FOOTNOTES to “NATHAN HALE”:
[8] In the class of 1773 at Yale College among others were Nathan Hale and his brother Enoch, Benjamin Tallmadge, and William Townsend. William Hull was in the class of 1772. Of all the college mates of Nathan Hale perhaps none had as deep an influence over his decisions as Benjamin Tallmadge, and as may be observed, perhaps none was more responsible for Tallmadge devoting the greater part of his military career to assisting the spies of Washington than Hale. A carefully preserved letter of advice to Hale, written at the time he was contemplating changing the garb of a teacher for that of a soldier reads: “Was I in your condition, notwithstanding the many, I had almost said insuperable, objections against such a resolution, I think the more extensive service would be my choice. Our holy Religion, the honour of our God, a glorious country, & a happy constitution is what we have to defend. Some indeed may say there are others who may supply your place. True there are men who would gladly accept such a proposal but are we certain that they would be likely to answer just as good an end? Could this be certainly known, though we all should be ready to step forth in the common cause, I could think it highly incumbent on you not to change your situation. These hints, thrown together in great haste, proceed from a heart ever devoted to your welfare, and from one who shall esteem it his happiness to promote yours. I hope to hear from you soon & to know your determination; in the mean time I remain your constant friend &c., &c.,
B. Tallmadge.
To Mr. Nathan Hale
New London.
Wethersfield, July 4, 1775.
[9] Hale knew his mother was not living. It was an incorrect guess that one of the letters was for her.
[10] In a letter from New York we hear that no person is suffered to go out of the town without giving proper notices of their departure to Gen. Howe; nor no person suffered to enter without their being first strictly examined by the general officers commanding the several gates for admittance.—Middlesex Journal, Sept 24, 1776.
[11] Although most of our large cities have had fires equalling that of New York, yet because New York’s happened just at the time Nathan Hale was there there are those who contend that he must have had a hand in it. So insistent were some that an exhaustive study of the subject seemed desirable. For this purpose contemporary charts of the tide and records of the wind on the date of the fire were studied and the route of the men from near Whitestone to 111th Street. The conclusion arrived at is that Hale could have had no part in the fire aside from the possibility of his being an interested eye witness. It must not be forgotten that he was sent over to Long Island—the British had not yet entered New York, and from the spot from which he started on his way to Long Island it was at that time possible to send any man to any part of the city of New York within an hour. It is not possible to believe that any sane man would start on a week’s journey to reach a destination he could arrive at in safety within an hour. Had Hale, discovering the opportunity favorable, turned aside from the work he was given to do, he being sent as a spy to discover and report the intentions of the enemy, he would have deserved the treatment of a deserter at the hands of General Washington and if he had given the British any proof that he had acted the part of an incendiary he would have met death accordingly, and not as alleged “because upon him they discovered notes and documents that proved him to be a spy.” True many favored destroying the city at that time, and it is also a fact that a large quantity of inflammable material was left in the city when the troops under General Washington moved north, and to these were added additional stores that the British brought with them. The area of the fire may have been increased thereby but the contemporary conclusion that its origin was accidental cannot be changed.
