[Illustration: Hale's Birthplace.]
THE TWO SPIES
NATHAN HALE AND JOHN ANDRÉ
BY
BENSON J. LOSSING, LL. D.
_ILLUSTRATED WITH PEN-AND-INK SKETCHES BY H. ROSA_
ANNA SEWARD'S MONODY ON MAJOR ANDRÉ
NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
72 FIFTH AVENUE.
1897.
Copyright, 1886,
By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.
FORETALK.
This little volume contains a brief account of the most important
events in the life-career of two notable spies in our War for
Independence, NATHAN HALE and JOHN ANDRÉ. They were both young men,
well educated, endowed with genius and ability for conspicuous
achievements, brave and accomplished soldiers, pure and virtuous in
private character, truthful, manly, refined in thoughts and manners,
handsome in person, lovely in disposition, and beloved by all who knew
them.
Yet they were spies!
"Spies," says Vattel, "are generally condemned to capital punishment,
and not unjustly, there being scarcely any other way of preventing
the mischief which they may do. For this reason a man of honor, who
would not expose himself to die by the hand of a common executioner,
ever declines serving as a spy. He considers it beneath him, as it can
seldom be done without some kind of treachery."
May not a spy be a man of lofty honor, and act under the inspiration
of disinterested patriotism? Stratagem, an artifice or scheme for
deceiving an enemy in war, is regarded as honorable, but is it not
seldom exercised "without some kind of treachery"?
It is the _motive_ which gives true character to the deed. When the
motive is a purely mercenary one, the deed is dishonorable; when it
is the lofty one of a desire to serve one's country or his race,
unselfishly, the act is certainly honorable. Nathan Hale truthfully
said, "Every kind of service necessary for the public good becomes
honorable by being necessary."
The motives of the two spies were expressed by themselves. Hale said:
"I wish to be useful. If the exigencies of my country demand a peculiar
service, its claims to the performance of that service are imperious."
André avowed that in the enterprise in which he was engaged all he
sought "was military glory, the applause of his king and country, and,
perhaps, a brigadiership."
The last words uttered by André under the gibbet indicated that his
supreme thought at that moment was of _himself_. He said to the
American officers present, "I request you, gentlemen, that you will
bear me witness to the world that I die like a brave man." Hale's last
words upon the ladder indicated that his supreme thought at that moment
was of his _country_. He said, "I only regret that I have but one life
to lose for my country!"
In 1856 a "Life of Captain Nathan Hale," by I.W. Stuart, was published
at Hartford, in a small volume of 230 pages. In 1861 "The Life and
Career of Major John André," by Winthrop Sargeant, was published
at Boston in a small octavo volume of nearly 500 pages. It is an
exhaustive work. To these two books I acknowledge much indebtedness.
The spirited pen-and-ink sketches which illustrate this little volume
were largely copied from original drawings by the author; also from
other original drawings and autographs. The two pictures, _Cunningham
destroying Hale's Letters_, and _The Tournament_, are original designs
by the artist.
This volume contains the full text of André's "Cow-Chase," and
the famous "Monody on Major André," by Miss Anna Seward, with a
portrait and a brief biographical sketch of the author; also three
characteristic letters written by André to Miss Seward, when he was a
youth of eighteen. The "Monody," I believe, has never been published in
America.
B.J.L.
The Ridge, _April, 1886_.
CONTENTS.
NATHAN HALE.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Hale's Birthplace and Parentage.--The Hale Family 3
Hale's Youthhood and Education 4
Dr. Munson's Recollections of him 5
Hale at Yale College and as a School-teacher 7
Patriotism of 8, 9
His Military Career at Boston and New York 9-12
CHAPTER II.
The American Army at New York 12, 13
A Man for Secret Service sought 18
Hale's Idea of the Service; he volunteers 14
His Career as a Spy 15-20
His Arrest 17
Taken to General Howe's Headquarters 19
Sentenced to be hanged without Trial.--Great Fire in New York 20
CHAPTER III.
Hale at the Place of Execution 21
Cruelly treated by Cunningham, the Provost-Marshal 22
His Last Words 23
Sympathy, expressed; his Execution 24
Monumental Memorials of Hale 25-27
Literary Contributions to his Memory 27-31
Tribute to Hale by Henry J. Raymond 31
Proposed Monument in Memory of Hale at New York 33
Proposed Epitaph 34
JOHN ANDRÉ.
CHAPTER I.
André's Birth, Parentage, Education, and Family 37
His Acquaintance with Anna Seward and her Literary Friends 38
His Betrothal to Honora Sneyd 40
His Correspondence with Miss Seward 41
Enters the Army 42
Presaging Omens 42, 43
André goes to America 43
Made a Prisoner 44
At Philadelphia--his Accomplishments and Captivating Manners 45
Lord Howe entertained 45