nathanhale1

CTSSAR Captain Nathan Hale 250th Birthday - Revolutionary War Weekend - June 4 - 5, 2005
Nathan Hale Schoolhouse - East Haddam, Connecticut

Captain Nathan Hale 250

" I wish to be useful,
and every kind of
service, necessary to
the public good,
becomes honorable by
being necessary."

- Nathan Hale, 1776

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

- Nathan Hale
September 22, 1776

Nathan Hale - One of the first published notices of Hale appears in the following
extract from the Boston Chronicle as reprinted in the London Remembrancer in
1782. After noticing the consideration paid to Andre the writer procedeeds:
"But while we pay the debt of humanity to our enemies, let us not forget what we
owe to our friends. About four years ago, Captain Hale, an American Officer, of
a liberal education, younger then Andre, and equal to him in sense, fortitude, and
every manly accomplishment, though without opportunities of being so highly
polished, voluntarily went into the city of New York, with a view to serve his
invaded Country. He performed his part there with great capacity and address, but
was accidentally discovered. In this trying circumstance he exhibited all the
firmness of Andre, without the aid of a single countenance around him that spoke
either respect or compassion, and though every thing that was said or done to him
was adopted to make him feel that he was considered as a traitor and a rebel.
Andre appeared great in not contesting the clear grounds upon which he was
condemned, and in refusing to employ the absurd and frivolous pleas that Clinton
would have put into his mouth. Hale, though not at all disconcerted, made no plea
for himself, and firmly rejected the advantageous offers made him by the enemy
upon condition of his entering into their service. Andre earnestly wished the mode
of his death might have been more like that of a soldier; but cosoled himself by
observing, that in either way it would be 'but a moment's pang'. Hale, calm and
collected, took no notice of either of those circumstances. Andre as he was going
to die, with great presence of mind and the most engaging air, bowed to all around
him, and returned the respect that had been and was still paid to him; and said:
'Gentlemen, you will bear witness that I die with the firmness becoming a soldier'.
Hale had received no such respects, and had none to return; but just before he
expired, said, aloud : 'I am so satisfied with the cause in which I have engaged, that
my only regret is , that I have not more lives than one to offer in it's service.'"

- Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the War of the Revolution, 1889.

"Nathan Hale, a Cap't in ye Rebel Army, & a spy
was taken by Maj'r Rogers & this m'g hang'd. . . . .
- Diary of Captain William Bamford, 40th Regt. of Foot

BACK TO MAIN
PAGE

The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
www.connecticutSAR.org
Connecticut's #1 Source on the American Revolution