The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-05
NATHAN HALE.

IVA HAN llAALs
az ONLY RKGnKT THAT I HAVE BUr
ONE LIFE TO LOSE FOR
MY COUNTRY"
The Young Captain VINO Acted ~ n spy
for washinx ton. And 10 whom the Pe0-
pie Of New York Now Propose tn Erect
y Monument.
IN. Y. SUM-
While Dean Stanley was in this country he
visited, with Mr.. Cyrus w. Field, the spot
where Major Andre was hanged and buried,
and the Dean seemed TO be astOnished be-
cause no monument marked the place. There
upon Mr.. Field offered to put up asultable mon
ument, and Dean Stanley promised to write
the inscription. The publication Of Mr.. Fields
formal offer In the Sun Of the twenty-flrst
instant, has raised storm OF protests Mr..
WIN. Il. Gable OF Lexington avenue offers, In
q card, to be one Of q hundred to pull down
Mr. Fields "votive stone;" and j. N. Rill, OF
Lynne, Conn, has reminded Mr. Field that
Nathan Hale, a captain In the Revolutionary
army, was captured near Huntington, l.. l..
while returning from q perilous and extremely
important visit TO point within the British
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 u small grant from the
State Of Connecticut This monument stands
in the old cemetery in Hales native town In
South Coventry, Conn. To q great many
others this purpose Of Mr.. Field has brought
to mind, as shown by correspondence received
by the Sun, that Hale has lain In 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
government appointed a commission to
journey to America to remove the remains OF
Major Andre from the grave that was dug
beneath the gallows under which he hanged,
and subsequently, re-interred them with royal
honors In Westminster Abbey. No further
than this could royal favor 60.
Yet the services rendered bis country by
Hale were most important, and the patriot
ism and heroism he showed In sacrificing his
life for bis country almost without example.
To Washington, In ITS, there seemed only
one way remaining OF discovering Howe's
plans, and that was for an intelligent soldier
to pass the British lines, penetrate the
enemys camps ON Long Island, make care
ful estimates Of his force and accurate plans
Of his defenses and position. In short, he
required the aid Of an Intelligent spy, and he
They acqulesced, and Col Knowlton was
asked to find the man willing and competent
to 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 turning
from group Of reluctant, halfresentfui
officers, half yielding to the torture Of dlsap-
pointment," when there came q voice from
among them with the painfully thrilling yet
cheering words, Il will do itg' and Capt.
Nathan Hale, pale from the effects Of recent
Illness, stepped forth and volunteered for the
dangerous, despised, yet In this case vital,
His comrades are said to have rscoiIed at
teemed young captains doing a duty they
thought fit only for sneak. His friends and
fellow officers demonstrated, Capt. Hull, az
forwards general, Hale's classmate at Yale,
urged him to seek the sacrifice OF himself for
not OF spy. Hale presented himself to
Washington and received his instructions.
The com mander-in-chief wanted an estimate
Of the number Of the enemy, how they we're
distributed. the place Of their encampment,
points, but above all such hints OF their plan
Of attack as 1t was possible to gather. Pro-
curing school teachers garb. Hale quit the
camp at Harlem Heights and made Ills way
I'd aOTWhik, SfJIlu IlcIS no lis uUl~
form, put on = brown suit. and a broad
brimmed hat. Then he was taken by q sloop
across the sound, and about two hours before
daybreak he landed upon the point Of Great
Neck In Huntington Bay. which juts farthest
Cedars, and is still known by that name. Hale
passed the day and night with William john
son at his farm near Huntington, and then
plunged boldly into the enemy's country
Where he went, and how, what were his dan
gers and escapes, his devices, his information
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 encamp-
ments In and near Brooklyn, and then he
crossed to New York. He must have passed
the lines OF the army twice, for he was cap
tured while waiting Tor the boat that was TO
Neck Point, upon which he landed two weeks
before. After finishing his work In New York
he probably crossedeto Brooklyn somewhere
near South Ferry, and threaded his way back
through the lines until he reached Huntinton.
Accounts differ regarding the discovery OF his
true character, but it has generally been be.
lieved that Tory relative recognized him
while he sat In Widow Chichester's tavern in
Huntington, waiting for his comrades boat
and betrayed him to British naval officer,
stood on the Great Neck Point, waiting for
the boat that he expected, and at length
saw one. He walked down 10 the waters
edge, prepared to jump aboard, and
when suddenly he saw q British or
Ger Jump up and order him to sur-
render. Several marines at once covered his
body with their guns. He started up the
bank. Again the officer shouted to him to
surrender. Hale looked back over his Shout
der and saw that escape was impossible He
turned and walked quietly to the rowboat.
boarded 1t, and was taken aboard the shin
Halifax. He was stripped and searched, and.
as In Andres case, there was found between
the soles Of his shoes detailed plans and mem
oranda. Further than this nothing has ever
been known. Whether Hale was treated with
the kindness that was extended to Andre after
his capture Is very doubtful. It is certain that
he was not after he arrived In New York.
Hale denied nothing. He admitted that he
was captain In WashingtOn's army, said
full In his search for Information, regretted
that be was, by his capture unable Ia serxe