, 1901-06-27

anu yet JeneTdl washington was COIu-
PEELED to confess:
We cannot learn, nor have we been
able to possess, the least information
of late"
Therefore he wanted a man. He
wanted an intelligent a cool-head-
ed. skillful, brave. to cross the East
River to Long Island. enter the en-
emy's camp and get information as to
his strength and intentions. He wen
to Colonel Knowlton. commandig a re-
markedly efficient regiment from Con-
necticut, and requested him to ascer-
tain IL this man SO sorely needed could
be foun in his command. Colonel
Knowlton called his officers together.
stated the wishes of General Washing
ton. and. without urging the enter
prise upon any individual, left the mat
ter to their reflections.
Captain Nathan Hale, a brilliant
youth of 81, recently graduated from
Yale college. was one OF those who
reflected upon the subject. He soon
reached a conclusion. He was of the
very flower of the young men of New
England. and one of the best of the
younger soldiers of the patriot army.
He had been educated for the minis
try. and his motive in adopting for a
time the profession of arms was purely
patriotic. This we know from the
familiar records of his life at the time
when the call to arms was first heard.
In addition to his other gifts and
graces. he was handsome, vigorous and
athletic. all in IN extraordinary de-
gree. II he had lived in our day he
might have pulled the stroke oar at
New London or pitched for the college
nine.
The officers were %conversing in a
group. No one had as yet spoken the
decisive word. Colonel Knowlton ap-
pealed to a French sergeant, an old
soldier of former wars, and asked him
to volunteer.
mo, no." said he. "I am ready to
fight the British at n place and time.
but l do not feel willing to go among
them to be hung up like a dog"
Captain Hale Joined the group of
officers. He said to Colonel Knowl-
on:
Il will undertake it"
Some of his best friends remon-
strated. One of them, afterwards the
famous Gen. William Hull. then a cap
tain in Washington's army, has re-
corded Hale's reply to his own attempt
to dissuade him.
Il think" sal Hale, 81 owe to my
country the accomplishment OF an OBJ
Ject so important. l am fully sensible
of the consequences of discovery and
capture in such a situation. But for a
year / have been attached to the army,
and have not rendered n material
service. while receiving a compensa-
ton for which l make no return.
wish to be useful. n every kind of
service necessary for the public good
becomes honorable by being neces-
sary."
He spoke. as General Hull remem-
bered. with earnestness and decision,
as one who had considered the mat
ter well, and had made up his mind.
Having received his instructions, he
Travelled fifty miles along the Sound as
far as Norwalk. in Connecticut. One
who saw him there made a very wise
remark upon him. to the effect that he
was too good looking to go as a spy.
nv NOuiu " utetiNt. oOiuc bCTuDDy
fellow ought to have gone" AT Nor
walk he ssumed the disguise of a
Dutch schoolmaster, putting on a suit
of plain brown clothes and a round.
PREDETERMINED hat. He had no diff
Guilty in crossing the Sound, since he
pore an order from General Washing
ton which placed at his disposal all
the vessels belonging to Congress. For
several days everything appears to
have gone well with him. and there is
reason to believe hat he passed
through the entire British army with
out detection or even exciting suspi-
cion.
Finding the British had crossed to
New York, he followed them. He made
his a back to Long Island. n near
ly reached the point opposite Norwalk
where he hand originally landed. Rem
dered, perhaps. too bold by success. he
went into a well-known and popular
tavern. entered into conversation with
the guests and made himself very
agreeable. The tradition is that he
made himself too agreeable. A man
present. suspecting or knowing that
he was not the character he had as
sumed, quietly left the room, commun-
icated his suspicious to the captain OF
a British ship anchored near, who dis