Pondering a patriot

NY Post ^ | September 22, 2011 | BECKY AKERS

[Pharmboy]

At first glance, he doesn’t seem to have much in common with 21st-century New Yorkers. He was one of 12 children born to farmers in Connecticut. He was fluent in Greek and Latin by age 14, when he enrolled at Yale. He graduated to teach school, including a class for girls that met at dawn. When revolution broke out two years later, he enlisted with the rebels. He was hanged for espionage 235 years ago today, near what’s now 66th Street and Third Avenue, when the British Army caught him spying on its plans to invade Manhattan. He was 21. But his last words outlived him: “I am so satisfied with the cause in which I have engaged,” said Capt. Nathan Hale, “that my only regret is that I have not more lives than one to offer in its service.”

Resolute: Nathan Hale being readied for execution.

That’s what a Boston newspaper reported a few years later. It was only long after that that one of Hale’s friends (whose talent for sound-bites might have taken him far in our world) trimmed it to “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” No one took dictation at the scaffold, so we’ll never know Hale’s exact words as the British Army executed him. But he’s far likelier to have talked about the “cause” of freedom than he was his “country.” The colonists didn’t think of themselves as a nation. They were citizens of the British Empire (or, as the revolution progressed, of their states). In that, they were remarkably similar to modern New Yorkers. King George III’s administration promised that, so long as Americans relinquished certain freedoms, the British Army would protect them. Sound familiar?

[Pharmboy]

Interesting footnote: It was Col. Rogers of the famous Rogers Rangers who suspected he was a spy and caught him. It has been said that he spotted the buckles on his shoes which did not match his "common-man's" outfit which gave him away.

[Pharmboy]

Although I usually do not post material relating to anniversaries or reenactments, I made a "keeper o' the list" prerogative exception today, the 235th anniversary of Mr. Hale's hanging. I often passed this plaque (below) as I walked home from work when I lived in Manhattan, and would leave flowers at its base when I was around town on July 4th. This is on the NW corner of 66th and Third. Now, near Bloomingdale's and Starbucks, this place little resembles the fortified clearing in the woods that it was in 1776.

The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list

Another footnote to history has it that General Washington--reluctant as he was to hang Major John André (the Brit spymaster who ran Benedict Arnold)--did hang him in part as retaliation for Hale's hanging.

[iowamark]

But he’s far likelier to have talked about the “cause” of freedom than he was his “country.” The colonists didn’t think of themselves as a nation. They were citizens of the British Empire (or, as the revolution progressed, of their states)

Hale was hanged 2 1/2 months after the Declaration of Independence, so it is quite possible that he referred to his country.

[Pharmboy]

Yes...good point; but also consider that while the DoI dissolved the bonds between the colonies and England, it was not the document that united them as a country. There was the Articles of Confederation, but that did not come into play until 1777 and was not ratified until '81.

Difficult to know what was in his head at the time, but you may very be right and the Patriots thought of the colonies united as their "country."

[ml/nj]

This is on the NW corner of 66th and Third. Now, near Bloomingdale's and Starbucks, this place little resembles the fortified clearing in the woods that it was in 1776.

Everything's near a Starbucks these days. Bloomingdale's is at 59th Street, or at least it was 40 years ago when I lived near there briefly. I never saw the sign.

ML/NJ

[NonValueAdded]

Interesting footnote: It was Col. Rogers of the famous Rogers Rangers who suspected he was a spy and caught him.

I did a double take on that one. Col. Rogers did indeed work for the Brits after his offer of service was rebuffed by Gen. Washington who feared Rogers was a spy. I learn something new every day here at Free Republic.

[Pharmboy]

I believe the plaque pictured was only placed there in the 1990s. There is an older one on 44th near the Yale Club put up by the DAR and the Yalies.

[Pharmboy]

...and General Washington was an incredible judge of character, so he may have been right, after all.

[ml/nj]

There is an older one on 44th near the Yale Club put up by the DAR and the Yalies.

Been to the Yale Club a bunch of times too. Never saw that one either.

ML/NJ

[Pharmboy]

NW corner of 44th and Vanderbilt:

The "near this site" is pushing it a bit...if near is about 1.5 miles, then OK.

[Pharmboy]

Well, the picture showed at first; but go here and you'll see it.

[colorado tanker]

Thanks, Pharmboy. This is such an inspirational story. The British should have realized what they were in for being up against men like this.

[colorado tanker]

The guy “preparing” Hale for execution sure looks like a weasel, doesn’t he?

[Pharmboy]

HA! The artist was undoubtedly one of our boys...

[rdl6989]

My esteem for Rogers Rangers just took a nosedive.

[NonValueAdded]

My esteem for Rogers Rangers just took a nosedive.

Make that just Rogers, please, and not all RRs. Rogers Rangers were active during the F&I War when we fought alongside the British against the common enemy. When the Revolution broke out, many of the RRs joined the Colonials and fought with great effect. Rogers was said to have offered his services to Washington and when rebuffed, joined up with the Brits to form the Queens Rangers and then the Kings Rangers. So Rogers had that Benedict Arnold thing going on ... good service then betrayal. Yeah, he's on my chit list now.

[rdl6989]

Thank you for clarifying that for me.

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks Pharmboy. Thanks, your "keeper o' the list prerogative" turns out to be transferable. :') To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[aculeus]

He was hanged for espionage 235 years ago today, near what’s now 66th Street and Third Avenue, when the British Army caught him spying on its plans to invade Manhattan.

Thanks for this. I lived on the upper east side for years but didn't know about this plaque.

Other UES trivia: York Avenue is named after Sergeant York of WW I fame. (It was Avenue A 'till then.)

[thefactor]

Hale's statue in front of City Hall in NYC: