Rome Free Academy - De O Wain Sta Yearbook (Rome, NY)

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his tenth year, but as he grew older his health improved and his athletic feats became the wonder and admiration of his companions. It father's wish that Nathan should become a min- was his ister, so Reverend Joseph Huntington prepared the lad for Yale. Our young hero thoroughly enjoyed his college life. was engaged with William Robinson and Ezra Sampson in a syllogistic dispute followed by a debate. Question ‘‘Whether the education of thedaughters be not, without any just reason, more neglected than that of the sons.’’ A classmate, James Hillhouse, wrote ‘‘Hale triumphed and most ably did he advo cate the cause of the daughters.’’ After graduating he taught school at East Hadley, and now, at the beginning of the Revolution, we find him engaged in the same occupation at New London. But Nathan Hale was not content to remain in a quiet village when his coun- try needed him. Enrolling himself as a volunteer he was soon made lieutenant in Colonel Charles Webb’s regiment. He was then ordered to Cambridge, where, after participating in the siege of Boston, he was made captain in January, nA ii, At his graduation he Soon after he went to New York where, early in September, he captured at mid- night, with the aid of a few picked men, a supply vessel which was anchored in the East River under the protection of the guns of the British “‘Asia.’’ The stores of provisions from the prize were distributed among his hungry fellow soldiers. He was now made captain of the Con- necticut Rangers, a corps known as Congress’s, were commanded by Thomas Knowlton. General Washington, after the defeat at Long Island, applied to Knowlton for man-of-war THE SENIOR ANNUAL. 19 enter the British lines and procure intelligence. With- out a moment’s hesitation Captain Hale volunteered to perform this service. At the house of Robert Murray on the In- cleberg (now Murray Hill in New York city) where Washington had his head- quarters for a while retreating towards Harlem Heights, instructions on duty from the a discreet officer to time he received com- mander-in-chief. Disguised as a schoolmaster and loy- alist he visited all the British camps on Long Island and in New York, openly making observations, drawings and mem- oranda of the fortifications. He then started on his dangerous jour- ney back to the American lines. He re- turned safely to the point where a boat was to take him to the Connecticut shore, but the one which he signaled proved to be from a British man-of-war, and he Still the brave young officer did not give up hope, but answered the questions put to him with such apparent frankness that he might have been released had he not been rec- ognized by some Tory relative ‘and re- ported as a rebel officer. This led to his examination and the plans were found on his person. He was then taken before General Howe, to whom he openly avowed his mission. Without even a form of trial, Howe handed the prisoner over to Provost- Marshal Cunningham to be hanged. Captain Hale was confined in a green- house over night. His requests for a Bible and the attendance of a chaplain were roughly refused. A humane offi- cer, who superintended the execution, was at once arrested. | procured him some writing material, but the tender letters of farewell which he wrote to his mother, betrothed and sis- ters, were destroyed before his eyes by the brutal Cunningham, so that, as he

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18 attack the Americans in open field. The contest becomes fierce and destructive. The American artillery is pouring a murderous fire upon the enemy when there into the field the British cavalry followed by a body of infantry. S imultaneously they charge the Repub- licans and break theirranks. Lee brings off his troops in admirable order, while Washington engages the enemy with fresh forces. Theaction now becomes gen- The British attack the Americans again and again but are repeatedly driven back. Wayne, who is pouring a de- structive fire from an eminence in a near- by orchard, stands between them and victory. Colonel Monckton, perceiving this, resolves to drive him from his posi- tion. Forming his troops into a solid column, and with all the regularity of a to the rushes eral. corps on parade, he advances charge. In silence Wayne’s troops await him. Not a rifle cracks. The men are watching and waiting and On, Only a few rods remain between them and the Americans. Suddenly, seven hundred muskets crack viciously; seven hundred bullets whistle angrily. A great cloud of smoke goes up. A great sheet of flame flashes, and lo! scarcely a British officer is standing. Among the fallen is the brave Monck- ton. Over his dead body, maddened by the sight of his blood, the British fight with the energy of despair. But human endurance can not stand the iron storm that is poured into their faces. They are forced to give way, and night merci- fully ends the contest. About twelve o’clock there is a slight stir in the British camp and the enemy steals away under the cover of darkness. Was it possible for. the Americans to have won a decisive victory at the battle of Monmouth? No. Why? Because sullen obeying orders. on they come! THr SENIOR ANNUAL. of Clinton? Because of Monckton? Be- cause of those brave men who fought over his body? No. tecause of Lee, | who let ambition master patriotism, jeal- ousy conquer principle, and who almost led the American army into everlasting disgrace. D. A. R. Prize Essay. This essay was written by Miss Nellie Sweeney, 03, and received first prize, a ten dollar gold piece, in the annual com- petition of High School students held by the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion. Nathan Hale. In the first sad days of the Revolu- tionary war, when the news of the bat- tle at Lexington was being carried from village to village, an excitement was as these little towns had In New Lon- dou, a picturesque New England village, created such never before experienced. men with pale, anxious faces gathered in the town hall to discuss the news and to decide upon a course of action. Sev- eral grave, elderly men had spoken when the young schoolmaster stepped to the platform and delivered a stirring appeal. He was a commanding figure, over six feet in height, with a perfectly propor- His ‘face, which was of unusual beauty, was all aglow, and. as he ended with the words, ‘‘Let us march immediately and never lay down our arms until we have our independence,’’ he looked like a young god come to in- spire the weary, depressed men with fresh hope and cuurage. This eloquent speaker is Nathan Hale, whose young life is destined to have an untimely end. Nathan Hale was born on the sixth of June, 1755, in the town of Coventry, Connecticut. A pale, sickly boy, his parents never expected to see him reach tioned form

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20 afterwards said, ‘‘the rebels should never know that they had a man who could die so bravely.’’ And indeed he did die bravely. on the morning of the twenty-second of September, 1776, the noble patriot was led to the place selected for the execu- tion, Colonel Henry Rutger’s orchard, near the present junction of Market street and East Broadway. With firm tread and calm countenance he ascended the scaffold, saying, ‘‘You are shedding the blood of the innocent; if I had ten thousand lives I would lay them down in defense of my injured, bleeding country.’’ Then, as the noose is adjusted about his neck, and as the spectators sob aloud at the pitiful sight, Nathan Hale speaks again in his firm but gentle voice, ‘‘I only regret that I have but one life to These are his Early lose for my country.’’ last words. With the courageand hero- ism of a martyr he meets his fate. Where in the annals of war can be found a parallel to this unselfish, devoted, will- ing sacrifice? A little fort bui lt in 1812 on Black Rock at the entrance of the New Haven was named Fort Hale in his and a granite memorial was erected at his birthplace in 1846. A bronze statue, the work of Karl Ger- hardt, was placed in the capitol at Hart- ford on the fourteenth of June, 1887. An address presenting the statue to the state was made by Charles Dudley War- ver, to which Governor Phineas C. Lounsbury responded. The Society of the Sons of the Revolution raised funds for a handsome statue in City Hall Park. Isaac Stuart has written an account of the life of the martyr spy, as has also Benson J. Lossing. President Timothy Dwight, the elder, who was his tutor when at Yale, has commemorated his career in verse and also extolled him in harbor honor, THE SENIOR ANNUAL. prose. The manuscript of one of his college orations is carefully preserved by the Linonian Society at Yale. the outward tokens of the love every true American These monuments are | bears to the memory of Nathan Hale, | but his grandest monument is the story | of his noble, unselfish life, which shall endure as long as the American nation. Our neighbors on Hallowe’en night. We Wonder —Who rang the bell Hallowe’en ? —When Merritt cut his teeth? —Who strung the skeleton up? —Where Meyers buys milk now? —How Miss Knapp learns so much? —Where Miss Shortall got that hat? —What attracts all the girls to Atkin- son? —Who is going to buy Miss Fowler a rattle? —Who causes all the fuss in the 6th period ? —What’s the matter with Anna Mai, Charlie? —When Walters is going to get his hair cut? —Why class 1902 did not have their sleigh ride? —When Miss Susie Thomas will get shoes to fit.