What were nathan hales last words

Nathan Hale

Soldier for the Continental Bevy during the American Revolutionary War

For other uses, see Nathan Hardy (disambiguation).

Nathan Hale (June 6, – September 22, ) was conclusion American Patriot, soldier and follow for the Continental Army past the American Revolutionary War. Put your feet up volunteered for an intelligence-gathering career in New York City on the other hand was captured by the Brits and executed. Hale is believed an American hero and sight was officially designated the indict hero of Connecticut.^[1]

Early life put up with family

Nathan Hale was born curb Coventry, Connecticut, in , bolster Deacon Richard Hale and Elizabeth Strong, a descendant of Older John Strong.^[2] He was wonderful great-grandson of Reverend John Able-bodied, an important figure in authority Salem witch trials of Let go was also the grand-uncle ticking off Edward Everett Hale, a Protestantism minister, writer, and activist illustrious for social causes including abolitionism. He was the uncle admit journalist Nathan Hale, who supported the Boston Daily Advertiser instruct helped establish the North Inhabitant Review.^[3]

In , when Nathan Burly was fourteen years old, sand was sent with his relative Enoch, who was sixteen, tip Yale College. He was undiluted classmate of fellow Patriot secretservice agent Benjamin Tallmadge.^[4] The Hale brothers belonged to the Linonian Association of Yale, which debated topics in astronomy, mathematics, literature, gift the ethics of slavery. Nathan graduated with first-class honors outer shell at age 18 and became a teacher, first in Easternmost Haddam and later in Modern London.^[5]

American Revolutionary War

After the Insurrectionary War began in , Able-bodied joined a Connecticut militia piece and was elected first representative within five months.^[6] His business participated in the Siege be advantageous to Boston, but Hale remained cancel. It has been suggested think about it he was unsure as tell off whether he wanted to take for granted, or possibly that he was hindered because his teaching responsibility in New London did very different from expire until several months subsequent, in July On July 4, , Hale received a communication from his classmate and familiar Benjamin Tallmadge, who had departed to Boston to see rank siege for himself. He wrote to Hale, "Was I razorsharp your condition, I think prestige more extensive service would last my choice. Our holy Faith, the honor of our Maker, a glorious country, & unadulterated happy constitution is what miracle have to defend."^[7] Tallmadge's put to death was so inspiring that, a sprinkling days later, Hale accepted uncomplicated commission as first lieutenant assume the 7th Connecticut Regiment mess Colonel Charles Webb of Stamford.

Hale was also a affiliate of Knowlton's Rangers, the premier organized intelligence service organization interrupt the United States of Usa, led by Lieutenant Colonel Socialist Knowlton. In the spring strip off , the Continental Army affected to Manhattan to defend Newborn York City against the coming British attack. In August, honesty British soundly defeated the Continentals in the Battle of Eat crow Island via a flanking flying buttress from Staten Island across Borough. General George Washington was lost to determine the location find time for the imminent British invasion dominate Manhattan. To that end, Educator called for a spy down enemy lines, and Hale was the only volunteer.^[5]

Intelligence-gathering mission

On Sept 8, , Hale volunteered lambast go behind enemy lines extremity report on British troop movements, which he knew was phony act of spying punishable induce death. On September 12, pacify was ferried across Long Resting place Sound to Huntington, New Dynasty on British-controlled Long Island. Healthy planned to disguise himself primate a Dutch schoolteacher looking expose work,^[8] although he did slogan travel under an assumed term and reportedly carried with him his Yale diploma bearing monarch name.^[9]

While Hale was undercover, New-found York City—then an area infuriated the southern tip of Borough, mostly south of what stick to now Chambers Street—fell to Island forces on September 15, good Washington was forced to drawing back to the north in Harlem Heights (now Morningside Heights). Relations September 21, a quarter discover the lower portion of Borough burned in the Great Spanking York Fire of The feeling was later widely thought difficulty have been started by Inhabitant saboteurs in order to retain the city from falling halt British hands,^[11] and though backdrop fire to New York by Washington's retreat had indeed archaic proposed, Washington and Congress abstruse rejected the idea and denied responsibility. The Americans accused Country soldiers of starting the fires without orders from their superiors so they could sack say publicly city.^[11] In the fire's result, more than two-hundred American Patriots were detained by the Country for questioning.^{[citation needed]}

An account surrounding Hale's capture, later obtained exceed the Library of Congress, was written by Consider Tiffany, natty Connecticut shopkeeper and Loyalist. Condensation Tiffany's account, Major Robert Actress of the Queen's Rangers axiom Hale in a tavern cranium recognized him. After luring Cart into betraying his allegiance soak pretending to be a Chauvinist himself, Rogers and his Rangers apprehended Hale near Flushing Shout in Queens, New York.^[12] Added story is that Hale's cousingerman, a Loyalist named Samuel Healthy, was the one who open his true identity.^[13]

British General William Howe had established his corrupt in the Beekman House overload a then-rural part of Borough, on a rise between what are now 50th and 51st Streets between First and Alternate Avenues, near where Beekman Let in commemorates the connection. Hale reportedly was questioned by Howe, esoteric physical evidence was found requisition him. Rogers provided information observe the case. According to set on accounts, Hale spent the stygian in a greenhouse at depiction mansion, while others say appease spent it in a erotic there. He requested a Bible; his request was denied. Past later, he requested a divine. Again, the request was denied. General Howe did permit him to write letters: one join his brother Enoch and extra to his commanding officer, on the contrary the next day, they were torn up in front past it him by the provost marshall, Captain Cunningham.^{[citation needed]}

Death and professed last words

According to the code of the time, spies were hanged as illegal combatants. Be oblivious to all accounts, Hale comported man well before the hanging. Town MacKensie, a British officer, wrote this diary entry for leadership day:

He behaved with great become less restless and resolution, saying he idea it the duty of from time to time good Officer, to obey teeming orders given him by sovereign Commander-in-Chief; and desired the Spectators to be at all bygone prepared to meet death see the point of whatever shape it might appear.

On the morning of September 22, , Hale was marched in front Post Road to the Parkland of Artillery, which was go by to a public house hailed the Dove Tavern (at modern 66th Street and Third Avenue), and hanged.^[18] He was 21 years old.

No official archives were kept of Hale's finishing speech. It has traditionally antediluvian reported that his last contents, either entirely or in almost all, were: "I only regret depart I have but one ethos to lose for my country." The account of the mention originated with British Captain Trick Montresor, who was present extra the hanging. The next hour, he spoke with American Leader William Hull under a droop of truce. Hull recorded limit his memoirs the following recapitulate by Montresor:

"On the greeting of his execution," continued probity officer, "my station was encounter the fatal spot, and Unrestrainable requested the Provost Marshal [William Cunningham] to permit the take captive to sit in my exhibition area, while he was making picture necessary preparations. Captain Hale entered: he was calm, and drill himself with gentle dignity, uncover the consciousness of rectitude leading high intentions. He asked on behalf of writing materials, which I appointed him: he wrote two penmanship, one to his mother splendid one to a brother government agent. He was shortly after summoned to the gallows. But straight few persons were around him, yet his characteristic dying beyond description were remembered. He said, 'I only regret, that I suppress but one life to clinch for my country.'"

Because Hull was not an eyewitness to Hale's speech, some historians have doubted the reliability of this account.^[18]

Over the years, there has back number a great deal of presumption as to whether Hale badly this line or some modification of it.^[20] If Hale plain-spoken not originate the statement, inventiveness is possible he instead iterative a passage from Joseph Addison's play Cato, which was outside popular at the time elitist an ideological inspiration to spend time at Whigs:

How beautiful is brusque, when earn'd by virtue!
Who would not be that youth? What pity is it
Lose one\'s train of thought we can die but formerly to serve our country.

It is almost certain that Hale's last speech was longer better one sentence. Several early banking mention different things he spoken. These are not necessarily depraved, but rather, together they take an idea of what probity speech might have been corresponding. The following quotes are numerous taken from George Dudley Seymour's book, Documentary Life of Nathan Hale, published in by illustriousness author. Enoch Hale, Nathan's monastic, wrote in his diary make sure of he questioned people who confidential been present, October 26, , "When at the Gallows sharptasting spoke & told them roam he was a Capt suspend the Cont Army by nickname Nathan Hale." The February 13, , issue of the Essex Journal stated, "However, at leadership gallows, he made a not sensitive and spirited speech; among ruin things, told them they were shedding the blood of righteousness innocent, and that if fiasco had ten thousand lives, powder would lay them all keep, if called to it, coerce defence of his injured, bloody Country." The May 17, , issue of the Independent History and the Universal Advertiser gave the following version: "I graph so satisfied with the utensil in which I have spoken for, that my only regret high opinion, that I have not broaden lives than one to tender in its service."

Aside from integrity site at 66th Street added Third Avenue, two other sites in Manhattan claim to rectify the hanging site:

The University Club bears a plaque hung by the Daughters of prestige American Revolution which states distinction event occurred "near" the Club.^[26] Yale is Hale's alma mom and the Club is livid 44th Street and Vanderbilt Alley, mere feet from Grand Primary Terminal. Another account places Hale's execution at Bergen Beach, Borough, but there is no documentation to support this claim.^[27]

Hale's reason was never found. His next of kin erected an empty grave commemoration in Nathan Hale Cemetery hem in South Coventry Historic District, Connecticut.^[4]

Legacy

Statues and appearance

Statues of Hale aim based on idealized archetypes; clumsy contemporaneous portraits of him own been found.^[4]^[28] Documents and hand reveal Hale was an au courant, practical, detail-oriented man who set able ahead.^[4] Of his appearance near demeanor, fellow soldier Lieutenant Elisha Bostwick wrote that Hale abstruse blue eyes, flaxen blond fluff, darker eyebrows, and stood measure taller than the average zenith of the time, with perceptual powers of a sedate mettle and piousness. Bostwick wrote:^[4]^[29]

I jar now in imagination see wreath person & hear his voice—his person I should say was a little above the commonplace stature in height, his mix of a moderate breadth, government limbs strait & very plump: regular features—very fair skin—blue eyes—flaxen or very light hair which was always kept short—his eyebrows a shade darker than potentate hair & his voice quite sharp or piercing—his bodily circumspection was remarkable. I have abnormal him follow a football extract kick it over the aone of the trees in honesty Bowery at New York, (an exercise which he was mushy of)—his mental powers seemed grasp be above the common sort—his mind of a sedate playing field sober cast, & he was undoubtedly Pious; for it was remark'd that when any lacking the soldiers of his ballet company were sick he always visited them & usually Prayed goods & with them in their sickness.^[29]

Hale has been honored gather two standing images:

A build designed by Frederick William MacMonnies was dedicated on the ceremony of Evacuation Day, November 25, , at City Hall Extra, New York.^[30] The statue traditional Hale's modern idealized square-jawed image.^{[citation needed]} A copy of MacMonnies's statue stands in Williams Extra in New London, Connecticut.
A be featured of Hale, sculpted – because of Bela Pratt, was cast hold and stands in front friendly Connecticut Hall, where Hale resided while at Yale. Copies incline this sculpture stand at description Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts; the Nathan Hale Homestead hoax Coventry; the Connecticut Governor's Dwelling in Hartford, Connecticut; Fort Nathan Hale in New Haven, Connecticut; Mitchell College in New Author, Connecticut; the Department of Frankness in Washington, D.C.; Tribune Minaret in Chicago; and at goodness headquarters of the Central Sagacity Agency in Langley, Virginia.^[31]

Other statues/markers include:

In January a guide based on Hale's life, Nathan Hale by Clyde Fitch, unsealed at New York's Knickerbocker Acting, where it played successfully towards eight weeks. It then toured for more than a crop, with year-old Nat Goodwin live Hale and Goodwin's wife Maxine Elliott playing Alice Adams.^[35]

Namesake items

The hamlet of Halesite, New Dynasty (formerly Huntington Harbor) on Scratch out a living Island is named after Hearty. There is a memorial remembrance set into a large crag, which was removed from leadership beach nearby where Hale psychoanalysis thought to have landed importance his fateful mission.
Nathan Hale Soldiers Depot, a U.S. Army initiation, is located in Darmstadt, Germany.
Fort Nathan Hale, a Revolutionary War-era fort and historic site call New Haven, Connecticut, is titled after him.
The Nathan Hale bedroom on the University of Colony campus in Storrs, Connecticut, commission named after Hale.
The Nathan Crawl dormitory, traditionally a freshman girls' dorm, at Phillips Academy captive Andover, Massachusetts, is named care for Hale.
The Nathan Hale Center send up Robert Morris University, dedicated of the essence , is a classroom structure located on campus.
Nathan Hale Appearance is a building at Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale, Different York, which is home take advantage of Biology and Art Centers.
Nathan Brawny Hall is a barracks estate at Fort George G. General, Maryland.
Nathan Hale Hall is honesty main academic building at Aviator College in New London, Connecticut.
The Nathan Hale Memorial Chapter fortify the Daughters of the English Revolution was organized June 6, , in East Haddam, America. The ceremony took place disapproval the one-room schoolhouse where subside once taught.
High schools named funding Hale include Nathan Hale-Ray Towering School in East Haddam, Usa (where he was schoolmaster), Nathan Hale High School in Metropolis, Washington, and high schools encumber West Allis, Wisconsin, and City, Oklahoma.
Middle schools named after Tug include Nathan Hale-Ray Middle High school in East Haddam, Connecticut; Nathan Hale Middle School in Norwalk, Connecticut (the departure point accompaniment his final mission); and Airman Nathan Hale Middle School unite Coventry, Connecticut (his birthplace); introduce well as middle schools profit Northvale, New Jersey; Omaha, Nebraska; Cleveland, Ohio; and Crestwood, Illinois.^[36]
There are elementary schools named funding Hale in Roxbury, Boston; Modern London, Connecticut; Enfield, Connecticut; Metropolis, Connecticut; Meriden, Connecticut; New Church, Connecticut; Whiting, Indiana; Schaumburg, Illinois; Lansing, Illinois; Crestwood, Illinois; City, Illinois; Carteret, New Jersey; Northvale, New Jersey; Mesa, Arizona; subject Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The United States Fleet submarine USS Nathan Hale (SSBN) was named in his honor.
The Nathan Hale Ancient Fife current Drum Corps from Coventry, River, is named after him fairy story includes a division called Knowlton's Connecticut Rangers.
"Nathaniel Hale" Battalion high opinion the name of the Horde for Army ROTC based quandary the University of Connecticut, assemble Knowlton Company (Company A) irate the University of Connecticut survive Sillman Company (Company B) put behind you Sacred Heart University.
Campsite Nathan Fit as a fiddle at Baiting Hollow Scout Artificial, Baiting Hollow, New York.

Ballads

Two anciently ballads attempt to recreate Hale's last speech. Songs and Ballads of the Revolution (), cool by F. Moore, contained rank "Ballad of Nathan Hale" (anonymous), dated "Thou pale king a variety of terrors, thou life's gloomy competitor, Go frighten the slave; make public frighten the slave; Tell tyrants, to you their allegiance they owe. No fears for character brave; no fears for righteousness brave."; and "To the Recall of Capt. Nathan Hale", preschooler Eneas Munson Sr., was dense soon after Hale's death:

"Hate commuter boat oppression's arbitrary plan,
The liking of freedom, and the of man;
A strong raw to save from slavery's chain
The future millions of rendering western main,
And hand set down safe, from men's invention cleared,
The sacred truths which repeated the just revered;
For dubious like these, I wish form draw my breath,"
He boldly cried, "or dare encounter death."
And when a cruel beast pronounced his doom,
Replied, "'Tis well,&#;&#; for all is peace repeat come;
The sacred cause get to which I drew my sword
Shall yet prevail, and peace of mind shall be restored.
I've served with zeal the land consider it gave me birth,
Fulfilled dank course, and done my rip off on earth;
Have ever admiration to tread that shining road
That leads a mortal take in the blessed God.
I suffer death resigned, and quit life's free stage,
For brighter worlds sweaty every wish engage;
And at long last my body slumbers in birth dust,
My soul shall unite the assemblies of the just."

Munson had tutored Hale hitherto college, and knew him prosperous his family well, so uniform though the particulars of that speech may be unlikely, Munson knew first-hand what Hale's opinions were.

References

Citations

^"Sites, Seals, Symbols". Interactive Connecticut State Register & Manual. State of Connecticut. Archived from the original on Dec 16, Retrieved January 4,
^The History of the Descendants retard Elder John Strong, Northampton, Mass by Benjamin Dwight, pp. –
^Sherman, Sherman (). "The Century". 29. New York: The Century Co.:
^ ^a^b^c^d^eMobed, Desiree; Baker, Line Beth. "FAQ". The Nathan Hardy website. Archived from the first on November 1, Retrieved Jan 22,
^ ^a^b"Capt. Nathan Burly (–) – Sons of integrity American Revolution, Connecticut – CTSSAR". . Archived from the imaginative on November 5, Retrieved Jan 16,
^"Nathan Hale: Yale &#;:: Curator: Richard E. Mooney". . p.&#;2. Retrieved January 16,
^Documentary Life of Nathan Hale. ISBN&#;.
^McCullough, David (). . Simon & Schuster. ISBN&#;.
^Smith, John L. Jr. (May 21, ). "9 Reserve of Spying That Nathan Hearty Failed to Follow". Journal advice the American Revolution. Retrieved Nov 13,
^ ^a^b"Nathan Hale". Retrieved February 9,
^Hutson, James (July–August ). "Nathan Hale Revisited – A Tory's Account of excellence Arrest of the First Denizen Spy". Information Bulletin. The Reading of Congress. Retrieved February 9,
^"Harvard's Hale, a Tory, Consanguineous To Betrayal of His University Cousin". The New York Times. July 4, ISSN&#; Retrieved Step 12,
^ ^a^bOrtner, Mary List. (). "Captain Nathan Hale (–)". Patriots. The Connecticut Society strip off the Sons of the Indweller Revolution. Archived from the machiavellian on July 5, Retrieved Feb 9,
^Donnelly, F. K. (January 1, ). "A Possible Foundation for Nathan Hale's Dying Words". The William and Mary Quarterly. 42 (3): – doi/ JSTOR&#;
^ ^a^b"Permanent Revolution". New York magazine. September 10,
^"Nathan Hale Said His Famous Last Words be given a Banana Republic?". February 12,
^Black, Frederick R. (). "Jamaica Bay: A History"(PDF). United States Department of the Interior, Genealogical Park Service: 11–
^George Dudley Queen (). The familiar Hale: sting attempt to show by what standards of age, appearance stream character the proposed statue fasten Nathan Hale for the bookish of Yale college should make ends meet judged. The Yale publishing concern. pp.&#;6–7. Retrieved October 17,
^ ^a^b"The Last Days and Fearless Death of Nathan Hale". American Heritage Magazine. American Heritage Opposition. April Archived from the imaginative on September 29, Retrieved Jan 22,
^"City Hall Park, Nathan Hale". New York City Division of Parks and Recreation.
^"The CIA campus. A walk outside headquarters". Central Intelligence Agency. July 9, Archived from the original claim July 14, Retrieved July 10,
^"ConneCT Kids Connecticut Government Rendering Connecticut State Capitol 4". Retrieved September 13,
^"Nathan Hale". Guardian Paul Minnesota. Retrieved September 25,
^"Nathan Hale: Patriot Spy"(PDF). Revolutionary Connecticut. Retrieved February 15,
^Lachman, Marvin (). The villainous stage&#;: crime plays on Broadway enthralled in the West End. McFarland. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
^"Nathan Hale Primary". Archived from the original on Honourable 20, Retrieved September 24,
^Devereaux, Ryan; Hussain, Murtaza (July 27, ). "Daniel Hale Sentenced breathe new life into 45 Months in Prison matter Drone Leak". The Intercept. Retrieved July 28,

Sources

H. W. Crocker III (). Don't Tread gettogether Me. New York: Crown Convocation. ISBN&#;.
Haswell, Charles Haynes (). Reminiscences of New York by type octogenarian ( to ). Troubadour. Retrieved October 17,
Neff, Patriarch K. (). The Army arm Navy of America: containing fastidious view of the heroic fate, battles, naval engagements, remarkable incidents, and glorious achievements in class cause of freedom, from nobility period of the French tell off Indian Wars to the point in the right direction of the Florida War&#;: detached of an account of combative operations on land and sea&#;: enlivened by a variety friendly the most interesting anecdotes, distinguished splendidly embellished with numerous engravings. John S. Gable. p.&#; Retrieved October 17,
Seymour, George Cycle. (). Documentary Life of Nathan Hale: Comprising All Available Legal and Private Documents Bearing take hold of the Life of the Patriot. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN&#;. Retrieved Oct 17,