moment between himself and the part he had 
 acted. He pronounced himself to General 
 Howe, at once and unequivocally, a spy and 
 was ready, he affirmed, for the spy s fate. 
 
 Upon trial, Hale was manly, dignified, 
 respectful, prompt, unembarrassed, without dis 
 guise. So was Andre. Each stated "with 
 truth everything relating to himself." Neither 
 used any words "to explain, palliate, or defend 
 any part of his conduct." Each without sur 
 prise, without comment, without a murmur, 
 without even a complaining look, received his 
 sentence. And each, after the sentence, retired 
 to his quarters "tranquil in mind" the one, 
 
172 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 Hale heaven knows where to some foul bar 
 rack, or tent, or an oaken bed in some cell of 
 the Provost the other, Andre, to decent quar 
 ters specially ordered by Washington himself 
 to be such to a well furnished apartment, 
 where, in pursuance of directions from the same 
 high authority, and in conformity with the incli 
 nation of all on duty, he was treated with 
 civility was comfortably lodged and fed 
 from the table principally of the American 
 Commander in chief himself and . every atten 
 tion paid to him suitable to his rank and char 
 acter." 
 
 The interval between condemnation and death 
 was spent by each in a frame of mind for the 
 most part composed, but at times, we must 
 believe, agitated and agonized not by the fear 
 of death but at thought of rupturing, so 
 soon, by the mortal throe, earth s potent ties 
 nay, in case of each of the captives, some ties 
 that are the tenderest and most engrossing of 
 all that bind man to this world. Andre had his 
 mother and two sisters, dependent, cacli of 
 
NATHAN HALE. 173 
 
 them, in some degree upon his commission for 
 support. Though "Hope s soft star," as his 
 friend Miss Seward expresses it, had "shone 
 trembling on his love," he yet cherished his 
 " Honora." He had too his country to live for, 
 and serve. And so had Hale a bleeding coun 
 try, in a crisis of danger, to love and fight for 
 and troops of fond relatives and friends upon 
 whom to outpour his affection and an " Alicia" 
 too, to admire and wear as the richest jewel in 
 his heart. Sombre thoughts then, at times 
 pangs even must have come over the souls of 
 the two sufferers, as in the solitude of their im 
 prisonment, they contemplated their near and 
 dark approaching destiny. 
 
 Yet most of the time we are assured, their 
 appearance was marked by that same " serenity 
 of temper, and winning gentleness of manners, ? 
 which had been conspicuous in their lives. 
 Andre, in his imprisonment, was surrounded by 
 sympathy and attention. So many and extenu 
 ating were the circumstances in his favor, that 
 15* 
 
174 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 "even the sternest advocate for justice could 
 not regard his impending fate without regret, or 
 a wish that it might be averted." But Hale, as 
 we have seen, had no such kindness near him 
 not one drop even for his parched and yearning 
 heart but all around him was dissonance, 
 malediction, and severity. He was alone in his 
 own desolation. 
 
 Each of the captives wrote letters in prison 
 Hale to his home Andre to General Washing 
 ton, and to Clinton. Andre in prison dreaded 
 the gibbet, and implored to die a soldier s 
 death by the bullet. No such apprehension, 
 that we can learn, tortured Hale. Andre, with 
 a pen, quietly sketched his own likeness, seated 
 at a table in his guard-room, on the morning of 
 the day fixed for his execution.* Hale had no 
 such resource for melancholy diversion nor is 
 it probable that he Avould have used it, had it 
 
 * Sec a f ac simile of it on the page opposite. The original 
 is in the Trunihull Gallery at Yale College. The likeness i* 
 Iccmed very accurate. 
 
NATHAN HALE. 177 
 
 been in his power, in preference to last words, 
 to meditation, and to prayer. 
 
 Each received with calmness notice of the 
 fatal hour. Each marched firmly to the place 
 of execution, save that disappointment at the 
 mode of death made the frame of Andre shud 
 der for a moment when he first saw the gibbet. 
 "It will be but a momentary pang," however, 
 he said, and with his own hands bared, band 
 aged, and noosed himself for the occasion.* 
 Other and barbarous hands, hands of true raven 
 blackness, prepared Hale for his exit and his 
 own mortal agony was witnessed by but few 
 and these strangers all to the sufferer persons 
 chiefly of humble condition, with hearts, most 
 of them, of flint and who were assembled 
 more from prurient curiosity just to see a spy 
 
 * " The hangman, who was painted black, offered to put on 
 the noose. " Take off your black hands ! " said Andre ; then 
 putting on the noose himself, took out his handkerchief, tied it 
 on, drew it up, bowed with a smile to his acquaintances, and 
 died." Testimony of David Williams. \ 
 
178 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 hung than from any motives of compassion. 
 But Andre had around him an immense con 
 course of people a large detachment of Ameri 
 can troops, and almost all the American general 
 and field officers and the entire body garlanded 
 him with their sympathy gratefully intensified 
 the scene, and soothed the sufferer, with the 
 tribute of their silent, deep, and universal 
 mourning. 
 
 Hale met his fate unostentatiously. Andre, 
 in complete British uniform in a coat of daz 
 zling scarlet, and under-clothes of brightest 
 buff with his long, beautiful hair carefully 
 arranged and with his hands upon his hips 
 paced his own coffin back and forth gazed com 
 placently at the fatal beam over his head, and 
 upon the crowd around him and then daunt- 
 lessly too, like Hale, gave himself up to that 
 tremendous swing, as an eye-witness reports it, 
 which, almost instantly, closed his mortal career. 
 
 The last words of the sufferers the compari- 
 son here is indeed moving and instructive. " / 
 
NATHAN HALE. 179 
 
 pray you to bear me ivitness" said Andre to Colo 
 nel Scammel, "that I meet my fate like a brave 
 man!" "/ only regret" said Hale, "that I 
 have but one life to lose for my country!" Is 
 it not obvious ? the one was measuring himself 
 in the eyes of men the other in the eyes of his 
 Maker the one was thinking of reputation 
 the other of usefulness the one of heroism 
 the other of benefaction Andre of himself 
 Hale of his country. The dying moment 
 then that ordeal which, poignantly as by fire, 
 tests the natural disposition that solemn cri 
 sis when eternity is wont to sweep every shade 
 of delusion from the soul of man, and truth, if 
 ever, speaks in its genuine purity and power 
 from his quivering lips the dying moment tes 
 tifies to Hale s superior sublimity of character 
 as compared with Andre. 
 
 It was not the American martyr, at this time- 
 be it remarked who was thinking of worldly 
 fame, and worldly honors. He summoned no 
 one to bear witness to his fortitude. No desire 
 
180 NATHAN HALE. 
 
 had he, like Andre, to concentrate admiration 
 for the iron strength with which he could endure 
 bodily suffering. No attempt did he make to 
 brace his nerves by stimulating visions of posthu 
 mous applause. He had not the first faint con 
 ception even of shining in after ages, as a star 
 among warrior-martyrs as a brave man mere 
 ly as the hero, the Promethean hero of the 
 American Revolution. The lips of posterity 
 might praise him, he may have desired but it 
 was only for his exalted moral purposes, and for 
 his utter disinterestedness of spirit, that he 
 could have wished its approbation. It was only 
 because under the impelling power of a free, 
 conscientious, self-rewarding, inspiring sense of 
 patriotic duty, he struggled for the liberty and 
 happiness of his fellow-men because he ex 
 pired, nobly breathing out the whole body of his 
 affections upon his native land. 
 
 Thus to be embalmed in the memory of man 
 kind, is worthy of every one s aspiration. It is 
 a crown of immortality such as Hale himself, 
 
NATHAN HALE. 181 
 
 had he foreseen it, would never have rejected 
 and which, thanks to the gratitude which his 
 life and conduct, wherever known, can not fail 
 to enkindle, he wears now glorious upon his 
 brow and will continue to wear, brighter and 
 brighter still, so long as time and posterity exist 
 to chronicle" the happy years of our Republic, 
 
 16 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
A. 
 
 Page 13. 
 
 GENEALOGY OF THE FAMILY OF CAPT. NATHAN HALE. 
 By Rev. Edward E. Hah of Worcester, Mass. 
 
 NATHAN HALE was directly descended from Robert Hale of 
 Charlestown, Mass., one of the early settlers of the "Bay 
 Colony," in that State. 
 
 Robert Hale belonged to the family of Hales of Kent, En 
 gland. There were in England at that time at least three large 
 families of the name, belonging to different parts of the king 
 dom. These were the Hales of Kent, the Hales of Hertford, 
 and the Hales of Gloucestershire. Of the last of these fami 
 lies was the celebrated Sir Matthew Hale, who was nearly con 
 temporary with Robert Hale, the emigrant to America, having 
 been born in 1609, and died in 1676. 
 
 From the Hales of Hertfordshire spring the family of Thomas 
 Hale, one of the early settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts. Of 
 
 16* 
 
186 APPENDIX. 
 
 this family arc a large part of those persons who now bear the 
 name of Hale in New England.* 
 
 Robert Hale of Charlestown, and his descendants, of whom 
 some account will here be given, retained the coat of arms of 
 the Hale family of Kent ; to which therefore, there seems no 
 doubt, that they belong.t 
 
 This family existed in Kent as early at least as the reign of 
 Edward III. Nicholas at Hales, then resided at Hales-place, 
 Halden, Kent. His son, Sir Robert Hales, was Prior of the 
 Knights of St. John, and Lord High Treasurer of England. 
 He was murdered by "Wat Tyler s mob, on Tower Hill, in 1381. 
 His brother Sir Nicholas de Hales was the ancestor of three 
 subdivisions of the family, described in Halsted s Kent, as the 
 Hales of Kent, of Coventry, and of Essex. 
 
 To the Kent family belonged, we may say in passing down 
 to the emigration of Robert Hales, Sir James Hales, whose 
 suicide by drowning led to the " case of Dame Hales " report 
 ed by Plowden, and commented on by the clowns in Hamlet. 
 " Sir James Hales was dead, and how came he to his death ? 
 It may be answered, by drowning ; and who drowned him ? 
 Sir James Hales ; and when did lie drown him ? In his life 
 
 *In the memoir of the late David Hale, of New York, nephew of Capt. 
 Nathan, by Ilev. Mr. Thompson, their descent is erroneously attributed to 
 the same family. Mr. Thompson undoubtedly was misled by the impres 
 sion at one time entertained by our distinguished genealogist, Mr. Somerby, 
 that Robert Hale of Charlestown was the son of Richard Hale, the High 
 Sheriff of Hertfordshire. But this Robert remained in England at least as 
 late as 1666. 
 
 t Gules, three broad arrows feathered argent. 
 
GENEALOGY. 1ST 
 
 time. So that Sir James Hales, being alive, caused Sir James 
 Hales to die, and the act of the living man was the death of the 
 dead man. And then for this offence it is reasonable to punish 
 the living man who committed the offence, and not the dead 
 man." Such and much more is the reasoning of one of the 
 judges, which is directly alluded to by Shakespeare in the 
 " Crowncr s quest Law" of the clowns in Hamlet. 
 
 Of the same family, after Kobert Hale emigrated to America, 
 was Sir Edward Hales, the loyal companion of James II. in his 
 exile ; made by him Earl of Tenterden and Viscount Ton- 
 stall. 
 
 The name in England appears to have been spelt now with a 
 final s and now without. Hale-place near Canterbury, a 
 handsome seat now occupied by the family, bears the same 
 name which the family in New England bears, and its resi 
 dents spell their name in the same way. 
 
 The family in New England begins, as has been said, with 
 
 GEN. I. iKobert Hale, who arrived in Massachusetts in 
 1632. He was one of those set off from the first church in 
 Boston to form the first church in Charlestown, in 1632; of 
 this church he was a deacon. He was a blacksmith by trade, 
 but appears to have also had a gift, which has been inherited by 
 many of his descendants, for the practical application of the 
 mathematics. For he was regularly employed by the General 
 Court as a Surveyor of new plantations, until his death, which 
 took place July 19, 1659. His wife s name was Jane. After 
 his death she married Richard Jacob of Ipswich, and died July, 
 1679. 
 
188 APPENDIX. 
 
 J Robcrt Hale had the following children ; 
 
 GEN. II. 2 Rev. John Hale; b. June 3, 1636; d. May 15, 
 
 1700; 3 Mary; b. May 17, 1639; m. Wilson; 4 Zacha- 
 
 riah; b. April 3, 1641; d. June 5, 1643; 5 Samuel ; d. 1679. 
 "Johanna; b. 1638; m. John Larkin ; d. 1685. Of these 
 
 2 Rev. John Hale, graduated at Harvard College in 1657. He 
 was settled as the first minister of Beverly, Mass., when the 
 first church of Beverly was separated from Salem in 1667 ; and 
 remained in this charge to his death. He was one of three 
 chaplains to the unfortunate New England expedition to Canada 
 in 1690. In this expedition he was taken prisoner, but soon 
 released. Two years after, the Salem witchcraft excited the 
 whole province. Mr. Hale was present at the examinations of 
 some of those accused, and participated in the religious exer 
 cises at their trials. But in October, a person in Wenham 
 accused Mrs. Hale of witchcraft. The accusation disabused 
 him of any delusion he had been under, and not him only, but 
 the whole community. From that moment the whole tide turn 
 ed, and the progress of infatuation was at an end. In 1697, 
 he wrote and published " A modest inquiry into the nature of 
 witchcraft, and how persons guilty of that crime may be con 
 victed ; and the means used for their discovery discussed, both 
 negatively and affirmatively according to Scripture and experi 
 ence." In this discussion he laments the errors and mistakes 
 of what he knew as the " Witchcraft delusion." 
 
 He was three times married. 1st, to Rebeckah Byles, daugh 
 ter of Henry Byles of Sarum, England. She died April 13, 
 1683, act. 45 years. 2nd, Mar. 3, 1684, to Mrs. Sarah Noyes, 
 
GENEALOGY. 189 
 
 of Newbury. She died May 20, 1695, act 41 ; and 3rd, Aug. 
 8, 1698, to Mrs. Elizabeth Clark of Newbury, who survived 
 him. By the first two of these wives he had the following chil 
 dren. 
 
 GEN. III. 1. 7 Rebeckah; b. Apr. 28, 1666; d. May 7, 
 1681. 2. ^Robert; b. Nov. 3, 1688; d. 1719. He was the 
 father of Col. Robert Hale of Beverly, who accompanied Shir 
 ley to the siege of Louisburg. The family mansion at Beverly 
 remains in the family of his descendants, being now occupied 
 by Mr. Bancroft. The male line in this family is extinct. 
 
 3. 9 Rev. James; b. Oct. 14, 1685; d. 1742. He was minis- 
 ter of Ashford, Connecticut, and left a son, James Hale, from 
 whom a large family descended. Of these Robert Hale, b. 
 1749, was an officer in the Revolution, and perhaps others. 
 
 4. 10 Samuel; b. Aug. 13, 1687 ; d. about 1724. 
 
 5. "Johanna; b. June 18, 1689. 
 
 6. 12 John ; b. Aug. 24, 1692. He was drowned by the over 
 setting of a boat in Wells River, the only person drowned of 
 the party, though the best swimmer. He left no sons. 
 
 Of the children of 2 Rev. John Hale, the fourth, as named 
 above, was 10 Samuel. He settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, 
 where on the 26th of August, 1714, he married Apphia Moody, 
 who was born June 23, 1693. He lived in that part of New 
 bury known as Newburyport, and there all his children were 
 born. He afterwards removed to Portsmouth, where he died 
 about the year 1724. His children were 
 
 GEN. IV. 1. 13 Joanna; b. June, 1715; d. about 1792; m. 
 Capt. Stephen Gerrish of Boscawen, N. H, 
 
190 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 2. "Richard; b. Feb. 28, 1717; d. June 1, 1802; lived and 
 died at Coventry. 
 
 3. 15 Samuel; b. Aug. 24, 1718; gr. H. C. 1740; d. July, 
 1807. He lived and died at Portsmouth. 
 
 4 Hannah; b. Jan. 24, 1720; m. Jos. Atkinson of New- 
 bury Jan. 23, 1744; d. about 1791. 
 
 5. 17 John; b. Jan. 16, 1721-2; d. about 1787; m. 
 
 Of "Richard, the second of these children, CAPT. NATHAN 
 HALE was the son. As the children of the rest were therefore 
 his cousins, and as some of them are alluded to in his corre 
 spondence, we add their names, and the dates of their birth. 
 
 Mrs. M Joanna Gerrish and Capt. Stephen Gerrish had issue 
 
 GEN. V. 1. i g Henry Gerrish; b. 1742 ; (m. 1777 he had 
 seven children.) 
 
 2. 19 Jenny ; m. Ames; (m. 1777 she had two chil 
 dren.) 
 
 3. 20 Samuel Gerrish; b. 1748; (m. 1777 he had two chil 
 dren.) Probably this was Col. Samuel Gerrish, cashiered for 
 conduct unworthy an officer at Bunker s Hill, and Sewall s Pt., 
 Aug. 19, 1775 ; a sentence pronounced by the J. advocate "far 
 too severe." When the battle was fought neither he nor his 
 officers were commissioned. 
 
 4. 21 Enoch Gerrish; b. 1750; (m. 1777 he had two chil 
 dren. ) 
 
 5. - 2 Gerrish (a Son,) b. 1756 ; d. Aug. 24, 1777. 
 
 "Richard Hale ; born in Newburyport Feb. 28, 1717 ; removed 
 
 to Coventry, Connecticut ; where he lived, and died June 1 , 
 1802. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Strong Esq., 
 
GENEALOGY. 191 
 
 of that place, on the 17th of May, 1746. She died April 21, 
 1767. He married again, " the widow Adams " of Canterbury, 
 Ct., by whom he had no issue. The children of the first mar 
 riage were 
 
 GEX. V. 1. 23 Samuel; b. May 25, 1747 ; d. Apr. 17, 1824 ; 
 without issue. 
 
 2. 24 John; b. Oct. 21, 1748; d. Dec. 22, 1802; without issue. 
 
 3. ^Joseph; b. Mar. 12, 1750; d. Apr. 29, 1784. 
 
 4. ^Elizabeth; b. Jan. 1, 1752; d. Oct. 31, 1813. 
 
 5. ^Enoch; b. Oct. 28, 1753; d. Jan. 4, 1837. 
 
 6. 28 NATHAN; b. June 6, 1755; executed at New York 
 Sept. 22, 1776. 
 
 7. ^Richard; b. Feb. 20, 1757; d. Feb., 1793. 
 
 8. ^Billy; b. Apr. 20, 1759; m. Booker, Jan. 19, 
 
 1785; d. Sept. 7, 1785. 
 
 9. 31 David ; ) ( d. Feb. 10, 1822. 
 
 [b. Dec. 14-15; 1761,} 
 
 10. ^Jonathan ; ) ( d. Dec. 21, 1761. 
 
 11. ^Joanna; b. March 19, 1764; d. Apr. 22, 1838. 
 
 12. 34 Susanna; b. Feb. 1, 1766; d. March, 1766. 
 15 Samuel Hale of Portsmouth ; b. Aug. 24, 1718 ; gr. H. C. 
 
 1740 ; d. July, 1807. He taught the Grammar School at Ports 
 mouth for many years, served in the old French war, and was 
 at one time Judge of the Common Pleas Court. He married 
 Mary, daughter of Thomas Wright of Portsmouth. Their 
 children were 
 
 GEN. V. 1. ^Samuel, of Barrington, b. 1758; d. Apr. 28, 
 1828. His sons were Samuel B. and John P. of Portsmouth ; 
 
192 APPENDIX. 
 
 of the last of whom Hon. John P. Hale, of the U. S. Senate, 
 is the son. 
 
 2. 36 Thomas Wright, of Barrington; b. 1760. 
 
 3. 37 John; b. 1764; tutor at Harvard College from 1781 to 
 1786; d. 1791. 
 
 4. ^William; b. Aug. 6, 1765; m. Lydia Rollins Apr. 30, 
 1794; d. Nov. 8, 1848, at Dover, N. H., where he had re 
 sided ; leaving five living children. He represented the State 
 in Congress six years, and was often a member of the State 
 Legislature. 
 
 i 6 Hannah Hale ; b. January 24, 1720; m. Joseph Atkinson 
 of Newbury, Jan. 23, 1744. They lived at Boscawen, N. H., 
 Avhere she died, about 1791. They had issue 
 
 GEN. V. 1. 39 Samuel Atkinson. 
 
 2. 40 Simeon Atkinson. 
 
 3. 41 Susanna Chadwick. 
 
 4. 42 Hannah Atkinson. 
 
 5. 43 Sarah Atkinson. 
 
 17. John Hale; b. Jan. 16, 1721-22. He lived at Glouces 
 ter, (Cape Ann,) Mass., and died about 1787. He had issue 
 GEN. V. 1. 44 Samuel (of York.) 
 
 2. 45 John. 
 
 3. 46 Benjamin. 
 
 4. 47 Ebenezer. 
 
 5. 48 Jane. 
 
 6. 49 Sally. 
 
 7. 50 Hannah. 
 
 In these lists of the fifth Generation, between the names num- 
 
GENEALOGY. 193 
 
 bered 18 and 50, are all the cousins of NATHAX HALE; and, 
 under his father s family, his brothers and sisters. He died un 
 married. The following lists give the names of the children of 
 his brothers and sisters. 
 
 23 Samuel Hale ; oldest son of Dea. Richard Hale ; lived at 
 Coventry, and died without issue, Apr. 17, 1824. 
 
 24 Maj. John Hale; second son of Dea. Richard Hale; b. 
 Oct. 21, 1748; m. Sarah Adams, at Coventry, Dec. 19, 1771, 
 dau. of his father s second wife. They lived at Coventry, where 
 he died, Dec. 22, 1802, without issue. His death was sudden. 
 His widow, eager to carry out what she thought would have 
 been his intentions, bequeathed 1000 to Trustees, as a fund, 
 the income of which was to be used for the support of young 
 men preparing for Missionary service, and in part for found 
 ing and supporting the Hale Library in Coventry, to be used 
 by the ministers of Coventry and the neighboring towns. She 
 died Nov., 1803, in less than one year after him. 
 
 *Lieut. Joseph Hale; third son of Dea. R. Hale; b. Mar. 
 12, 1750 ; was with the army near Boston, and, it is believed 
 to the close of the war. He served both in Knowlton s and 
 Webb s regiments. Soon after Ins brother Nathan s death, he 
 was in the battle of White Plains, and a ball passed through 
 .is clothes. Subsequently he was for a long time stationed at 
 Sew London, where lie became acquainted with Rebeckah Har 
 ris, daughter of Judge Joseph Harris of that place. They 
 were married Oct. 21, 1778. After the close of his service he 
 settled in Coventry; but his constitution, which was naturally 
 
 IT 
 
194 APPENDIX. 
 
 very strong, M as broken, and he fell into a decline, and died 
 April 30, 1784, leaving four children viz : 
 
 GEN. VI. 1. 51 Elizabeth; b. Sept. 29, 1779; m. Nov., 
 1801, Zebadiah Abbot of Wilton, N. H. They had four sons 
 and five daughters. 
 
 2. 52 Rebeckah; b. Jan. 9, 1781; m. Oct., 1799, Dea. Ezra 
 Abbot of Wilton, N. H. They had a large family of children, 
 of whom three, Joseph Hale Abbot, Ezra Abbot, and Abiel 
 Abbot, graduated at Brown College. 
 
 3. 53 Mary Hale; b. Nov. 23, 1782; m. in 1809, Rev. Lev! 
 Nelson of Lisbon, Ct. They have no issue. 
 
 4. "Sarah Hale; b. Nov. 27, 1783; died June 27, 1784. 
 26 Elizabeth Hale; oldest dau. of Dea. R. Hale; b. Jan. 1, 
 
 1752; was married Dec. 30, 1773, to Dr. Samuel Rose, a Sur 
 geon in the army of the Revolution. He was son of Dr. Rose 
 of Coventry. He died in the winter of 1800-1. Their chil 
 dren were 
 
 GEN. VI. 1. 56 Capt< Joseph Rogc . b gept 17> 1774 . m 
 Milly Sweatland ; settled in N. Coventry as a blacksmith. He 
 died about 1835, leaving several children. 
 
 2. 5G Nathan Hale Rose; b. Nov. 18, 1776; grew up on the 
 old homestead of his grandfather. He settled on the farm pre 
 viously occupied by his uncle Richard. He married 1st, Eunice 
 Talcott, daughter of Dea. Talcott of N. Coventry. She died 
 after a few years, leaving a daughter who died young. He 
 
 manned 2nd, the widow Perkins of Lisbon, Ct., by 
 
 whom he had three sons and one daughter. 
 
GENEALOGY. 195 
 
 3. 57 Fanny Rose; b. Jan. 4, 1779; m. Dec., 1799, Sandford 
 Hunt of N. Coventry; and died Feb. 6, 1845 "an excellent 
 woman." They settled in Batavia, N. Y. Of their family is 
 Hon. "Washington Hunt of New York, and Lt. Hunt of the 
 U. S. army. 
 
 After the death of Dr. Samuel Rose, his widow, Mrs. Eliza 
 beth Rose, married John Taylor of Coventry. She died Oct. 
 31, 1813. Their children were 
 
 1. ^Elizabeth Taylor; m. Nathaniel Hubbard, of Vemon, 
 and afterwards of Manchester, Ct. 
 
 2. 59 David Taylor ; manned and died in N. York without 
 issue. 
 
 ^Enoch Hale ; fourth son of Deacon R. Hale ; b. Oct. 28, 
 1753; entered Yale College with his brother Nathan 1769; gr. 
 1773 ; studied Theology, and on the 28th of Sept., 1779, was 
 ordained as minister of Westhampton, Mass., where he died 
 Jan. 14, 1837, after an energetic and useful ministry of more 
 than fifty-seven years. He was deeply attached to his brother 
 Nathan, and profoundly affected by his fate. He married Sept. 
 30, 1781, Miss Octavia Throop of Bozrah, Conn.,dau. of Rev. 
 Mr. Throop of that place. She died Aug. 18, 1839. Their 
 children were 
 
 GEN. VI. 1. 60 Sally Hale; b. Aug. 2, 1782; m. Elisha 
 B. Clapp of Westhampton, Nov. 27, 1800; d. Feb. 7, 1838, 
 leaving seven children. 
 
 2. 61 Nathan Hale; b. Aug. 16, 1784; m. Sarah Preston 
 Everett of Boston, Sept. 5, 1816. 
 
196 APPENDIX. 
 
 3. 02 Melissa Hale; b. Feb. 26, 1786; m. Sept. 27, 1809, 
 Henry Me Call of Lebanon, Ct. They have eight children. 
 
 4. ^Octavia Hale; b. May 13, 1788; ra. Dec. 19, 1811, 
 William Hooker of Westfield, Mass. Of their four children 
 three are living. 
 
 5. 64 Enoch Hale; b. Jan. 19, 1790; m. 1st, Sept. 6, 1813, 
 Almira Hooker; 2nd, May, 1822, Sarah Hooker; 3rd, May, 
 1829, Jane Murdock ; d. Nov. 12, 1848, without issue. He 
 studied chemistry and medicine, at Yale College, and at the 
 Howard Medical School, and took his degree of M. D. at 
 Cambridge, Aug. 20, 1813. He practiced with distinguished 
 success for a few years in Gardner, Mass., and for the rest of 
 his life in Boston. A memoir of him, by Dr. Walter Channing, 
 was printed after his death. 
 
 6. 65 Richard Hale ; b. July 2, 1792 ; m. Dec. 28, 1815, Lydia 
 Rust, who died Jan. 10, 1837. He d. in 1839. 
 
 7. 66 Betsey Hale ; b. June 2, 1794; m. July 2, 1818, Levi 
 Burt of Westhampton. They have had seven children. 
 
 8. 67 Sybilla Hale ; b. Sept. 3, 1797; m. 1819, Richardson 
 Hall. Of their nine children seven are living. 
 
 -SNATHAN HALE, the subject of the preceding memoir, died 
 without issue, as already stated. 
 
 29 Richard Hale ; sixth son of Deacon Richard Hale ; b. Feb. 
 20,1757; m. Mar. 16, 1786, Mary Wright of Coventry; he 
 died Feb., 1793, at St. Eustatia in the W. Indies. His health 
 had failed him, and he had taken a voyage in hope of recovery. 
 They had issue 
 
GENEALOGY. 197 
 
 GEN. VI. 1. ^Mary Hale; b. July 6, 1787; d. Dee. 10, 
 1791. 
 
 2. C9 Laura Hale; b. Aug. 30, 1789; in. her cousin David 
 Hale, then of Boston; (No. 72, post.) 
 
 3. 70 Mary; b. Jan. 25, 1791 ; d. Oct. 2, 1793. 
 
 After the death of Richard Hale, his widow married Nathan 
 Adams of Canterbury, Conn., son of her father-in-law s second 
 wife. They had no issue. She died in 1820. 
 
 30 Billy Hale ; seventh son of Deacon Richard Hale ; b. Apr. 
 23, 1759 ; m. Jan. 19, 1784, Hannali Barker of Franklin. He 
 died of consumption in 1785, leaving one son. 
 
 GEN. VI. 1. 71 Billy; died in early life. 
 
 31 David Hale ; eighth son of Deacon Richard Hale ; b. Dec. 
 14, 1761 ; graduated at Yale College, 1785 ; settled as a min 
 ister in Lisbon, Ct. He m. May 19, 1790, Lydia Austin, b. 
 Dec. 9, 1764; daughter of Samuel Austin of New Haven. In 
 1804, in poor health, he was dismissed from the church in Lis 
 bon, and removed to Coventry, where he became a Deacon of 
 the church in 1806. He was also Representative of the town, 
 and Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. He died Feb. 10, 
 1822. His widow died April 28, 1849. They had issue one 
 child, viz : 
 
 GEN. VI. 1. r2 David Hale; b. Apr. 25, 1791 ; m. 1st, his 
 cousin Laura Hale, (No. 69, above,) Jan. 18, 1815. She died 
 July 25, 1824. He m. 2nd, Aug. 22, 1825, Lucy S. Turner of 
 Boston. 
 
 :3 Joanna; second daughter of Deacon Richard Hale; b. 
 March 19,1764; m. Jan. 22, 1784, Dr. Nathan Howard of 
 
 IT* 
 
198 APPENDIX. 
 
 Coventry. He died Apr. 21, 1838, at the age of 77 years, and 
 she the next day. They had 9 children, all of whom died in 
 early childhood except, 
 
 GEN. VI. 1. 73 John Howard ; b. Nov. 10, 1784; m. Lucy 
 Ripley, dau. of Judge Ripley of Coventry ; d. March 30, 1813. 
 Their sons are Chauncey, John, and Ripley Howard. 
 
 2. 74 Nathan Howard; b. March 20, 1795, unmarried. 
 
 Of the families of those of Capt. Nathan Halc s nephews 
 who bore his name, we can give the following memoranda : 
 
 61 Nathan Hale ; 1st son of >27 Rev. Enoch Hale ; b. Aug. 16, 
 1784; gr. Williams College, 1804, LL. D., Harvard Univ. 
 1853. He has conducted for more than forty years the Boston 
 Daily Advertiser. The active labors of his life have been 
 largely devoted to the Internal Improvements of various States 
 in America. He married, Sept. 5, 1816, Sarah Preston Everett, 
 second daughter of Rev. Oliver Everett, minister of the new 
 South Church, Boston. Their children are 
 
 GEN. VII. 1. 75 Sarah Everett Hale; b. July 8, 1817; d. 
 May 16, 1851. 
 
 2. 70 Nathan Hale ; b. Nov. 12, 1818; gr. Harv. Coll. 1838. 
 Co-editor of Boston Daily Advertiser. 
 
 3. "Lucrctia Peabody Hale ; b. Sept. 2, 1820. 
 
 4. 78 Edward Everett Hale; b. Apr. 3, 1822; gr. Harvard 
 College 1839; minister of the Church of the Unity, Worcester 
 Mass; m. Oct. 13, 1852, Emily Baldwin Perkins, b. Nov. 22, 
 1830, daughter of Hon. Thomas C. Perkins of Hartford, Conn. 
 
 5. 79 A son ; born and died Apr. 3, 1824. 
 
 6. ^Alexander Hale ; bom June 21, 1825 ; died Jan. 7, 1826. 
 
GENEALOGY. . 199 
 
 7. H1 Susan Hale ; bora Apr. 17, 1827 ; died Nov. 13, 1833. 
 
 8. 82 Alexander; b. July 1, 1829; gr. Harv. Coll. 1848; a 
 civil engineer; lost in Pensacola harbor, in an attempt to 
 rescue a shipwrecked crew, Aug. 22, 1850. 
 
 9. 83 Charles ; b. June 7, 1831 ; gr. Harv. Coll. 1850. Co- 
 editor in Boston Daily Advertiser. 
 
 10. "Susan Hale; b. Dec. 5, 1833. 
 
 11. 85 Jane Hale ; b. Mar. 6, 1837 ; d. Jan. 27, 1838. 
 ^Richard Hale ; 3rd son of ^Rev. Enoch Hale ; b. July 2, 
 
 1792; m. Dec. 28, 1815, Lydia Rust. She d. Jan. 10, 1837. 
 He lived at "VVesthampton, and d. in 1839. 
 
 Their children are 
 
 GEX. VII. 1. 8G Philetus C. Hale ; b. Oct. 5, 1816 ; m. Dec. 
 19, 1839, Nancy H. Bannister, daughter of Jothani and Electa 
 Bannister, Newburyport, Mass. 
 
 2. 87 Augustus E. Hale; b. Aug. 18, 1818; m. 1841, Adalinc 
 G. Smith, dau. of Abram and Mary Smith, of Seabrook, N. H. 
 
 3. 88 MaryHale; b. Sept. 4, 1820; m. Rev. Melzar Monta 
 gue now of "Wisconsin. 
 
 4. 89 Laura ; b. Apr. 3, 1825 ; died at Wcstfield, Mass., April, 
 1855. 
 
 7>2 David Hale, only son of 31 Rev. David Hale ; b. Apr. 25, 
 1791; m. 1st, his cousin Laura Hale, (No. 69 above,) Jan. 18, 
 1815. She died July 25, 1824. He married 2nd, Aug. 22, 
 1825, Lucy S. Turner of Boston. The beginning of his active 
 life was spent in Boston, in mercantile occupations; but in 
 1826 he removed to New York. Here he became the business 
 
200 APPENDIX. 
 
 partner in the management of the Journal of Commerce news 
 paper, and in the charge of that Journal, and in his active and 
 earnest efforts in the establishment of Congregational churches 
 and other religious and charitable enterprises, became widely 
 known and highly esteemed. His life, by Rev. J. P. Thomp 
 son, was published in 1850. His children are 
 
 GEN. VII. 1. 90 Mary Hale; b. Mar. 11, 1816; m. May 27, 
 1839, N. Stickncy now of Rockvillc, Ct. 
 
 2. iLydia Hale; b. May 27, 1818; m. Apr. 23, 1838, Dr. 
 T. T. Devan of New York ; accompanied him to Canton as a 
 missionary; and died without issue Oct. 18, 1846. 
 
 3. 92 Richard Hale; b. May 24, 1820 ; m. Oct. 28, 1844, Miss 
 Julia Newlin. 
 
 4. 93 David Austin Hale; b. Sept. 3, 1822; m. Sept. 3, 1849, 
 Miss M. I. Simonds of Athol, Mass. 
 
 5. 94 Lucy Turner Hale; b. July 9, 1826 ; in. May 20, 1846, 
 Stephen Couover, Jr., of New York. 
 
 6. -KLaura Hale; b. Aug. 22, 1828; m. Dec. 21, 1848, J. 
 W. Camp of New York. 
 
 7. 9J Charlotte Hale ; born April 6, 1832. 
 
 8. " Martha Louisa Hale; b. Aug. 5, 1834 ; d. Jan. 8, 1836. 
 In the next generation, the Hales, who descend from Capt. 
 
 Nathan 1 laic s brothers, are in the following lists. 
 
 "Edward Everett Hale; b. Apr. 3, 1822; m. Oct. 13, 1852, 
 Emily Baldwin Perkins of Hartford. They reside at Worces 
 ter, Mass., and have issue 
 
 GEN. VIII. *Ellen Day Hale; b. Feb. 11, 1855. 
 
 W Philctus Hale; b. Oct. 5, 1816; m. Dec. 19, 1839, Nancy 
 
GENEALOGY. 201 
 
 II. Bannister. They reside at Mihvaukie, Wisconsin, and have 
 issue 
 
 GEN. VIII. 1. "Edward Augustus Hale ; b. Sept. 26, 1840. 
 
 2. 100 William Richard Hale; b. Aug. 28, 1842; d. Feb. 6, 
 1843. 
 
 3. i 01 William Henry Hale ; b. July 8, 1845 ; d. Jan. 12, 1846. 
 
 4. 10 -Mary Bannister Hale; b. July 22, 1846; d. June 26, 
 1851. 
 
 5. 103 John Philetus Hale ; b. Aug. 23, 1850. 
 
 6. 104 Louise Randall Hale ; b. July 9, 1853. 
 
 87 Augustus Hale; b. Aug. 18, 1818; m. 1841, Adaline G. 
 Smith. They reside in Westhampton, Mass., and have issue 
 
 GEN. VIII. 1. 105 Laura Anna Hale ; b. August 12, 1842; 
 d. Mar. 13, 1843. 
 
 2. 106 Frank Augustus Hale; b. Jan. 28, 1844. 
 
 3. 107 Eugene Turner Hale; b. May 22, 1846. 
 
 4. 108 George Wellington Hale; b. Sept. 18, 1849. 
 
 5. 109 Isabella Eloise Hale; b. May 28, 1853. 
 
 ^Richard Hale; b. May 24, 1820; m. Oct. 28, 1844, Miss 
 Julia Newlin. They reside in NCAV York, and have issue 
 GEN. VIII. 110 Louisa Newlin Hale ; b. July 22, 1845. 
 
 2. m Lydia Devan Hale ; b. Sept. 7, 1846. 
 
 3. 11>2 David Hale; b. Mar. 7, 1849; d. Jan. 28, 1853. 
 93 David Austin Hale ; b. Sept. 3, 1822; m. Sept. 3, 1849, Miss 
 
 M. I. Simonds. They reside in New York. " Their only child 
 was 
 
 GEN. VIII. " 3 William Nelson Hale; b. June 20, 1850; 
 d. July 15, 1855. 
 
202 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 This brings the list of Hales of Kicharcl Male s family up to 
 the present time. It would have been agreeable to have ex 
 tended it farther by inserting the names of all the descendants 
 of this venerable man, of whatever name. But this would have 
 required more space than is at our command ; while we should 
 have assumed a duty which will be gratefully performed, we 
 doubt not, by the genealogists of the respective families whose 
 names these cousins bear. 
 
B. 
 
 Page 28. 
 
 SKETCH OF MRS. LAWRENCE. 
 
 THE following sketch of the appearance, mind, and manners 
 of Mrs. Lawrence from the pen of a highly intelligent lady, 
 one of her grand-daughters, who long lived in her society and 
 home will be found very interesting. It is in no respect exag 
 gerated, as we learn from various sources but, on the other 
 hand, is accurate and just. Though communicated to us in the 
 form of a note, and not designed for publication, we cannot 
 forbear the pleasure of presenting it to our Readers here. 
 Speaking of her grandmother, the writer thus proceeds : 
 
 " In person she was rather below the middle height, with a 
 full, round figure rather petite. She possessed a mild, amiable 
 countenance, in which was reflected that intellectual superiority 
 which distinguished her even in the days of Dwight, Hopkins, 
 and Barlow, in Hartford men who could appreciate her, who 
 delighted in her wit and worth, and who, with a coterie of others 
 of that period who are still in remembrance, considered her one 
 of the brightest ornaments of their society. 
 
204 APPENDIX. 
 
 " A fair, fresh complexion, obtained in her early country 
 life bright, intelligent hazel eyes, and hair of a jetty black 
 ness will give you some idea of her looks the crowning glory 
 of which was the forehead, that surpassed in beauty any I ever 
 saw, and was the admiration of my maturer years. I portray 
 hcr, witli the exception of the hair, as she appeared to me in 
 her eighty-eighth year. I never tired of gazing on her youthful 
 complexion upon her eyes, which retained their natural lustre 
 unimpaired, and enabled her to read without any artificial aid 
 and upon her hand and arm, which, though shrunken some 
 what from age, must, in her younger days, have been a fit 
 study for a sculptor. 
 
 " Her character was everything that was lovely. A lady who 
 had known her many years, writing to me after her death, 
 says Never shall I forget her unceasing kindness to me, and 
 her noble and generous disposition. From my first acquaint 
 ance with her, and amidst all the varied trials through which 
 she was called to pass, I had ever occasion to admire the calm 
 and beautiful Christian spirit she uniformly exhibited. To you 
 I will say it, I never knew so faultless a character so gentle, 
 so kind. That meek expression, and that affectionate eye, arc 
 as present to my recollection now, as though I had seen them 
 but yesterday. 
 
 "Such is the language of one who had known her long and 
 well, and whose testimony would be considered more impartial 
 than that of one, who, like myself, had been the constant recipi 
 ent of her unceasing kindness and affection." 
 
c. 
 
 Page 49. 
 MALE S DIARY. 
 
 THE following is the Diary of Captain Nathan Hale, to 
 which reference is made in the text and in the precise shape 
 in which it was written by him. It has no pretension to any 
 formality of plan, or elegance of composition, but is a succinct, 
 often extremely abbreviated statement of events and experi 
 ences in his life, chiefly from the time he left New London with 
 his military company, until, with the army from around Boston, 
 he marched for New York. A few pages are torn from the 
 Camp Book which contains it two or three from the beginning 
 of the Diary, and one containing the entries of two days in 
 November. With this exception, and a break also in the Diary 
 from September the thirtieth to October sixth, and again upon 
 the sixteenth of October, the entries are regular and uninter 
 rupted from September twenty-third, 1775, to December the 
 thirty-first. They begin again January twenty-fourth, 1776, 
 
 18 
 
206 APPENDIX. 
 
 and run over seven days. Two more in February, and four 
 after Hale reached New York, complete the series of his memo 
 randa. The facts they contain are, many of them, of historical 
 value. Even the little personal experiences and employments 
 to which they allude, otherwise unimportant, will grow into 
 some consequence with the Reader, when associated with the 
 patriotic Martyr-Spy. They will all be found interesting, par 
 ticularly so when we reflect that, with a few letters, they form 
 everything that is left us from the pen of one, who, had he lived 
 to mature his youthful powers, to nurse his intellect, and polish 
 his tastes, would probably have been a bright ornament either 
 to the pulpit or the bar, or have graced perhaps the paths of 
 literature as much as he graced the path of patriotism. 
 
 " [Sep. 23 rd .] Cannon, 40 or 50, heard from the last stage to 
 the present. Marched 3^ O Cl and arrived [at] "YVatermans, 
 (a private house and entertainment good) after a stop or two. 
 6 O CL, 6 m. tarried all night. 
 
 " 24 lh . Mch d 6 O Cl., and at 8 O CL, reach M Olney s, 4 m. 
 10 O CL, mch d from Olney s 2 miles, and reached Providence, 
 but made no stop. Having march d thro the town with music, 
 and mde a sht stp at the hither part, in the road, came 4 miles 
 further to Slacks in Rehoboth, where we dined.* 4 O CL, 
 
 *" Received, Rehoboth, Sept. 24. 1775, of Nathan Hale Lieut 1 of May 
 Latimer s Company, five shillings and ten pence lawful money for the use 
 of my house and other trouble by sd Company. 
 
 ELIPHALET SLACK." 
 
 Several similar receipts, in the handwriting of Hale, save the signature, 
 enabling us to trace his positions, are found in his Camp-Book. 
 
KALE S DIARY. 207 
 
 mch d from Slacks 6 m., and reach d Daggctts in Attleborougli, 
 and put up, depositing our arms in the mtt* House. Soon after 
 our arrival join d by the Maj r , who set out from home the nt 
 bef . 
 
 " 25 th . March d soon after sunrise and came very fast to Du- 
 pree s in Wrentham, 9 m. to Breakfast. Arv d 9 O Cl. 11 set 
 off, and l P. M. arv d [at] Hidden s, Walpole, and there din d 
 and tarried till 4 O Cl., and then march d to Dedham, 7 m., 
 and put up. 
 
 " Tuesday 26 th . Mch d 5 m. before Breakfast to . For 
 
 Dinner went 4^ m. to Parkers, which is within a mile and a 
 half from Camp. At our arrival in Camp found that 200 men 
 had been draughted for a fishing party. Pitched our tents for 
 the present in Roxbury, a little before sunset. 
 
 "Wednesday 27 th . Went to some of our lower works. 12 
 or 15 of the fishing party return, and bring 11 Cattle and 2 
 horses. 
 
 " Thursday 28 th . Fishing party returned. 
 
 "Friday 29 th . Mch d for Cambridge. Arv d 3 O Cl., and 
 encamped on the foot of Winter hill, near General Sullivan s 3 
 Corn " Maj rs C l Shipmans, Bostwick. 
 
 " Sat. 30 th . Considerable firing upon Roxbury side in the 
 forenoon, and some P. M. No damage done as we hear. 
 Join d this day by Cp ts Perril and Levnwth about 4 O Cl. 
 
 "Octo. 6 th 1775. Near 100 Can 8 fired at Roxbury from the 
 Enemy. Shot off a man s arm, and kill d one Cow. 
 
 " 7 th . Some firing from Boston neck nil mat. 
 
208 APPENDIX. 
 
 " 8 th . Sab. A. M. rainy no meet". Mr Bird pr. Water- 
 town P. M. Went to meet? on the hill. Mr Smith pr. 
 
 "9 th , Monday. Morn" clear and pleas 1 , but cold. Exers 
 men 5 O Cl. 1. h. 
 
 " Tuesday 10 th . Went to Roxbury dined with Doc tr Wol- 
 cott at General Spencers Lodg s . P. M. rode down to Dorches 
 ter, with a view to go on upon the point ; but Col 1 Fellows told 
 us he could give us no leave, as we had been informed in town. 
 Return d to Camp 6 O Cl. 
 
 "Wed. 11 th . Bro r Joseph here in the morning went to 
 Cam* 6 12 O CL sent a letter to Bro r Enoch by Sam 1 Turner. 
 Inform d by Jo? 1 that he was to be examin d to day for . 
 Saw Royal Flynt pr d to write him. Rec d a letter from Gil- 
 Salt 1 w h inf j y e Schooner by St Johns taken all y e men kill d , 
 and y l 8,000 bush 3 of wheat had been taken and carried to 
 Norwich f m Christ. Champlin s ship run agr d at Stonins" 1 . 
 Rec d letter 9 th from Gil. Salt. Do 9 lh f m John Hallam 8 th E. 
 Hale. A heavy thunder shoAV* in y e evens. 
 
 " Thurs. 12 th . Wrote 6 letters to N. L. Saw C 1 Sage. Inf md 
 Montreal held by Montgomery St Johns off d to capitulate, but 
 refusing to deliver guns, Johnson s terms were refused ; but 
 must soon surrender. P. M. Went into Cambridge. Took 
 the Camb ge Paper pd 3 coppers. 
 
 "Friday 13 th . Inf"> d by L l Col 1 that Col 1 Webb last night 
 gave orders that Field Officers Lieutenants should wear yellow 
 Ribbons put in one accordingly. Walk 1 to Mis k for clothes. 
 
KALE S DIARY. 209 
 
 % 
 
 "Sat. 14 th . Mounted picket guard. Gov r Griswold at 
 plough d hill. Rumours of 25,000 troops from England. 
 
 "Sab. 15 th . Mr Bird pr. P. M. After meeting walk d to 
 Mistick. 
 
 " Tuesday 17 th . A Serg 1 Major deserted to the Regulars. 
 
 "Wed. 18 th . A Private deserted to the enemy. Last night 
 a cannon split in our floats batt ry when fir? upon B. Com 
 mon 1 of our men kill d another said to be mortally wound 
 ed 6 or 7 more wounded. Rec d Letters G. Salstontall, 
 16 h J. Hallam, 14 th E. Hallam, 15 th E. Adams, 16 th . In 
 Mr. Sals" Letter rec 1 News of the publishment of Thomas Poole 
 and Betsey Adams on the 15 th . 
 
 "Thursday 19 lh . Wrote 4 letters to Messrs G. Sals 1 , and 
 John Hallam, and to Misses Bet. Adams and Hallam. 3 peo 
 ple inhabitants of Boston sd to have escaped on Rox y side last 
 night. Several guns were fired at them which were heard here at 
 Winter hill. This morning one of our horses wand d down near 
 the enemy s lines, but they durst not venture over to take him 
 on account of Rifle" placed at y s old Chim^ ready to fire upon 
 them. A sick man at Temples found to have the small pox. 
 
 " Friday 20 th . Wet and rainy. News from Roxbury y l 9 
 persons, 5 of them inhabitants, and 4 of them Sailors, made 
 their escape last night from Boston to Dorchester Point, who 
 bring accounts y l 10,000 Hanoverian 5,000 Scotch and Irish 
 Troops are hourly expected in Boston. Cpt. Perrit ret d sunset 
 from Connecticut. News y l Col. Jos h Trumbull Comm> Gen 1 
 was at the point of Death. 
 
 18* 
 
210 APPENDIX. 
 
 " Sat. 21 . Constant rain & for y e most part hard for y e 
 whole day. A letter communicated to the off" of y e Reg 1 f m 
 G. Washgt" to Col 1 Webb with orders to see what Off will 
 extend y e term of th r service f m 6 th DeceimV to 1 st Jan* Col. 
 Webb issu d ord r " for removing a man who was yesterday dis 
 covered to have y e small pox from Temple s house to y e hospi 
 tal but the off remonstrating, suspended his orders. Sun 
 set clear. 
 
 " Sab. 22" 1 . Mounted piquet guard had charge of the ad 
 vance Piquet. Nil. mem. Mistick Comm 7 rcfus d to deliver 
 p rov sns t o Comp ies which had had nothing for y e day. On 
 which Cpt. Tuttle and 60 or 70 men went, and as it hap nd terror 
 instead of force obtain d the provisions. On Piquet heard 
 Reg rs at work with pick axes. One of our Gentries heard their 
 G. Rounds give the Countersign which was Hamilton. Left 
 P. guard, and ret d to CP at sunrise on the 
 
 "23 rd Mon. 10 O CL, went to Cambridge w th Fid Com"* 
 officers to Gen 1 Putnam, to let him know the state of the Reg 1 , 
 and y l it was thro ill usage upon the Score of Provisions y l 
 thr -wld not extend their term of service to the 1 st of Ja.n J 1776. 
 Din d at Browns dr k 1 bottle wine walk d about street call d 
 at Josh. Woodbridge s on my way and ret d home about 6 O Cl. 
 Rec d confirmation of day before yesterday s report yt Cpt. Coit 
 mde an Admiral. Rec d lett. Ed. Hallam, 15 th . 
 
 "24% Tuesday. Some rain. W l to Mistick with clothes, to 
 be washed (viz. 4 Shirts, Do Necks, 5 pair Stockings, 1 Nap 
 kin, 1 Table Cloth, 1 Pillow case, 2 Linen and 1 Silk Handker 
 chief). P. M. Got Brick and Clay for Chimney. Winter Hill 
 
KALE S DIARY. 211 
 
 came down to wrestle, w h view to find out our best for a wrest 
 ling match to which this hill was stumped by Prospect, to be 
 decided on Thursday ensu s . Evening Prayers omitted for 
 wrestling. 
 
 "25 th , Wednesday no letters. 
 
 "26 th , Thursday. Grand Wrestle on Prospect Hill no 
 wager laid. 
 
 "Friday, 27 th . Mess rs John Hallam and David Mumford 
 arvd. 
 
 " Sat. 28 th . Somewhat rainy. 
 
 " Sab. 29 th . Went to meeting in the barn one exercise. 
 After meeting walk d with Cpt Hull and Mr Hallam to Mistick. 
 
 " Sat. 28 t!l . At night Serg 1 of the enemy s guard desei ted 
 to us. 
 
 "Monday, 30 th . Some dispute with the Subalterns, about 
 Cpt Hull and me acting as Captains. The Col. and Lieut Col. 
 full in it that we ought to act in that capacity. Brigade Maj r 
 and Gen 1 Lee of the same opinion. Presented a petition to 
 Gen 1 Washington for Cpt Hull and myself, requesting the pay 
 of Cpts refused. Mr Gurley here at Din r . P. M. Went 
 into Cambridge with Mr. Mumford. 
 
 "Tuesday, 31 st . Wrote letters to Father, and brother John 
 and Enoch. P. M. Went to Cambridge dr. wine &c at Gen 1 
 Putnams. 
 
 "Wednesday, Novem. 1 st . Mounted Piquet guard nil 
 mem. Rec d 3 Letters fr m S. Belden, G. Salt., and B. Hallam. 
 The l sl inf " d he had no Scarlet Coating &c., and also reminded 
 me of 20s due to him by way of change of a 40s Bill rec d for 
 
212 APPENDIX. 
 
 Schooling (forgot). 2 d inf rad that (as per Philadelphia paper) 
 Peyton Randolph died of an Apoplexy 22 lld ult. 3 rd inf" ld 
 Sheriff Christopher is dead. 
 
 " Wed. 1 st . Came off from Piquet Guard 10 O Cl. 11 do w l 
 to Cam? 6 with Cpt Hull dined at Gen 1 Putnam s with Mr. 
 Learned. Inf ind Mr Howe died at Hartford 2 months ago not 
 heard of before. Col 1 Parson s Reg 4 under arms to suppress y e 
 mutinous proceedings of Gen 1 Spencer s Reg 1 one man hurt in 
 the neck by a bayonet (done yesterday. ) Ret nd to Camp 6 O Cl. 
 
 " Thursday 2 nd . Rain constantly, sometimes hard. Receiv d 
 a flying Report that the Congress had declared independency. 
 
 " Friday 3 nl . Nil mem. 
 
 "Sat. 4 th . Mr Learned and myself din d at Col 1 Halls. 
 Deac" Kingsbury s son visited me. P. M. Cpt Hull and my 
 self w l to Prospect Hill. 
 
 "Sunday 5 th . A. M. Mr Learned pr. John 13, 19 excel- 
 lentissime. A little after twelve a considerable number of can 
 non from the Enemy, in memory of the day. Din d with Cpt 
 Hull at Geni Putnams. Rec d news of the taking of Fort 
 Chamblee, with 80 odd soldiers, about 100 women & children, 
 upwards of 100 barrels of Powder, more than 200 barrels of 
 pork, 40 do of flour, 2 Mortars and some cannon. The women, 
 wives to Officers in St Johns, were brought to St Johns, and 
 there their Husbands permitted to come out, and after spending 
 some time with them, return. Also News of a vessel taken by 
 one of our privateers fr. Phi- 1 to B-n, w h 104 pipes of wine 
 another from the West Indies with the produce of that Country. 
 Rec d a letter from bro. Enoch Nov. 1. Coventry pr. Daniel 
 
KALE S DIARY. 213 
 
 Robertson, who is to make me a visit tomorrow. The paper, 
 in which the Officers sent in their names for new commissions 
 
 return d for more Subalterns. Ens" Pond and put down 
 
 th r names. Those who put down their names the first offer, 
 [are] Col 8 Webb and Hall, Capt s Hoyt, Tuttle, Shipman, Bost- 
 wick, Pefrit, Levenworth, Hull and Hale Sub s Catland. 
 
 "Monday, 6 lh . Mounted Piquet guard in y e place of Cpt 
 Levenworth. A Rifleman deserted to y e Regulars. Some wet. 
 Day chiefly spent in Jabber and Chequers. Cast an eye upon 
 Young s Mem , belong" to Col. Varnum a very good book. 
 Comp 1 of y e bad condition of y e lower Piquet by Maj r Cutler 
 &c. It is of the utmost importance that an Officer should be 
 anxious to know his duty, but of greater that he shd carefully 
 perform what he does know. The present irregular state of the 
 army is owing to a capital neglect in both of these. 
 
 " Tuesday, 7 th . Left Piquet 10 O Clock. Inf J Maj r Brooks 
 app td for this Reg new establishment wh. occas d much unea 
 siness among the Cpts. Rain pretty hard most of the day. 
 Spent most of it in the Maj r , my own and other tents in conver 
 sation some chequers Studied y e best method of forming a 
 Reg 1 for a review, of arraying y e Companies, also of marching- 
 round y e reviewing Officer. A man ought never to lose a mo 
 ments time. If he put off a thing from one minute to the next, 
 his reluctance is but increased. 
 
 " Wednesday 8 th . Cleaned my gun pld some football, and 
 some chequers. Some People came out of Boston via Roxb y . 
 Rec d N. of Cpt Coit s taking two prizes, with Cattle, poultry, 
 
214 APPENDIX. 
 
 hay, rum, Mine, &c. &c. also verbal accounts of the taking of 
 St Johns. 
 
 " Thursday, 9 th . 1 O Cl. P. M. An alarm. The enemy 
 landed at Lechmeres Point, to take off cattle. Our works were 
 immediately all mann d, and a detachment sent to receive them, 
 who were obliged, it being high water, to wade through water 
 nearly waist high. While the Enemy were landing, we gave 
 them a constant Cannonade from Prospect Hill. Our party 
 having got on to the point, marched in two columns, one on 
 each side of y e hill, with a view to surround y e enemy, but upon 
 the first appearance of them, they made their boats as fast as 
 possible. While our men were marching on to y c point, they 
 were exposed to a hot fire from a ship in the bay, and a floating 
 Battery also after they had passed the hill. A few shot were 
 fired from Bunker s Hill. The damage on our side is the loss 
 of one Rifleman taken, and 3 men wounded, one badly, and it 
 is thought 10 or more cattle carried off. The Rifleman taken 
 was drunk in a tent, in which he and the one who received the 
 worst wound were placed to take care of the Cattle, Horses &c., 
 and give notice in case the enemy should make an attempt 
 upon them. The tent they were in was taken. What the loss 
 was on the side of the enemy we cannot yet determine. At 
 night met with the Capt 8 of y e new establishment at Gen 1 Sulli- 
 vans to nominate Subalterns. Lieut 1 Bourbank of Col 1 Doolit- 
 tle s Reg 1 made my 1 st L l Serg 1 Chapman 2 nd , & Serg 1 Hurl- 
 burt Ens". 
 
 "Friday, 10 th . Went upon the hill to see my new Lieut 1 
 Bourbank, and found him to be no very great things. On my 
 return found that my Br. & Joseph Strong had been here and 
 
215 
 
 enquired for me. Immediately after dinner went to Cambr. to 
 see them, but was too late. Went to head quarters saw Gen 1 
 Sullivan, and gave him a description of my new Lt. He said 
 lie would make enquiry concerning him. On my return fo. the 
 abo. Lt at my tent, agr ble to my invitation. After much round 
 about talk persuaded him to go with me to the Gen 1 , to desire 
 to be excused from the service. The Gen 1 not being at home, 
 deferr d it till another time. 
 
 "Saturday, 11 th . Some dispute about the arrangement of 
 Subs. but not peaceably settled. 
 
 "Sunday 12 lh . This morning early a meeting of Capts., 
 upon the above matter, and not ended until near noon. No 
 meeting A. M. P. M. Mr Bird pr. 
 
 " Monday, 13 th . Our people began to dig turf under Cobble 
 Hill. Inlistments delivered out. At night a man of our Reg 1 
 attempted to desert to the Reg" , but was taken. 
 
 " Tuesday, 14 th . Some uneasiness about Subs. P. M. 
 Went to Cambr. nil mem. Gen 1 orders of to day contained an 
 account of the reduction of St Johns. Dig? sods under Cobble 
 Hill continued." 
 
 Here follow, copied by Kale s hand, long and minute " Di 
 rections for the Guards" twenty-one Articles in number after 
 which his Diary thus continues : 
 
 "Wednesday, 15 th . Mounted Main guard. Heard read the 
 articles of surrender of St Johns. Likewise an account of the 
 repulse of our piratical enemies at Hampton in Virginia, with 
 the loss of a number of men (in a handbill). Three deserters 
 made their escape from Boston to Roxbury last night. Two 
 
216 APPENDIX. 
 
 prisoners were taken this afternoon in the orchard below 
 Plough d Hill, who, with some others, were getting apples. 
 They bring accounts that it was reported in Boston that our 
 army at St Johns was entirely cut off. That last week when 
 they attempted to take our cattle at Sewels point they kill d 50 
 or 60 of our men, wounded as many more, and had not a man 
 either killed or wounded whereas in truth we had only one 
 that was much wounded, and he is in a way to recover. Rec d 
 a letter from J. Hallam. 
 
 "Thursday, 16 1 1 . Releiv d from Piquet, 8 O Cl. Con 
 fined James Brown of Cpt Hubbel s company for leaving the 
 guard, which he did yesterday towards night, and did not return 
 until 4 O Cl. this morning, when he was taken up by the centi- 
 nel at the door of Temple s House. As it appeared he was 
 somewhat disguised with liquor, I ordered him confined and 
 reported. 
 
 "Thursday 16 th . Wrote two letters 1 to J. Hallam, and 1 
 to G. Salt 1 . It being Thanksgiving in Connecticut, the Capts 
 and officers in nomination for the new army had an entertain 
 ment at T s house provided by Capt. Whitney s Sutler. They 
 were somewhat merry, and inlisted some soldiers. I was not 
 present. About 10 or 11 O Cl. at night Orders came for rein 
 forcing the Piquet with 10 men from a Com y . 
 
 "Friday, 17" . Ilec d an order from Colonel Hall for taking 
 up at the continental Store 4 pr Breeches, 6 Do Stock? 8 , 5 Do 
 Shoes, 1 Shirt, 1 buff Cap, 1 pr Indian Stocks 6 , 5 y jB of 
 Coats, all which I got but the Shirt, Indian Stock?*, l y d 
 Coat"?, and shoes, which are to come tomorrow morning. Cpt. 
 
KALES DIARY. 217 
 
 Hull w Ul some of his soldiers went w 11 me to Cainb* 1 . Return d 
 after dark. Stop d at Gen 1 Lees to see about Furl* for men in- 
 listed, who ordered the gen 1 orders for the day to be read, by 
 which Furloughs arc to be given by Col ls only, and not more 
 than 50 at a time must have them out of a Reg 1 . Gen 1 orders 
 further contained that the Congress had seen fit to raise the pay 
 of the officers from what they were and that a Cpt. upon the 
 new establishment is to receive 26 Dollars per month a 1 st 
 and 2 nd Lieut 1 18 Dollars, and an Ens" 13^ Dollars. 
 
 "Saturday, 18 th . Obtained an order from Colo. Webb upon 
 the Q. M. G. for things for the soldiers. Went for them after 
 noon returned a little after Sunset. 
 
 "Sabbath Day, 19 Ul . Mr Bird pr. one service only, begin 
 ning after 12 O Cl. Text Esther 8 th 6. For how can I endure 
 to see the evil that shall come unto my people, or how can I 
 endure to see the destruction of my kindred ? The discourse 
 very good-the same as preached to Gen 1 Wooster, his officers 
 and Soldiers, at Newhaven, and which was again preached at 
 Cambridge a Sabbath or two ago. Now preached as a farewell 
 discourse. Robert Latimer, the Maj rs son, went to Roxbury to 
 day on his way home. The Maj 1 who went there to day, and 
 Lt Hurlburt, and Robert Latimer F, .who went yesterday, re 
 turned this even? and b l acc ls that the Asia Man of War, sta 
 tioned at New York, was taken by a Schooner armed with Spears 
 &c., which at first appeared to be going out of the Harbour, and 
 was bro 1 too by y s Asia, and instead of coming under her stern, 
 just as she come up shot along side. The men who were before 
 
 19 
 
218 APPENDIX. 
 
 onceal d, immediately sprung up with their lances &c., and 
 went at it with such vigor that they soon made themselves mas 
 ters of the ship. The kill d and wounded not known. This 
 account not credited. Sergeant Prentis thought to be dying 
 about 12 Meridian some better, if any alterat" this evening. 
 
 "Monday 20" . Obtain d furloughs for 5 men, viz., Isaac 
 Hammon, Jabez Minard, Christopher Beebe, John Holmes, and 
 William Hatch, each for 20 Days. Mounted m" Guard 4 pris 
 oners nil mem., until 10 O Cl, when an alarm from Cambr. and 
 Prospect Hill, occasioned our turning out. Slept little or none. 
 
 "Tuesday, 21". Releiv d by Cpt Hoyt. Serg 1 Prentis very 
 low. Colo, and some Cpts went to Cambr. to a Court M., to 
 Cpt Hubbel s Trial, adjourn d from yesterday to day, Even 
 ing spent in conversation. 
 
 "Wednesday, 22 nd . Sergt Prentis died about 12 O Cl. last 
 night. Tried to obtain a furlough to go to Cape Ann, and keep 
 Thanksgiving, but could not succeed. Being at Gen 1 Sullivans, 
 heard Gen 1 Green read a letter from a member of the Congress, 
 expressing wonder at the Backwardness of the Off rs and Sol 
 diers to tarry the winter likewise informing that the men inlis- 
 ted fast in Pennsylvania and y e Jersics for 30s. per month . Some 
 hints dropt as if there was to be a change of the " 
 
 Here a leaf of the Camp-Book is gone, and the Diary recom 
 mences as follows : 
 
 " Saturday, 25 th . Last night 2 sheep kill d belonging to the 
 En" 1 . This morning considerable firing between the Centries. 
 A Rifleman got a Dog from the Regulars. Col. Varnum 
 offer d a Guinea for him, the [same] that Geni Lee had offer d. 
 
219 
 
 10 O Cl, A. M. went to Cobble Hill to view. Another 
 brought to the Ferry way two there now. P. M. Went to 
 Cambr. Ret 1 Sunset. * * * Heard further that 
 200 or 300 poor people had been set on shore last night by the 
 Regulars the place not known, but s d to be not more than 6 or 
 8 miles from hence. Cannon were heard this forenoon, seeming 
 to be off in the bay, and at some distance. Observ d in coming 
 from Cambr. a number of Gabines at Gen 1 Lee s, said to be for 
 the purpose of fortifying upon Lechmeres point. 
 
 " 26 th , Sunday. William Hatch of Major Latimcr s Co. died 
 last night, having been confin d about one week He has the 
 whole time been in , and great part of it out of his Senses. 
 His distemper Avas not really known. He was buried this 
 afternoon few people attended his funeral. Reported that the 
 people were set ashore at Chelsea, and bring acc ts that the 
 Troops in Boston had orders to make an attack on Plough d 
 Hill, when we first began our works there, but the Officers, a 
 number of them, went to Gen 1 Howe, and offered to give up 
 their Commissions, absolutely refusing to come out and be 
 butchered by the Americans. Mounted Main Guard this morn 
 ing. Snowy. Lt Chapman rec d Recruiting ord re , and set out 
 home, proposing to go as far as Roxb? to day. 
 
 " 27 , Monday. Nil. mem. Evening went to Gen 1 Lee s, 
 whom I found very much cast down at the discouraging pros 
 pect of supplying the army with troops. 
 
 u 28 l1 , Tuesday. Promised the men if thev would tarry 
 another month, they should have my wages for that time. 
 Gen Sullivan return d. Sent order to Fraser Q. M., to send 
 
220 APPENDIX. 
 
 us some wood. Went to Cambr. could not be served at the 
 store. Rcttirn d observ d a greater number of Gabines at 
 Gen 1 Lee s. Inf ! at Cambr. y l Gen 1 Putnam s Reg mostly 
 concluded to tarry another month. (This a lie.) 
 
 " 29 th , Wednesday. The Reg 1 drawn up before Gen 1 Sulli 
 van s. After lie had made them a most excellent speech, desired 
 them to signify their minds, whether they would tarry till the 1 st 
 of January. Very few fell out, but some gave in their names af 
 terwards. Read News of the taking of a vessel loaded w 1 1 ordi 
 nance and stores. 
 
 " 30" , Thursday. Obtain d a furlough for Ens" Hurlburt for 
 20 Days. Sent no letters to day on account of the hurry of 
 business. 
 
 [December.] " I- 1 , Friday. W l to Cambridge. A Number of 
 men, about 20 in the whole, confined for attempting to go home. 
 Our Reg 1 this morning, by means of General Lee universally 
 consented to tarry until the Militia came in, and by far the 
 greater part agreed to stay until the first of Jan. 
 
 "2 d , Saturday. Orders rec d to the Reg 1 that no one Officer 
 or Soldier should go beyond Drum call from his alarm post. 
 Went to Mistick with Gen 1 Sullivan s order on Mr Eraser for 
 things wanted by the Soldiers who are to tarry till the T of 
 January, but found he had none. 
 
 " 3 U , Sunday. Wet weather. No pr. Ev g got an ord r from 
 B. (Jr. Sullivan upon Colo. Mifflin for the above mentioned arti 
 cles, not to be had at Erasers. 
 
 "4 1 1 , Monday. Went to Cambridge to draw the above arti 
 cles, but the order was not accepted. Rec d News y l several 
 
221 
 
 prizes had been taken by our Privateers, among which was a 
 Vessel from Scotland, ballast d with coal the rest of her cargo 
 dry goods. Cpt Bulkley and Mr Chamberlain, from Colches 
 ter, with cheese. Purchased 107 Ibs at 6p. per lb., for which I 
 gave an order upon Maj r Latimer. 
 
 "5 th , Tuesday. Rec d News of the Death of John Bowers, 
 Gunner in Cpt Adam s Privateer, formerly of Maj 1 Latimers 
 Company. 
 
 " 6th, Wednesday. Upon main Guard. Nil. mem. Rec d 
 some letters per Post. Col. Doolittle, Officer of the Day, inf d 
 that Col. Arnold had arrived at point Levi near Quebec. 
 
 " 7 th , Thursday. Went to Cambridge to draw things. 
 
 " 8 th , Friday. Did some writing. Went P. M. to draw 
 money for our expenses on the road from N. L. to Roxbury, 
 but was disappointed. 
 
 " 9 th , Nil mem. Saturday. 
 
 "10 Ul . Struck our tents, and the men chiefly marched off. 
 Some few remaining came into my room. At night Charles 
 Brown, Daniel Talbot, and W m Carver returned from Priva 
 teering. Assisted Maj r Latimer in making out his Pay Roll. 
 Somewhat unwell in the evening. 
 
 "11 th , Monday. Finish d the pay roll, and settled some 
 accounts about 12 O Cl. Maj r Latimer set out home. 1 or 
 more Companies came in to day for our relief. 
 
 " 12 th , Tuesday. A little unwell yesterday and to day. 
 Some better this evening. 
 
 " 13 th , Wednesday. On Main Guard. Rec d and wrote 
 some letters. Read the History of Philip. 
 
 19* 
 
222 APPENDIX. 
 
 "14 th , .Thursday. Went to Cambridge. Visited Maj r 
 Brooks found him unwell with an ague. Capt. Hull taken vio 
 lently ill yesterday remains very bad to day has a high fever. 
 
 " 15 1 , Friday. Nil mem. 
 
 "16 th , Sat. Our people began the covered way to Lech- 
 mere s Point. 
 
 " 17 th , Sunday. Went to Mistick to meeting. Some firing 
 on our people at Lcchmere s point. 
 
 "18 th , Monday. Went to Cambridge to draw things. The 
 Reg 1 paraded this morning to be formed into two companies, 
 that the rest of the officers might go home. Heard in Cambridge 
 that Cpt Manly had taken another prize, with the Gov r of one of 
 the Carolinas friendly to us, and the Hon. Matthews Es<;[ r Memb. 
 of the Continental Congress, whom Gov r Dunmorc had taken 
 and sent for Boston. 
 
 " 19 lh , Tuesday. Went to Cobble Hill. A shell and a shot 
 from Bunker s Hill. The shell breaking in the air, one piece 
 fell and touched a man s hat, but did no harm. Works upon 
 Leclimerc s Point continued. 
 
 " 20 Ul , Wed. Went to Roxbury for money left for me by 
 Maj r Latimer with Gen 1 Spencer, who refused to let me have 
 it without security. Draw d some things from the Store. 
 I/ Catlin and Ens" Whittlesey set out home on foot. 
 
 "21 st , Thursday. Wrote a number of letters. Went to 
 Cambridge to carry them, where I found Mr Hempstead had 
 taken up my money at Gen 1 Spencer s, and given his receipt. 
 I took it of Hempstead, giving my receipt. The sum was 
 36, 10s, Od. * * * 
 
223 
 
 " 22 1 , Friday. Sonic Shot from the Enemy. 
 
 "23 d , Saturday. Tried to draw 1 month s advance pay for 
 my Company, but found I could not have it till Monday next. 
 Upon which borrowed 76 Dollars of Cpt Leveuworth, giving 
 him an order on Col 1 Webb for the same as soon as my advance 
 pay for January should be drawn. 3f O Cl, P. M. Set out from 
 Cambridge on my way home. At Watertown took the wrong 
 road, and went two miles directly out of the way which had 
 to travel right back again. And after travelling about 11 miles 
 put up at Hammons, Newtown, about 7 O Cl. Entertainment 
 pretty good. 
 
 " 24 th , Sunday. Left H s 6 O Cl. Went 8 miles to Stray- 
 tons, passing by Jackson s at 3 miles. Breakfasted at Stray- 
 tons. The snow which began before we set out this morning 
 increases, and becomes burthensome. From Stray tons 9 miles 
 to Stones where we eat Biscuit and drank cyder. 7 miles to 
 Jones dined arv d 3^ o cl. From there 2 m., and forgot some 
 things, and went back then return d. To Dr. Reeds that 
 night. Pass d Amadons and Keiths 3 m. Good houses. With 
 in ^ m. of Dr. Reeds miss d my road, and went 2 m. directly 
 out of my way, and right backtravelPd in the whole to day 41 
 miles. The weather stormy, and the snow for the most part 
 ancle deep. 
 
 " 25 th , Monday. From Dr. Reeds 8 O Cl. Came 1 or 2 in., 
 and got horses. 4 in. to Hills, and breakfasted ordinary. 8 
 m, to Jacobs, and din d. Dismissal our horses. 6 O Cl. arv d 
 Keyes llm., and put up. Good entertainment. 
 
 " 26 th , Tuesday. 6 O Cl. A. M. Fr. K. 6 m., to Kindals 
 
224 APPENDIX. 
 
 breakfasted. 10 on to Southwards din d. Settled acc ts with L l 
 Sage d d hi 16 dollars for paying Soldiers 1 month s advance 
 pay. Arv d home a little after sunset. One heel string lame. 
 
 " 27 1 1 , Wed. Heel lame. W to Br. Roses. Aunt Rob*. 
 Mr Hun 10 " and Cpt Robs. 
 
 "28 th , Thursday. Unwell tarried at home. 
 
 " 29 th , Friday. Went to see G. C. Lyman. Call d at Dr. 
 Kingsbury s and Mr. Strongs. 
 
 1776. 24 lh , Wednesday. Set out from my Fathers 
 for the Camp on horseback, at 7 O Cl. At 11 O Cl. arv d at 
 Perkin s, by Ashford Meeting House, where left the horses. 
 12| O Cl. mch d 3^ arv d Grosvenors, 8 m., and 4 at Grosve- 
 nor s, Pomfret 2 m., and put up. Here met 9 Sold rs fr. Wind- 
 ham. 
 
 " 25 lh , Thursday. 6$ O Cl. inch 1 from G., and came to Forbs 
 7 m., but another Co. liav g engaged breakfast there, we were 
 obliged to pass on to Jacobs (fromGrov. 18 ") After Breakfast 
 went 8 m. to Hills, and dr k some bad cyder in a worse tavern. 
 7 O Cl. arv d Deacon Reeds, 5 m., Uxbridge, and ^ com y put up, 
 myself w th remainder passed on to Woods, 2 m. 
 
 " 26ii>, Friday. 7 O Cl. fr. Woods 4 m. to Almadons Mcndo- 
 reld breakfasted. 1 7 m. to Clark s, Medfield, and put up, Co. 
 put up 5 m. back. 
 
 27 11 , Saturday. Breakfasted at Clark s, 10 O Cl. Mch d , 
 about 1 1 O Cl arv d at Ellis 5^, where drank a glass of brandy, 
 and proceeded on 5 to Whitings. Arv d 2 O Cl. Arv d at 
 Barkers in Jamaica Plains, but being refused entertainment, 
 
225 
 
 were obliged to betake ourselves to the Punch Bowl where- 
 leaving the men, 11 m., went to Roxb>". Saw Gen 1 Spencer, 
 who tho t it best to have the men there, as the Regiment were 
 expected there on Monday or Tuesday. Indians at Gen 1 Spen 
 cers. Ret d to Winter Hill. 
 
 "28 th , Sunday. Went to Roxby., to find barracks for 11 
 men that came with me, but not finding good ones ret d to Tem 
 ple s House, where the men were arv d before me. In the eve 
 ning went to pay a last visit to General Sullivan, with Col* 
 Webb and the Cpts of the Reg 1 . 
 
 " 29 lh , Monday. Nil mem. 
 
 " 30 th , Tuesday. Removed from Winter Hill to Roxb> . 
 ****** 
 
 "Feby 4 th , 1776. Sunday. 
 
 " Feb. 14 th , 1776. Wednesday. Last night a party of Regu 
 lars made an attempt upon Dorchester, landing with a very- 
 considerable body of men, taking 6 of our guard, dispersing the 
 rest, and burning two or three houses. The Guard house was 
 set on fire, but extinguished. 
 
 ****** 
 
 "[New York.] July 23 J , 1776. Report in town of the 
 arv l of twenty S. of the Line in St Law ce River. Doct r Wol- 
 cott and Guy Rich ds Jun r here fr m N. L. Rec d E. fr. G. Sal- 
 stontall. 
 
 "Aug. 21 sl . Heavy Storm at Night. Much and heavy 
 Thunder. Capt. Van Wyke, and a Lieut, and Ens. of Colo Me 
 Dougall s Reg 1 kill d by a Shock. Likewise one man in town, 
 belonging to a Militia Reg 1 of Connecticut. The Storm contin- 
 
226 APPENDIX. 
 
 ued for two or three hours, for the greatest part of which time 
 [there] was a perpetual Lightning, and the sharpest I ever 
 knew. 
 
 " 22 d , Thursday. The enemy landed some troops down at 
 the Narrows on Long Island. 
 
 " 23 d , Friday. Enemy landed more Troops News that 
 they had marched up and taken Station near Flatbush, their 
 adv ce Gds. being on this side near the Woods that some of our 
 Riflemen attacked and drove them back from their post, burnt 2 
 stacks of hay, and it was thought kill d some of them this 
 about 12 O Clock at Night. Our troops attacked them at their 
 station near Flatb., routed and drove them back l mile." 
 
D. 
 
 Page 148. 
 HON. II. J. RAYMOND S REMARKS ox HALE. 
 
 IN admirable consonance with our own views, and in most 
 eloquent tribute also to the memory of Hale, Hon. H. J. RAY 
 MOND of New York in his Address, October seventh, 1853, at 
 the Dedication of the Monument erected at Tarrytown to com 
 memorate the spot where Major Andre was captured says : 
 
 " At an earlier stage of the Revolution, NATHAN HALE, Cap 
 tain in the American army, which he had entered, abandoning 
 brilliant prospects of professional distinction, for the sole pur 
 pose of defending the liberties of his country, gifted, educated, 
 ambitious, the equal of ANDRE in talent, in worth, in amiable 
 manners, and in every manly quality, and his superior in that 
 final test of character, the motives by which his acts were 
 prompted, and his life was guided, laid aside every consideration 
 personal to himself, and entered upon a service of infinite haz 
 ard to life and honor, because WASHINGTON deemed it im 
 portant to the sacred cause to which both had been sacredlv set 
 
228 APPENDIX. 
 
 apart. Like ANDRE he was found in the hostile camp ; like 
 him, though without a trial, he was adjudged a spy ; and like 
 him he was condemned to death. And here the likeness ends. 
 No consoling word, no pitying or respectful look, cheered the 
 dark hour of his doom. He was met with insult at every turn. 
 The sacred consolations of the minister of God were denied him ; 
 his Bible was taken from him; with an excess of barbarity hard 
 to be paralleled in civilized war, his dying letters of farewell to 
 his mother and sister were destroyed in his presence ; and un- 
 cheered by sympathy, mocked by brutal power, and attended on 
 ly by that sense of duty, incorruptible, undefilcd, which had ruled 
 his life, finding its fit farewell in the serene and sublime regret 
 that he "had but one life to lose for his country," he went 
 forth to meet the great darkness of an ignominious death. The 
 Coving hearts of his early companions have erected a neat mon 
 ument to his memory in his native town; but beyond that little 
 circle where stands his name recorded ? While the Majesty of 
 England, in the person of her Sovereign, sent an embassy 
 across the sea to solicit the remains of ANDRE at the hands of 
 his focs, that they might be enshrined in that sepulchre where she 
 garners the relics of her mighty and renowned sons" splen 
 did in their ashes and pompous in the grave "the children 
 of WASHINGTON have left the body of HALE to sleep in its 
 unknown tomb, though it be on his own native soil, unhonored 
 by any outward observance, unmarked by memorial stone- 
 Monody, eulogy-monuments of marble and of brass, and of 
 letters more enduring than all -have, in his own land and in ours, 
 given the name and the fate of AXDRE to the sorrowing re- 
 
RAYMOND ON HALE. 229 
 
 membrance of all time to come. American genius lias cele 
 brated his praises, has sung of his virtues and exalted to heroic 
 heights his prayer, manly but personal to himself, for choice in 
 the manner of death, and his dying challenge to all men to wit 
 ness the courage with which he met his fate. But where, save 
 on the cold page of history, stands the record for HALE ? Where 
 is the hymn that speaks to immortality, and tells of the added 
 brightness and enhanced glory, when his equal soul joined its 
 noble host ? And where sleeps the Americanism of Americans, 
 that their hearts are not stirred to solemn rapture at thought 
 of the sublime love of country which buoyed him not alone 
 above the fear of death, but far beyond all thought of him 
 self, of his fate and his fame, or of anything less than his coun 
 try* an d which shaped his dying breath into the sacred sentence 
 which trembled at the last upon his unquivering lip ? 
 
 It would not, perhaps, befit the proprieties of this occasion 
 were I to push the inquiry into the causes of so great a differ 
 ence in the treatment which ANDRE received at the hands of his 
 American captors, whose destruction he had come, not to con 
 quer, but to betray, and that which the British bestowed upon 
 NATHAN HALE. Much of it was, doubtless, due to the difference 
 in the composition of the opposing armies, the one of hirelings in 
 the service of power, seeking the conquest of freemen, the other 
 of freemen defending their liberties, and keenly alive to the sen 
 sibilities and affections the love of home, of brethren, of fel 
 low-men which alone sustained them in the unequal strife. 
 I have introduced it now, not for the sake of complaint, nor 
 even for the worthier purpose of challenging as unpatriotic and 
 
 20 
 
230 APPENDIX. 
 
 un-American, the habit of allowing all our sympathy and all 
 our tears to be engrossed by an accomplished and unhappy foe, 
 who failed in a service of doubtful morality, undertaken for 
 the sake of promotion and of personal glory, in oblivion of what 
 is due to one of a nobler stamp, our own countryman, who knew 
 no object of love but his and our country, who judged "every 
 kind of sen-ice honorable, which was necessary to the public 
 good," and who by genius, by character, by patriotic devotion 
 and by misfortune, has paramount claims upon the love and 
 cherishing remembrance of American hearts." 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 In note on page 28, for " Eleazer," read " Elijah Ripley." 
 
 On page 152, for " North" read " East Side "for " West" read 
 
 " North Side "and on page 153, for " East " read " South Side," 
 
 and for " South " read " West Side." 
 On page 168, line first, for "grand-nephews" read " nephews ; " 
 
 and in note on same page, for "7?ev. David 7fafc,"read "David Hale 
 
 Esquire." 
 
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