Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1876 — Nathan Hale, the Spy. [ARTICLE]

Nathan Hale, the Spy.

One hundred years ago to-day Nathan Hale was hanged by British soldiers in this city. The facts concerning his mission, his capture and his execution are well known to readers of American histoiy, but it may not be amiss to recall them now. Nathan Hale was a native of South Coventry, Conn., where his father, Hrchard Hale, wired a large family. From his an employment which w-as congenial toj i iis studious habits. He was but twentjM rears old when the Revolution b<Uf, his patriotism soon led him to thewt’c®iß nental army, in w'hich he soon Captain. After the battle of Long Island, I tataKg HorinatiK c ffir‘ ( ‘ ri ffiUW lLe ß all f | Of Be eßny, iui®h|K HaMwonhrß red Buikerow stßice.’yile lefcthd camß aratMWßMWout the middle wrrtep(ember, 1776, accompanied by a friend,

and soon reanhed Norwalk, where lav a ithen parted with Ins friend, whose name disguise assumed by the young spy was this commission, and also his shoe-buckles sloop reached Huntingdon, and Hale was immediately rowed ashore. Hajiandefl a place called The Cedars &M Hmranred all night. Next day he moved on to this citetowhictaite llßlie&sin<d for several, days, anti jot down hjg <feert*tii®s, wl® ■ sir Hi of wfitin. hut iflfirposK h e jfjfced 1& Rh ■ t St >okIvnfandmabn whence he If ptmd W UiteftuWmr Hwwax, Wpt. QuWWF happened cruising in . that neighborhoqd.apda boat's crew was observation. Hale »d was taken Vfiefc JH.JK. recognized by an American renegade. Sowed whose headquarters were in the Beekman wfeurn stroyed, was then called Mount Pleasant, »nd was for stqucfr pre of note in tKuflallay* prisoner was subjected to the form of a jourt-martial. The Latin noOdte&lfegig discovered, and his manly afffwkr of Tnf Marshal Cunningham. The trial took place on the 21st of September, a day long remembered because of the great Are. It broke out in Whitehall, and extended up Broadway as far as the Park, destroying four hundred and ninety-three houses. That night, the last that Nathan Hale spent on earth, was passed in the provost jail. This building is still in existence, and having been thoroughly reconstructed is now the Hall of Records. Cunningham, the Provost Marshal, was notorious for his brutality. He was a British dragoon, who came hither before the; revolution, and fulfilled his office throughout the war in the most cruel manner. Hale asked for writing materials, in order to send a farewell letter home, but his request was refused. A young officer interceded and obtained the object of his request, but the letter was afterward destroyed. During that night, when the city was apparently doomed, the young patriot remained in durance, and the next morning, the 22d of September, 1776, Cunningham led him forth to his fate. At that time Chambers streete-then called Barrack street—contained an old burial ground, which extended from Broadway almost to what is now Center street. In this burial ground, not far from the present site of A. T. Stewart & Co.’s warehouse, the gallows was erected, and there Nathan Hale suffered death, leaving as his last words that oft quoted regret, which breathes the noblest patriotism: “ I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” He was buried near the gallows, and, as the grave had no distinctive mark, all traces of the spot were lost. Hale’s companion carried to the homestead at South Coventry the campbook and camp-basket, as well as other memorials of 'the young hero, and could never refer to the sad event without weeping. In 1837 an association was formed in South Coventry for the purpose of erecting a suitable monument, and nine years afterward it was finished. It is fourteen feet, square at the base, and being forty-five feet high is a vary notable feature in the cemetery.

fate waa equally tragic. This man was John Andre, who started from that noted AiBF SnolßKle have mGKs of Storieal codKctionMp'hey wugLthe m«B remarkable mlr whBE histoity UientioJai. having of WH spy. When Andre waWßßil HT* asked the officer what would be the probable consequences, and tlie reply was eaasswfe motive. In the other we behold the sublime devotion of a noble-hearted youth who so loved his country that one life was too small a sacrifice for her welfare.—AT. Y. Evening Post, Sept. 22.