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

While Dean Stanley was in this coun.
try he visited, with Mr.. Cyrus w. Field
the spot where Major Andre was hanged
and buried, and the Dean seemed to be
astonished becausenom monument mark ed
the place. Tbereupon Mr.. Field Of
fered to put up suitable monument,
and Dean Stanley promised to write the
inscription. The publication of Mr..
Fields formal offer has raised storm
Of protests. Mr.. VIM. l.. Cable of Lex
ington avenue offers, in a card, to be
one of hundred TO pull down Mr..
Fields "votive sione;" and J. N. Rill
OF Lyme, Conn.,, has reminded Mr..
Field that Nathan Hale, a Captain in
the Revolutionary army, was captured
near Huntington, l.. l.. while returning
from a perilous and extremely impor-
tant visit TO point within the Britis b
lines on Long Island and New York,
and that no monument commentaries
his sacrifice OF life excepting one paid
for BY the women of his native town
and small grant from the State of Con-
necticut. This monument stands in the
old cemetery in Hale's native town in
South Coventry, Conn. To a great
many others this purpose Of Mr.. Field
has brought 10 mind that Hale has lain
Ia q nameless and unknown grave since
he was hanged In New York, and that
Congress could never be persuaded to
commemorate his services, and that, on
the contrary. in 1921 the British Gov
ernment appointed a commission TO
journey 10 America TO remove the re-
mains Of NJ aior Andre from the grave
that was dug beneath the gallows un-
der which he hanged, and subsequently
reinterred them with royal honors in
Westminster Abbey. No further than
this could royal favor 60.
7 he late Henry J.Raymond once
said that Hale furnished the most con-
spicuous example Of patriotism that the
history Of the Revolution has left us.
"The equal Of Andre IN talent, worth,
and amiable manners, and his superior
in that final test OF Characteristic mo-
tive by which his acts were prompted
and his life guided-he laid aside every
consideration personal 10 himself, and
entered upon a service of infinite haz-
ard to life because Washington deemed
IL important 10 the sacred cause. Like
Andre, he was found in hostile camp;
like him, though without trial, he was
adiudged q spy, condemned 10 death,
and hanged" Mr.. Raymond added
il was the occasion of dedicating the
monument in TarrytOwn, erected on the
spot where Andre was captured-that
while Andres name and fate had been
kindly remembered. we had left the
body Of Hale to sleep in an unknown
tomb in his native soil, unhonored by
any outward token.
In the summer Of 1776 the battle Of
Long Island was fought, disastrously to
the Americans, and haSty retreat was
beaten to Manhatten Island. II looked
very black just then for the American
cause. Men were sick aud dying in
appalling numbers. Desertlons were
rapidly thinning the army. The lack
of food snd the failure 10 receive pay
we're developing insnbordinatica. Not
more than fourteen lh0usand men were
TT Tor duty, and ihpss we're scattered
from the Battery 70 Kingsbridge.
Across East River. stretching from |
what Is now Bay Ridge as far east as /
Greenpoint, with posts at Bedford.
Bushwick. and Flushing. with great
ships Of war at anchor in New York /
Bay, was. arrayed a British army of
twenty-five thousand men, m grand /
6ehiing condition, whose special pur-
pose had been announced 10 be to end /
@mNawmw kha rrr.rs.S,cn fkhn -nk.l. IA
commanding officer, Gen. Howe, was
able and distinguished, and was flushed
with the important victory he had gained
on the crests, now the outskirts of
Brooklyn.
Washington's anxiety was intense.
II was matter OF infinite importance
for him 10 know what Lord Howe would
do. Did he propose 10 bring his army
and navy down upon New York and at
tempt the city, then covering a compar-
arively small tract north Of the Bate
", or did he propose to cross from Long
Tslsmd at He'll Gate and bear down upon
the city, or BY way Of Blackwelps Is
land to Harlem, or would he try by an
attempt above or below Kingsbridge 10
cut of the American srmy. or would he
make Simultaneous attack by way OF
the North and East Rivers and surround
Washinglon's forces, Washington fell
that upon 9 correct anticipation OF
Howe's plans hung the fate Of the
American army. Washineton had TO
decide whether New York Sc ,uld be
held or evacuated; If New York was