General George Washington asks for a volunteer for an extremely dangerous mission: to gather intelligence behind enemy lines before the coming Battle of Harlem Heights. Captain Nathan Hale of the 19th Regiment of the Continental Army stepped forward and subsequently become one of the first known American spies of the Revolutionary War.
”Nathan Hale reveiving order from George Washington"
Disguised as a Dutch schoolmaster, the Yale University-educated Hale slipped behind British lines on Long Island and then successfully gathered information about British troop movements for the next several weeks. While Hale was behind enemy lines, the British invaded the island of Manhattan; they took control of the city on September 15, 1776. When the city was set on fire on September 20, 1776, British soldiers were put on high alert for sympathizers to the Patriot cause. The following evening, on September 21, 1776, Hale was captured while sailing Long Island Sound, trying to cross back into American-controlled territory.
Hale was interrogated by British General William Howe and, when it was discovered that he was carrying incriminating documents, General Howe ordered his execution for spying, which was set for the following morning. After being led to the gallows, legend holds that Hale was asked if he had any last words and that he replied with these now-famous words, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” There is no historical record to prove that Hale actually made this statement, but, if he did, he may have been inspired by these lines in English author Joseph Addison’s 1713 play Cato: “What a pity it is/That we can die but once to serve our country.”
”This is Don Troiani's depiction just before the hanging. While some authors contend Hale was hung at about 66th St. & First Ave., a British officer states he was hung in front of the Royal Artillery Park. Period British maps prove this was at Turtle Bay (present 45th St.) just South of Howe's Headquarters in the Beekman House and across from the Dove Tavern at the fourth mile marker. The British had pre war artillery magazines established at the Turtle Bay site so this makes a great deal of sense. The British uniforms, clothing and every other possible detail have been intensively studied, even the Beekman House in the distant back ground"
”njpatriots.com"
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