“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country,” are
the famous last words of Captain Nathan Hale before the British
hanged him as a spy in 1776. How did this 21-year old Connecticut
schoolteacher and farmer’s son end up as one of America’s first
undercover agents? Here is a brief biography and some fun facts
about this brave American. Try the spycraft activities to see what
it was like to be an 18th-century spy.

Fun Facts: Did you know that Nathan . . .

· Was a good athlete. He could kick a ball as high as the
tallest trees, jump over fences as high as he was tall (he was about
six feet tall), and set a broad jump record at Yale College.

· Was one of ten brothers and sisters.

· Had his silhouette drawn onto the back of a door in his
home. It is still there today!

· Believed that girls should get educated like boys.
(Back then people didn’t believe girls needed much schooling. What
do you think?)

· Paid his soldiers out of his own pay so they would stay
in the army.

· Took his last words from a popular play of the day.

· Kept a diary and wrote lots of letters to friends and
family. There was no e-mail back then.

· Had some interesting family stories. For instance his
great grandmother had been accused of being a witch during the Salem
Witch Trials of 1692.

· Is the official hero of his home state, Connecticut.

Here’s more of Nathan’s story:

Nathan Hale was born on a big farm in Coventry, Connecticut on June
6, 1755. He had seven brothers and two sisters; two other children
died at birth. His mother died shortly after the birth of the 12th
child when Nathan was 11 years old. Nathan’s family included a lot
of ministers and colonial leaders.

Growing up on a farm Nathan helped with the chores and spent a lot
of time hunting, fishing, and swimming. His family was very
religious so Sundays were spent in church. Nathan went to school at
the local minister’s house to learn Latin, Greek and the 3 R’s
(Reading, Writing and Arithmetic).

At 14 he and his older brother went to Yale College. Nathan
graduated at 18, became a schoolteacher, and loved it. Both of his
schoolhouses (in East Haddam and New London) are still standing.
Nathan was a very popular teacher, different from other teachers of
his day. For one thing Nathan believed in rewarding students who
did well. He also believed that girls should be educated. He
opened a class for girls but they had to get there at five in the
morning! Would you get up to go to school so early?

When war broke out between the colonies and Great Britain, Nathan
decided to leave his teaching job in order to join the army. Nathan
believed that fighting for his country was very important.
He was commissioned a first lieutenant. Junior officers in Nathan’s
day were responsible for finding men to enlist in the army.

Nathan’s family also helped dress his soldiers. In Nathan’s account
book he mentions receiving several pairs of knitted stockings (socks
up to the knees) made by his sister.

Nathan’s unit was moved to Boston and then to New York in the spring
of 1776. He was promoted to captain. While stationed in New York,
Nathan went on one or more trips through Long Island. His purpose
was unknown but we do know that Gen. George Washington was concerned
with the British recruitment of American Loyalists. If the British
had done a better job winning Americans to their side we might not
have won the war.

That summer Nathan was chosen as one of four captains in the select
regiment known as “Knowlton’s Rangers.” One of the duties of the
Rangers was (and still is today) the very dangerous job of
reconnaissance – getting information behind enemy lines. After the
Battle of Long Island in August, Washington thought his army could
be totally defeated if he didn't get good information about the
British army. For this job, a volunteer ranger was asked to spy on
the British troops.

Carrying his Yale diploma and using the cover of a schoolmaster,
Nathan crossed into enemy lines in early September of 1776. Many
people have wondered why Nathan would have carried papers that said
who he was. This may have been part of the plan. To prove someone
was a spy in those days he or she had to be using a fake name. It
also may have been Nathan's decision not to lie if caught. According
to various accounts, when Nathan was caught he did admit who he was
and what he had been doing. He was also carrying notes about the
British army, which would have made him look like a spy.

No one knows exactly where in New York Nathan was caught. He was
hanged in New York City the very next morning after his arrest. The
date was September 22, 1776. Nathan's body was later thrown into an
unmarked grave. To this day we do not know where he is buried.

According to a newspaper story of the day, Nathan's cousin Samuel
Hale turned him in. Samuel was serving with the British army in New
York. However, there is no evidence of this. Another legend tells
the story of the mean British soldier who had charge of Nathan. His
name was William Cunningham. According to the story, Provost
Marshall Cunningham refused to let Nathan have a Bible or talk with
a minister before his execution. Nathan was given pen and paper to
write to his family but the letters were taken by Cunningham and
torn up. "The Rebels should never know that they had a man who could
die with such firmness," Cunningham is supposed to have said.

We are not sure if these stories are true. There were no TV cameras
in those days recording what people said and did. But we do know
that when Nathan was taken to the gallows, he was very brave. He
made a speech about serving one's country. A British officer who was
there later told some of Nathan's words to his friend, William Hull.
"I only regret that I have but
one life to lose for my country."

Spycraft Activities

Eighteenth-century spies used invisible ink, secret codes and
ciphers to pass information. Words and letters would be substituted
for others so the enemy couldn’t read the message. As a spy it
would be important not to lose the answer key! The following code
was actually used by Gen. George Washington’s spies. See if you can
use the code to decipher the following statements about Nathan Hale.
For example, in Nathan’s day America was part of 745. 745 stands
for England. Nathan’s name in code would be pevbep.


Use of Means Use ofMeans Use ofMeans

680Wareapn
356Lettersfbqo
711General Washingtongcrp
727New Yorkhdk q
616SeptemberieLr
745Englandjfus
286Inkagvt
728Long Islandbhwu
73Campcixv
178Enemydjyw
336Juneokzx
mLsy
nmtz

1. Nathan was born on 336 6, 1755 in gqxipvls.
2. He died in 616 of 1776.
3. At that time we were at 680 with the British.
4. Before joining the army Nathan was a viegbil.
5. He was considered to have very good bephylcvcpa.
6. In those days people wrote 356 with a kwcmm rip and
286.
7. Nathan loved to lieh and play sports..
8. He was hanged by the 178.
9. Nathan is buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in
727.
10. Nathan is remembered for regretting that he had but one
mcji to mqui for his country.

More Spycraft

In addition to writing secret messages with codes, spies used
invisible ink to conceal their words. Lemon juice or milk were
popular choices. Try writing a message with a thin paintbrush or
quill pen then hold your message over a light bulb or candle and
watch your message reappear.

You can mail your secret message to the Nathan Hale Homestead. If
we can decipher it we will write back to you. Our address is 2299
South Street, Coventry, CT 06238

To make your own quill pen you will need a large feather and a very
sharp knife. Large feathers can be purchased in craft stores.
(Please do not pick up feathers outdoors). Soak the tip for about
15 minutes to soften it. Then ask an adult to help you cut the tip
into a point with a knife. Then cut a small slit in the center.
Ink was often made from berries. Try squeezing some strawberries
and mix the juice with a little salt and vinegar to make a nice red
ink.

Colonial Fare

What did Nathan Hale eat -- probably a lot of Hasty Pudding. This
dish appeared on many a colonial table several times a day. The
song “Yankee Doodle” makes reference to it in the line “As thick as
Hasty Pudding.”
Here’s one recipe
6 cups of boiling water
1 Tablespoon of salt
1 cup of yellow cornmeal
Molasses or maple syrup
Butter
Milk
Bring water to a boil. Add the salt and cornmeal, stirring
constantly. Cook until thick, about 5 minutes, and then let simmer
for another 15 minutes. Serve hot. Colonists flavored Hasty
Pudding with molasses or milk. You can also try butter and maple
syrup.