Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-01-09

= superior force bearing down "
. bis army by way Of Kingsbridge. W
the utmost effort Washington could
no inkling Of Howe's plans. He
M termined, however, 20 Eyacuate
ss- city, and did 80, Gen. HI sAaking b
- ressson Sept. 15. 1778. sashing
| lleafinR that Fesnsrkahlks s. \
De- Ezsszt1D fHSfs. ulL - Z f&ksS \.
out 70 Harlem Heights. where tL.
american army encamped.
To Washington there seemed onIy
one way remaining Of discovering
Howe's plans, and that was for an in.
telligent soldier to pass the British lines
penetrate the enemy's camps on Ions
Island, make careful estimates Of hi:
force, and accurate plans OF bis defen.
ces and position. In short, he required
the aid Of an intelligent spy, and he SC
expressed himself 10 his board of off.
GERS. They acquiesced, and Colonel
Knowlton was asked to find the man
willing and competent 10 undertake the
hazard ! Knowlton invited competent
officers of his own regiment to serve
Washington and their country, but he
urged in vain. He is described as turn.
ing "from a group Of reluctant, half-re-
sentful officers, fast yielding TO the tor
ture of disappointment" when there
came a voice from among them with
the painfully thrilling, yet cheering
words, 81 will do il % and CaDt. Ma
than Hale, pale from the effects Of a re-
cent illness, stepped forth and volun-
teered for the dangerous, despised, yet
in this case, vital duty of spy.
His comrades are said to have re-
coiled at the prospect of the gifted and
greatly esteemed young Captains do
ing duty they thought fit only for a
sneak. His friends and fellow officers
demonstrated. Capt. Hull, afterward a
General, Hale's classmate at Yale,
urged him to seek the sacrifice of him
self for his country's good in the path
of soldier, not of a spy, and Hale an
swered Hull in these words:
81 think | owe my country the ac-
conplishment Of an object so important
and so much desired by the Command.
er OF her armies, and know Of no 9TH
er mode of obtaining the information
than by assuming disguise and pas
sing into the enemy's camp. am fully
sensible Of the consequences Of discov-
cry and capture in such situation.
But for a year have been attached to
the army, aud have not rendered any
material service, while receiving COM
pensation for which make no return.
Yet ! am not Influenced by the expec-
tation of promotion or pecuniary re-
ward. | wish TO be useful, and every
kind Of service necessary for the pub
lie good becomes honorable by being
necessary. If the exigencies of my
country demand peculiar service, its
claims to the performance Of that SER
vice arc imperious."
Then Hale presented himselfto Wash
ington and received his instructions.
The Commander-in-Chief wanted an
estimate OF the number of the enemy,
how they were distributed, the place of
their encampment, their concentration
of batteries at particular points, but
above all such hints of their plan of at
tack as il was possible to gather. Pro-
curing a school-teacher's garb, Hale
quit the camp at Harlem Heights, and
made his way TO Norwalk, Conn. Here
he dofIed his uniform, put on a brown
suit and a brood-brimmed hat. Then
he was taken by sloop across The Sound,
and aboct two hours before day-break,
he landed upon the point of Great Neck
in Huntington Bay, which juts farther
into the water. The spot was then
called the Cedars, and Is still known by
that name. Hale passed the day and
night with William Johnson at his farm
near Huntington, and then plunged
boldly intothe enemy's country. Where
he went, and how, what were his dan
gers and escapes, his devices, his infor-
nation, and his "skill of imposture,"
there are no means of knowing.
He was gone about two weeks, and
during that time had made his way from
Huntington through the British lines,
into all the encampments IN aud near
and then be crossed 70 New
York. lie must have passed the lines
of the army twice, for he was caplnred
while waiting for the boat that was to
axe him back to Connecticut on the |
Great Neck Point. upon which he landed
wo weeks before. After finishing his
work in New York, he probably crossed |
o Brooklyn somewhere near South |
Ferry. end threaded his way back !
through the lines until he reached Hun
ington. Accounts differ regarding the |
discovery of his true character, but il
has generally been believed that Tory |
elative recognized him while he sat in |
Widow Chichester's tavern, in Hun |
ington, waiting for his comrades boat,
md betrayed him to a British naval Of /
icer, whose vessel lay in Huntington
Bay. Hale stood on the Great Neck |
Point, waiting for the boat that he ex-
'ected, and at length saw one. He |
walked down 10 the waters edge. pre-
Jared to leap aboard, and when sud-
leniy he saw . British officer Jump up
md order him to surrender. Several
Marines al once covered his body with
hen guns. He started up the bank. /
gain the officer shouted TO him 10 sur /
ender. Hale looked back over his /
houlder and saw that escape was lm-
'ossible. He turned and walked quiet
y to the rowboat. boarded il, and was
AIKEN aboard the ship Halifax. He was
tripped and searched, and. as in An /
res case, there were found between
he soles Of his shoes detailed plans and
Memoranda. Further than This noih-
ne has ever been known. Whether