Nathan Hale

I figured I’d now get to one of the original points of this blog. To share some stories from history, and ask for critique on them. Please remember as you read this that I typed it as I will present it to shooters. Any advice you can offer is more then welcome.

 

 

 

Has anyone here ever heard the quote, “I regret I have but one life to give for my country?”

Well, behind every quote, there is a story. The story of the circumstances, and the man who said it. And behind a quote like that, well, that man must be a hero.

This man, this hero, his name is Nathan Hale.

Nathan was born in 1755 to Richard and Elizabeth. He lived in Coventry, Connecticut until he was 13, at which point he was sent to the still-fledgling Yale College.  He belonged to the literary fraternity, and graduated in 1773 with full honors.

He sought a career as a teacher in New London. He soon joined a militia unit, and was elected first lieutenant.

In late April, a rider came to New London, his horse bathed in sweat. I think we all know what news he carried.

A town meeting was called. Hale was among the first to speak. His reported words at this meeting were: “Let us march immediately, and never lay down our arms until we obtain our independence.” The next morning, he gathered his students.

But not for class. He gave them counsel to make up their own minds about the war, bid them farewell, and marched with his unit to Boston.

They arrived too late for the battle of Bunker Hill, but were among those trained by Washington through the first winter.

Turns out, Hale had some talent for war, especially guerilla warfare.

He led some members of his company on an unauthorized attack on the British Frigate Phoenix. He set fire to the frigate and took some valuable equipment. The fire was stopped, but they still made off with a couple of longboats and four cannon. Washington was impressed, and instead of discipline, Hale was promoted.

It should probably be noted that the frigate sunk two weeks later, a few days before Hale left the area.

He was transferred to a special corps called Knowlton’s rangers, under the command of Colonel Knowlton. They specialized in unconventional warfare.

The rangers performed many valiant actions. However, at their first battle, a great victory against a numerically superior force (despite the loss of their commanding officer), Hale was not present.

Why, you may ask?

Well, a week previous, Washington was a desperate man. He had no information about the enemy’s plans.

It should be noted at this point the penalty for spying was hanging.

He asked Col. Knowlton, as he had some pretty decent intelligence operatives. Washington wanted volunteers only. Knowlton called upon the, all of them. He told them of the proposed mission, and asked for a volunteer. Silence.

He personally approached an NCO, a Frenchman he had a very high opinion of. This Frenchman said, “I will be shot, but not hanged”. Nathan Hale walked in at this time, having been late to the meeting due to sickness.

He said, “I will undertake it.”

After this meeting, William Hall, a college classmate of Hale’s, and then a major-general, tried to talk him out of it. Hull told him, ” that it was not in the line of his duty, and that he was of too frank and open a temper to act successfully the part of a spy, or to face its dangers, which would probably lead to a disgraceful death.” Hale replied, “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.”

He left for his mission, taking his college diploma, hoping to establish a cover as a teacher

He did pass some apparently valuable intelligence back to Washington. However, it is not known how valuable this information was.

He did this successfully for about a month. As he was making his way back to Colonial holdings, and therefore safety, he was captured by a British Patrol, who searched him and found some incriminating documents that he had left on his person.

He was sent to New York, and set to be hanged the next morning with no trial.

On the day of the execution, Hale asked for a bible, and was refused. He was given writing materials, and wrote letters to his mother and brother, which were immediately destroyed.

Despite the repeated humiliations, he was reported to compose himself with great dignity and poise thoughout.

As the noose was put around his neck, he was asked If he had any last words. He first extolled the audience to investigate further the British Cause, and make sure their commitment, and to be ready for death, in whatever form it may come. He then asked them if they would have any regrets when their time came.

Accounts vary on what he said next, as his very last words.

The version I prefer follows.

He raised his head, looked the audience in the eyes, and said:

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 its service.