Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-10-07
A CENTENNIAL STUDY

! A CENTENNIAL STUDY.
The Execution Of CapinIn Nathan Hale
One Hundred Years Age.
One hundred years ago Nathan Hale,
q captain in the patriot army, was hanged
as a spy within the limits OF New York
city. Born in Coventry, Conn.,, June @,
1855, Nathan Hale graduated at Yale
College in It'll, and afterward taught at
East Haddam and New London. News
came of the battles ut Concord and
Bunker Hill. A town meeting was
called at New London, aud he, q young
man, principal OF the academy, ad-
dressed tho assemblage, closing his
speech with the stirring words "Let
us march Immediately and never lay
down our arms until we have gained our
independence" He was made q lieuten-
ant in the company that was raised, and
was promoted to the captaincy when
Captain John Latimer was made ma
jor. Many of the recruits were seafaring
men, and at least four of them belonged
to the ancient tribe of Mohegan ILdians.
Captain Hale was in command OF the
company when, in April, 1775, it arrived
in New York city. At that time il was
attached to Webb's regiment in Spen-
GERS brigade. Shortly afterward, how
ever, General Washington organized a
select regiment, to be known MS "Con-
gress' Own," aud placed it under COM
mand of Colonel Thomas Knowlton, of
Ashford, Conn.,, who had greatly dis
tinguished himself at Bunker Hill. and
who fell ut the battle Of Harlem Plains.
Nathan Hale's company was with Knowl-
ton in this gallant charge, but their be-
loved commander was in the camp of
the enemy under orders from Washing
ton.
History has preserved the muster roll
of the regiment, and among the men
whom Hale commanded are found the
ancestors of not few families of dis
tinction in New York as we'll as Connec-
ticut.
A few of them, led by Hale, cut out
sloop from the side of the British man
Of war Asia, in the harbor of New York,
and party of three were chosen to take
charge of the fire ship which ran along
side the frigate Phenix in the Hudson
river. So it happened that after the
disastrous defeat on Long Island, when
General Washington looked around for
man whom he could trust to so into
the camp of the enemy and report it's
condition, the choice of Colonel Knowl-
ton and other high officers fell upon
Captain Nathan Hale. Tradition has
preserved a picture of the gallant young
soldier, who in April, 1776, encamped
his company in the fields near our Bun
ker Hill at Broadway and the Bowery,
and who in September the same year
crossed the sound at Norwalk on his
perilous errand. Twenty-one years old
in June, bright eyed and athletic, he
was dressed in frock of white linen
fringed, such as officers then wore, with
a yellow ribbon in his cockade to mark
his rank in lieu of epaulettes. He had
his firelock siung behind Gall officers
wore them thus), and at his side was the
sword worn by his uncle. Nathan Hale,
who was killed by shell at the seige of
Louisburg in 1745. When equipped
for the perilous work of spy, Captain
Hale changed his uniform for a plain
suit of citizens clothes with a round,
broad brimmed hat, assuming the char
acter of schoolmaster and retaining
nothing but his college diploma, signed
by the Rev. Naphtall Daggett, president
of Yale, as oh introduction to hisassumed
calling. Leaving this place in sloop
commanded by Captain Pond, he was
set ashore at huntington, L. l., and
thence proceeded through the British
camps on Long Island and New York.
After passing safely to the outposts of
the British army, he stopped at tavern
called the "Cedars," when he was seen
and recognized by Troy cousin, dis
sipated young man named Samuel Hale,
who had received many favors at his
hands in former times. This double
traitor betrayed him to the British, say
ing that he was captain in the Conti-
mental army and a.spy. Gen. Howe
was then residingat the Beekman House,
near the present junction of First avenue
and Fifty-frs street. Hale was brought
before him, and frankly owned his name,
rank and object. This was on the
twenty first of September, 1776, just one
week from the day on which Washing
ton had given him his secret instructions
at the Murray L ouse, on Murray Hill.
Without allowing Captain Hale the
formality OF trial, General Howe deliv-
cred him over to the custody Of the in
famous provost marshal, Captain Gun
ninpham, and ordered him to be hanged
the next morning. That night he was
confined in the greenhouse of the Beck
man mansion, and was closely guarded.
He asked for clergyman. 1t was re-
fused him. He next asked for Bible.
That, too, was refused. A British officer
who bore flag of truce to our lines to
inform the Americans OF the fate OF Gap
tain Hale, gave Captain Alexander Ham
ilton some interesting details Of the
manner in which he met his death. He
said:
"On the morning of the execution my
station was near the fatal spot, and I re-
auested the provost marshal to let Hale
sit in my marquee while the necessary |
preparations we're making. Hale entered
calm and dignifed. He asked for pen
and ink, and wrote letters to his mother
and brother, which were subsequently |
destroyed by Cunningham. Shortly
after he was summoned to the gallows;
few were around. His last words we're:
Il only regret / have but one life to
give for my country"
This is the testimony of British off
Ger to the fortitude of hero. Contem-
poraneous history afirms the cruelty of
Howe and Cunningham. The latter !
gave as a reason for destroying the let
ters written by his prisoner that "the |
rebels should not know that they had in |
their army a man who could die with so
much firmness."
Authorities differ as to the place
where Captain Hale was buried. Some
have placed the spot under a great but
teruut tree that stood until within few |