Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-22
HALE's EXECUTION IS SPY,
lHarper's Magazine for June.

lHarper's Magazine for June
After the Long Island affair, Washington was
suggested every temporary expedient for Sc
curing IL. Nothing BUT the East river being
n now between e wee I, him and the powerful
he should be warned In ample time OF their ad-
vance. LAS everything he wrote to Heath at
hingsorldge, In a manner depends upon OBJ
tanning intelligence OF the enenys motions,
do most earnestly entreat you and Gen Clntou
to exert yourselves to accomplish this most de-
slrable end Leave no stone unturned. nor do
not stick at expense, to bring this to pass, as
never was more uneasy than on account of nv
want OF knowledge on this score Keep con-
slant look outs, he adds. with good glasses
on some commanding heights that look well on
to the other shore"
Ii was In this emergency, when successful
accomplishment of Washington's wishes would
have been OF the greatest use TO the army, that
Captain Hale stepped forward TO offer his SER
vices. 1t happened that he had recently volun-
teered to act as one of the officers OF Lieutenant
Colonel Thomas knowltons new corps OF
Rangers organized to scout between the lines,
feel the enemy'S position, and report directly TO
the commander n-chef Knowiton was a gal
liant officer, near townsman OF Hale's. and
have accepted him for the Rangers. Early I'm
September. when Washngton's suspense was
keenest, the colonel preached the matter OF OBJ
tanning the desired Information to his own Of
ficers. In the hope that some one OF them might
be able TO serve the chief. The sugges-
ton appears to have deeply impressed Hale.
went to talk the subject over with his fellow
officer and college friend Captain William HUI.
of Webb'S regiment. This We know from Hull
himself. The two captains discussed the ques-
ton OF undertaking the role OF a spy. Hull used
every argument to diSsuade Hale from the dan
gerous service, and appealed TO him as a soldier
not to run the risk of closing his promising
career with an ignominious death. Hale how
ever, although fully sensible OF the cOnse-
luenceS of capture, could think of nothing but
duty. He told Hull that for year he had been
Inst n n
terial service that he wished to be useful: was
uniniluenced by the expectations OF promo
ZION or pecun1ary reward; and so far as the Pc
culiar duty In question was concerned. he felt
that "erei-p KIND or SeTrice necessary 10 The
public good became honorable bg being neces-
SGfp."
Calmly and firmly deciding the question for
himself, Hale soon after reported to Washing
ton his readiness to enter the British lines in
disguise. What instructions, what advice what
cautions, he received from the general there
are no records to tell us. These facts only We
know certainly: that he suddenly disappeared
from camp, passed up the Connecticut coast
changed his uniform for schoo-maSter'S garb
crossed to Huntington, Long Island and then
made his way TO the enemy at Brooklyn and
New 1ork-neyer to return. After making
satisfactory observations, taking sketches or
works. and whiting his notes In Latin he was
on the point of returning to the Connecticut
shore, when he was seized and held as a spy.
A boat was to have met him at Huntington
Bay, and on the morning OF the 18th or l9tn OF
the-SuppoSed craft made its appearance; but
he approached 1t only to ind that 1t was a
yawl from British cruiser lying below, and
that retreat on his part was impossible. Or
dered to surrender, with the guns of the ma
rines leveled at him, he yielded to the situa-
ZION, was taken to the man-of-war, conveyed
to New York, and there delivered TO the MILL
tary authorities.
At New York Hale was brought before Sir
William Howe, the English commander in
Chief. An American spy at that time was like
ly to receive but tr.fiing consideration. Hale
received none. Four years later, when Andre
was captured, every attention and comfort was
ACCORDED him by Washingtons officers during
his confinement and trial. He himself ex-
pressed his grateful appreciation OF their ten
derneSS. But Andre was the adjutant general
OF the British army, and mixed up with Arnold
and Clinton In a dazzling plot to obtain an
American stronghold. He was out on "ofti-
cial' business. In addition. I'm 1850 both sides
were treating each other with more military
respect than In the first years OF the war. In
1916 poor Hale was a wretched Continental
rebel as well as Spy-and punishment could
be neither too swift nor too severe. Possibly
In 1916 an English officer caught In the Amerl-
can camp under Hale's circumstances, would
have received like treatment, so far as imme-
date condemnation was concerned In HaleS
case certainly the treatment was summary. as
well as peculiarly heartleSS- The only relief In
the picture is the noble bearing of the prisoner.
Instead OF attempting a defense, OF explaining
the papers found upon his person, he frankly
declared his rank In Washington'S army, and
the object of his visit to the British camp Ii
tradition and meagre records are correct, the
scene OF his examination and sentence was the
little greenhouse In the garden OF the old Beck
man mansion, on sgd street, near LIST avenue
where Howe had fixed his headquarters. Upon
this confession the British commander-aud &c
is difficult to see how he could have done other
Wise-prOnounced him spy, and ordered his
execution to take place on the following morn
Eg
The following morning" was Sunday, the
ED OF September, 1.16. Where Hale spent that
q iai1 ho II
Records,, or at some guard-hOuSe. docs not
appear. One thing Is known, that he was put
Dto the care OF provost marshal OF most
nhuman sort, said to be the noted Cunningham,
whose name afterward sent Shudder through
every one who CHANGED to become his prisoner.
Assured that his fate was sealed, Hale requested
that he might be attended by clergyman, but
his was refused by the marshal; So too, was
his request for Bible. On the fatal morning
he was led out to the place of his execution,
which. upon the best data at hand appears to
have been the Rutgers orchard not far above
Franklin Square, on East Broadway. and there
calmly awaited his fate Pending the prepara-
tons, an English officer received permission to
have Hale remain In his tent, where the latter
found time to write letters to his mother and
comrade In the army.
When Andre walked to the scaffold In 1850, no
sign OF faintneSS escaped him. but bowling to
all around he said, at the closing moment
Gentlemen, you will bear witness that die
with the flrmness becoming soldier" Eye
witnesses on the occasion have left the record
that his self-posseSsion throughout the trying
scene was perfect. This was equally true OF
Hale, but Hale was far from being a profess
s1opal soldier, and the thought of sustaining
that character to the end seems not to have oc-
Cured to him. Andre could not belle the ira
ditional courage OF the British officer. Hale
could not belle the cause he had voluntarily
espoused. and when summoned from the tent
where he had written the letters, to suffer his
fate, his heart found spontaneous and unaf-
fected utterance in words not to be forgotten.
II only regret" he said, to the few spectators
Sanf JnfT Lp1 N los
conatrgn Does any page In history furnish
the example OF purer pdtriOt than Hale?