Nathan Hale 

 Nathaniel Hale was born June 6th, 1775, in the small town of Coventry, Connecticut. The sixth of ten surviving children, he was born to Deacon Richard Hale and his wife, Elizabeth Strong Hale. As young boy, his mother encouraged Nathan to learn and appreciate knowledge. Unfortunately, she died in childbirth, while bringing into the world Nathan's sister. However, his love of learning kept growing after her death.

  Eventually, Deacon Hale remarried. Nathan was around eleven at the time, and Abigail Hale made life happier in his home. The Deacon was a strict man, but taught his children to have faith in their God, and to have courage. Nathan, along with his older brother Enoch, was also tutored by Rev. Dr. Joseph Huntington. They studied hard, and when their years of learning under the minister were over, the Deacon sent his sons to Yale. It was 1769, and Nathan was 14; Enoch, 16. It was the beginning of an exciting time, both in their lives and for their country.

   Called "Hale Secondus" by his peers at Yale, Nathan was also known as a hard worker. He was a smart young man, and very quick at his studies. During his four years of college, Hale belonged to a literary fraternity, Linonia. They met once a week to discuss and debate such subjects as astronomy, literature, slavery, and women's rights. Hale held many positions in Linonia, including the office of Chancellor.

   Nathan decided to teach school after he graduated from Yale. He applied for and received a position at the East Haddam School. The students all loved their schoolmaster, but after one year, Nathan decided to accept a job at the Union Grammar School in New London. Every morning, he prayed with his students before beginning their studies. After that, Hale taught the thirty boys in writing, mathematics, and the classics. He also started teaching the sisters of his regular students before their class began. Every morning from five to seven o'clock, girls would study the same subjects as their brothers. Hale was a patient teacher, and students seemed to thrive under his tutelage. However, the young man felt that perhaps this wasn't all he was meant to do.

   Things were heating up in North America. After the Tea Act, the Coercive Acts, and the colonists' reaction, it was unlikely conflict would be avoided. Hale was excited by it, and signed up with a local militia in 1774. The other men voted him first sergeant, which was the highest rank a new recruit could achieve.

   After war broke out in April, 1775, at Concord and Lexington, Hale's militia marched out of New London -- without him. A friend of Nathan's from college days, Benjamin Tallmadge, went to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to see the siege of Boston. He wrote a letter to Hale, dated July 4th, 1775. Part of it read, "Was I in your condition . . . I think the more extensive Service would be my choice. Our holy Religion, the honour of our God, a glorious country, and a happy constitution is what we have to defend." Apparently, the letter made quite an impact on Hale.

   Shortly after Tallmadge's letter, Hale accepted a commission as first lieutenant in Colonel Charles Webb's Seventh Connecticut regiment. He was sent to recruit more men for several weeks. Once this was done, Nathan rejoined his company and marched to Cambridge. Hale tried to be the best officer he could be. Around the time his men's enlistment was up, men were leaving in droves. Entire companies would pack up and head home to their farms. Everyone was owed backpay, and no one had a reason to stay on any longer. However, Hale offered his men his own pay and personal IOUs to re-enlist. Not one man failed to sign back up.

   In January of 1776, Hale received a captain's commission in the Nineteenth Connecticut regiment. A few months later, the army moved to Manhattan to try and stop the British from taking New York. They stayed there for six, long months. During that time, many commented that Hale obviously cared deeply about his men. He often could be found making rounds visiting the sick, and praying with them.

   By this time, Hale had been in the army for one year and had seen no action. Finally, there seemed a chance for fighting -- Nathan was given command of a company in the New England Raiders. Their job was to patrol the Westchester and Manhattan shorelines. However, General Washington couldn't defend all of Manhattan; what he really needed was information on where the British would strike. Washington needed . . . a spy. Nathan volunteered. It was decided he would pose as a Dutch schoolmaster. Captain William Hull, an old friend from Yale, tried to convince Hale not to do such an unhonorable thing. However, Nathan said, "I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary to the public good becomes honorable by being necessary. If the exigencies of my country demand a peculiar service, its claim to perform that service are imperious."

   Very soon after the acceptance of his mission, Hale crossed Long Island Sound onto Long Island. He spent several days there, gathering information. However, his information and mission were made useless by the British invasion of Manhattan at Kip's Bay on September 15th and 16th. Hale then slipped out and traveled to New York. Most likely he was there to try and get some new information that General Washington could use. After a few days, the young spy went back to Long Island.

   On September 20th, New York City was set on fire. While it's uncertain how the blaze began, the British blamed the American patriots. They became increasingly suspicious of all colonists, and were on the look-out for anyone out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, Nathan was ready to return and report to General Washington. The night of September 21st, Hale was stopped by a group of Queen's Rangers while trying to cross back to the American side.

  The soldiers brought Hale to their headquarters. He was searched, and incriminating evidence was found on his person. Nathan was taken to General William Howe's residence, where he was questioned about his mission and name. Hale frankly admitted both. Howe condemned him to die by hanging at eleven the next morning. Hale was not given the benefit of a trial.

  The soldiers marched the young man to a greenhouse, where he spent the night. Hale requested a minister and a Bible, but both requests were denied. Early the next morning, Nathan was taken to a Colonel Montressor's tent. The British colonel offered him pen and paper, which he used to write letters to his mother and brother Enoch. However, both letters were destroyed.

  On September 22nd 1776, Hale was taken to the place of his execution and was hanged. He made a short, eloquent speech, ending with,

                                      "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

 

   During his life, Hale strove to follow God. He wanted to help his cause for independence, though it must have seemed in that last day that he had failed. However, he kept trusting the Father, and his spirit was calmed by heavenly reassurance. In his last words and death, Captain Nathan Hale did something he was not able to do in life -- inspire Americans to once again believe in their country. Hale was one of our first national heroes, admired by friend and foe alike. He should not be forgotten.