Post on 22-Jul-2020
WhereILive:Connecticut
WhereILiveCT.org ©ConnecticutExplored
StateHeroNathanHale
It’shardtoimaginewhatNathanHale’slastdayswerelike.Hewasjust21yearsoldwhenhedied.TheBritishhangedhimSeptember22,1776forspying.Itissaidthatathisexecution,hedeclared,“IonlyregretthatIhavebutonelifetoloseformycountry.”Heisrememberedforthesewordsofbravery,sacrifice,andpatriotism.
NathanHalewasbornin1755onafarminCoventry,Connecticut.Hewasthe6thof12brothersandsisters.Hisfirstschoolingwasbythelocalminister.In1769heandhisbrotherEnochweresenttoYaleCollegeinNewHaven.Enochwas16andNathanwas14.
Livinginacitywasanewexperienceforthetwobrothers.NewHavenwasbrimmingwithnewideas.Thosenewideasincludedrevolutionandthepossibilityofanewnation.NathanandEnochgraduatedin1773.Nathanwas18yearsold.
Nathantookajobteachinginaone-roomschoolhouseinEastHaddam.EastHaddamisontheConnecticutRiver.Bythe1750s,thetownhadmorethan2,000residents.Residentsmadetheirlivingbyfarming,shipbuilding,tanning,andblacksmithing.
Nathanmissedlivinginthecity.Afterayear,hetookanewteachingjobinNew
London.Hehad30malestudentsandtaughtaclassofgirlsduringthesummer.
Hewasofferedthepositionofmasterofaprivateschool.ButtheRevolutionaryWarbrokeout.ItwasApril1775.NathanwentwiththelocalmilitiatofightinBoston.Hewasnowarebelsoldier.Hebecamefirstlieutenantinthe7thConnecticutRegiment.
WhereILive:Connecticut
WhereILiveCT.org ©ConnecticutExplored
Bythefollowingspring,hewasinNewYorkCity.HisregimentwastryingtodefendthecityfromBritishattack.ByearlySeptember,theBritishcontrolledwesternLongIsland.Theyweregettingclose.GeneralGeorgeWashingtonneededtoknowwhentheBritishplannedtoattackNewYorkCity.Nathanwaspersuadedtogobehindenemylinestotrytofindouttheinformation.
NathanneededtogettoLongIslandwithoutbeingnoticed.HetravelledtoNorwalk,Connecticut.There,hefoundaboatthatwouldtakehimacrossLongIslandSound.Helefthisuniform,silvershoebuckles,andotherpossessionsbehind.Underthecoverofdarkness,hemadethecrossing.
Buthewastoolate.TheBritishinvadedNewYorkCityonSeptember15,1776.Thefollowingday,hewascapturedbytheBritishnearFlushingBay,LongIsland.HewasbroughtbeforeBritishGeneralWilliamHowe.Nathanstatedhisname,rank,andthepurposeofhismission.Hewasnotgivenatrial.GeneralHowesentencedhimtohangthenextday.
NathanspenthislastnightwithaBritishsoldiernamedJohnMontresor.CaptainMontresorwitnessedthehanging.Afterwards,Montresorwas
WhereILive:Connecticut
WhereILiveCT.org ©ConnecticutExplored
orderedtodeliveramessagefromGeneralHowetoGeneralWashington.HebroughtthenewsofNathan’scaptureanddeath.ItisthroughCaptainMontresorthatweknowofNathanHale’slasthours.HetoldofNathan’sdignity,devotiontothepatriotcause,andhislastwords,“IonlyregretthatIhavebutonelifetoloseformycountry.”
Thisarticleisbasedon:
“CaptainNathanHale,”byMaryJ.Ortner,Ph.D.,connecticutsar.org/captain-nathan-hale-1755-1776-2/
“NathanHale:IconofInnocence,”byMaryBethBaker,ConnecticutHistory,Spring2006
“TownHistory,”easthaddam.org/History-1756/