The herald., 1893-12-15
The Presentation of Hale's
Statue to New York.
A Society of Americans Descended
from Revolutionary Soldiers.
Interesting Ceremonies which Were
Conc Through With I'm New
York City on Evacu-
alton Day.

tyr, Nathan Hale, and elk bronze tablets
marking the locations made historic by
notable events of the revolutionary
war.
The parade was unique in presenting
the different corps OF the army-eDgi-
neers, artillery, infantry and cavalry,
and the army hospital corps-sll under
the command OF MajI-Gen. o. 0. How.
ard; naval brigade, and the First bat.
talon of marines, and the First, Second
and Third battalions of sesmen from the
United States steamer Miantonomoh !;
the Old Guard; the Washington Conti-
mental guard; representatives from the
socie ty of the Cincinnati; society of the
warsof 1872; Aztec society, and military
ordeq of the Loyal Legion, all under the
direetion OF the New York society OF
Sonsa of the Revolution.
ALA the tablets bore the seal of Sons
OF the Revolution, and they were ex-
ecuted in bas relief in the highest type
OF art from designs by st. Gaudius.
They as o as follows:
The ret tablet unveiled by the Sons
of the Revolution was on the spot
where he battle OF Golden Hill was
fought, January Is, 1870. This en-
gagemem occurred at point now
bounded by William, John, Fulton and
Gold stret IT'S. The place was marked by
q house " hich was erected soon after
1892, in (which year the corporation
opened up the streets between Wall and
Fair (now 'ulton) streets, and from east
OF Broadwa,1 to the East river. The
house was used at various times before
and during the revolution as tavern
and coffee house, and it numbered
among its pa irons George Washington,
Lafayette, st uben, General Putnam and
other illustrio US men. Its number now,
122 William 81 rect, is kept az hostelry
by Joseph Zehls. The tablet committee
of the Sons a1f the Revolution, COM
posed OF Genensl Daniel Bntterfeld, the
Rev. DIR. Morgan Dix. Col. Floy CLARK
son, John AUSTIN Stevens and David
Wolfe, met at tn 9 historic house and
had holiday juh ilation. Here is the
inscription on the bronze tablet:
Here, January 1s, n77O, the fight took place
between the Sons of Liberty and the British
regulars (5ixteenth f0oNb. First blood shed in
the war OF the revolution.
Jerome Buck unveiled the tablet on
the Washington building, at No. l
Broadway, the inscription being:
Here stood the house once occupied by Gen
George Washington and Gen. George Clinton as
headquarters during the revolutionary war,
The tablet ct Bowling Green has this
record:
Here stood the leaden statue of George III,
King OF England, was destroyed by the people
July 8, 1875, and later made into outlets for
the American army,
At the sou4heasterly corner of Wash
ington and Laight streets the tablet
reads
TO commem crate the landing of Gen. George
Washington at the foot of Laight street, North
river, accompanied by the troop of Phi9adel-
take command OF the American army at Cam
bridge, Mass.
At Broadway and Forty-third street
the tablet has this inscription:
Near this SPOT, September Is, 1776t the day
before the Actle of Harlem, Gen Geocge Wash.
ington aud ien Israel Putnam met and con.
suited during the movement of the American
army.
The tablettat One Hundred and Fifty
third stree and Eleventh avenue reads
as follows:
To commemorate the battle of Harlem, on
Knowllon ana Major Leitch were so badly
wounded that deslth soon closed their patriotic
services for their,countfy.
The most interesting event of the
day, however, was the unvelling and
presentation of the statue of Capt.
Nathan Hale, the man who made the
name of spy synonymous with martyr
and patriot in the records of the war
for independence.
Nathan Hale Was born at Coventry,
Conn, on June ., l755, and entered
four years later and began to teach
school. lie taughtin the little towns
OF Moodus, East Haddam and New
London, and gained tine good will of all
whom he met. Hs always took great
interest in public affairs, and the pro-
ceedinge preliminary to the contest at
Lexington on April 10, 1775, were re-
gardeo by him with much interest. The
actions at Lexington and Bunker Hill
conetralned him to enter the army, and
on June 6, l775, ne was made lieuten-
ant OF the Third company, Seventh
regiment, Connecticut Continental In
fantry, then commanded by Col. Charles
Webb. He was present at the siege OF
Boston, and on September l, 1875, he
was promoted to the rank OF captain.
When Washington reorganized the con-
tinental army before Boston. for the
campaign of l776, Captain Hale re-
ceived from his hands com mission in
the regular army and joined the Nine
teenth Continental regiment of foot,
with rank from January l, 1776.
At the end of the siege of Boston,
Captain Hale came to this city, and,
with his regiment, encsmped on the
line of Grand street and the Bowery.
Meanwhile General William Howe had
entered New York harbor with the feat
commanded by his brother, Lord Howe,
and sn attack was daily expected. Cap
tain Howe took part in the battle OF
Long Island, fought the week after Gen
eral Howe's arrival, which took place
on August 27, 1776. After this Captain
Hale was ordered to do duty with a
battalion of rangers scouting around
New York. 1t was at this time that he
volunteered for the scouting duty that
ended in his death. He was sentenced
on Saturday, September 81, and on the
following day he was executed.
The statue iH erected in the City Hall
park and was designed and modelled by
the sculptor, Frederick Macmonnies, q
citizen of New York. residing in Paris.
and descendant of the famous Amsri-
can artist, Benjamin West. 1t was
honored by first prize when exhibited
in the salon liz Paris. The pedestal is
from designs by Mr.. Stanford White.
architect, of New York city, and en-.
graved deeply on its side are the last
immortal words of Hale: 81 regret that
! have but one life to give to my coun-
try"