15. Nathan Hale

Nathan Hale, a young man of twenty, had just graduated from Yale College, and was a school-teacher in Connecticut when the war of Independence began. At once he enlisted in the American army, saying, “Let us not lay down our arms till we have gained independence.” When General Washington moved his army from Boston to Brooklyn, Nathan Hale, early one morning, when it was darkest, rowed out with a few friends to an English supply ship and sailed it away from the man-of-war that was guarding it and brought it in safety to the American camp. For this brave deed he was promoted to become “Captain” Hale. Soon after this a call was made for a volunteer for a most dangerous service. The British held possession of the lower part of New York City, and were planning a further advance, and Washington greatly needed to know their plans. It was agreed to send a spy to get these. But who would volunteer? “I will undertake it,” said Captain Hale. He walked fifty miles up Long Island Sound, along the Connecticut shore and then rowed over to Long Island. Disguised as a traveling school-teacher, he visited all the English camps, making drawings and notes which he hid in his shoes. On his way back he was betrayed by a man who knew him, a traitor to the American cause. He was taken on board the English ship, carried back to New York and led before General Howe. The English general said: “You shall be pardoned and receive money and a fine position in the English army if you will give up the American cause.” He said, “I cannot turn against my country!” “Then you can die for her,” said the general, and sentenced him to die at daybreak. He listened to his sentence without a word, erect and fearless. At break of day the young spy, brave as a lion, faced his death without a tremor.

In City Hall Park, New York City, not far from the jail in which he was kept that last night, and as near as possible to the spot where he died, is the statue of this noble, young patriot-martyr, who in such heroic unselfishness laid down all he possessed for his country. Upon the statue you will read his last words: “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”