Saturday, October 24, 2015

The Spy Nathan Hale...!

Often times we remember a quote from some famous person, but don't remember who that person was.

Nathan Hale is probably not very well known, but he often thought of as Americas first spy. Here is his story.

Nathan Hale 

Often dubbed “America’s first spy,” Nathan Hale was a Yale graduate who served in Knowlton’s Rangers, a short-lived Continental reconnaissance unit. When General George Washington’s forces became bottled up on Manhattan Island in September 1776, Hale volunteered for a mission to gather much-needed intelligence behind enemy lines. He was ferried across the Long Island Sound on September 16, slipped into the occupied town of Huntington and began surveying British fortifications and encampments while posing as a schoolmaster.

Hale was undoubtedly courageous, but according to most historians, he wasn’t a very skilled intelligence officer. It only took a few days before his suspicious questions drew attention from loyalist locals, and he later blew his cover after a British agent approached him in a tavern and pretended to be a fellow Patriot spy. Hale was arrested the next day and discovered to have incriminating documents concealed beneath the soles of his shoes. Charged as an illegal combatant, he was executed by hanging on the morning of September 22. According to legend, the 21-year-old patriot faced the gallows with “gentle dignity” before uttering the famous words, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”


Now do you remember who Nathan was? Like I said, we remember the quote, but often not the man.

Coffee out on the patio until the rain starts.

8 comments:

Chickenmom said...

A great American - we need more heroes like him now-a-days!

HermitJim said...

Hey Phyllis...
Too bad he wasn't as smart as he was brave.
Thanks for stopping by this morning!

Rob said...

I remember the quote, didn't know the story.
I've never been to Manhattan, I have the impression that it's ALL city now. George Washington & the army marching around there... Something more to go take a look at!

JO said...

I guess they didn't train them very well in those days. Poor guy.

Just finished setting up my new Straight Talk WiFi seems to work a lot better than Verizon at a lot less money.

Rob said...

I had to go take a look at Manhattan Island, https://goo.gl/maps/UCEo2UxQpR52 .
Is today's technology great or what?
Yep, I have a hard time picturing General Washington & his army here back in 1776.

Dizzy-Dick said...

Thanks for the history lesson. I am one of those who remembers the quote but not the history.

Anonymous said...

Well it can't have been easy to be the first one, not being able to learn from a more experienced spy but even I would have been more careful to be honest :-) :-)

Have a great day!

Christer.

HermitJim said...

Hey Rob...
Hard to imagine that New York and Manhattan were not joined by a bridge back then. How much we forget, right?
Thanks for coming over today!


Hey Jo...
I guess that he wasn't a natural spy. Probably too honest. Glad you got a good deal on wi-fi.
Thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!


Hey Dizzy...
I think that most of us fall into that category. I did until I read this article.
Thanks for coming by today!


Hey Christer...
Maybe he was just too young and anxious. Sure was a brave man, though.
Thanks for dropping by today!