He was teaching in New London, Connecticut, when
the Revolutionary War broke out.
He felt sorry to leave his school, but believing his country needed the
service of every patriotic man, he joined the army and was made a captain.
When he learned that his commander needed a spy, he said: "I am ready to
go. Send me."
He was only twenty-one, hardly more than a boy, yet he knew the danger.
And although life was very dear to him he loved his country more than his
own life.
[Illustration: Nathan Hale.]
His noble bearing and grace of manner might easily permit him to pass as a
Loyalist, that is, an American who sympathized with England--there were
many such in the British camp--and Washington accepted him for the
mission.
He dressed himself like a schoolmaster, so that the British would not
suspect that he was an American soldier.
Then, entering the enemy's lines, he visited all the camps, took notes,
and made sketches of the fortifications, hiding the papers in the soles of
his shoes. He was just about returning when he was captured. The papers
being found upon him, he was condemned to be hanged as a spy before
sunrise the next morning.
The marshal who guarded him that night was a cruel man.
Pages:
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68