After Washington’s retreat, following the battle of Long Island, he was
most anxious to discover the intentions of the British in New York.
Nathan Hale, a young Captain from Connecticut--he had formerly been a
schoolmaster--volunteered to try and secure this information. He was
detected, arrested, and summarily condemned by the British, however,
and as he stood under the fatal noose awaiting the ignominious death of
a spy, the brutal British officer, Cunningham, who was in charge of the
execution shouted at him, _Give us your dying speech, you young rebel._
And Hale replied in a calm, clear voice, _I only regret that I have but
one life to lose for my country_.