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Birth
Nathan Hale was born in Coventry, Connecticut, on June 6, 1755. Without him being born we would not have known as much about British troop movement during the Revalutionary War. If Hale was never born then we would not have had a great spy like him in the war. -
Hale goes off to College
He attend school at Yale with his older brother. During his enrollment, Hale belonged to a literary fraternity, Linonia, which examined issues of the day such as the ethics of slavery and other academic topics such as astronomy, literature and mathematics. While at Yale, Hale met and studied with Benjamin Tallmadge, who would significantly influence his perceptions and decisions later in his life. -
Nathan Hale graduated from Yale University in 1773
Nathan Hale graduated from Yale University in 1773. After graduating Hale became a school teacher. Once the war began Nathan Hale quit his job and joined a Connecticut regiment -
Hale joined a Connecticut militia
Hale joined a Connecticut militia in 1775. He was elected first lieutenant. Later he volunteered to be a spy. -
Nathan Married Elizabeth
Nathan Hale married Elizabeth Adams in 1775 while Nathan was in the army. She lived into her 90s and in 1837 wrote a remembrance of Nathan Hale then dead for sixty-one years. Nathan and Elizabeth had a loving relationship. -
Hale gets Letter from Former Classmate
Following his unit’s participation in the Siege of Boston, Hale, who did not participate, received a letter from his former classmate, Tallmadge, on July 4, 1775. In this letter, Tallmadge encouraged Hale to become an active militia member. -
Hale promoted to captain
In January 1776, he was promoted to captain and selected to lead Thomas Knowlton's “Rangers". In August, the British troops crossed Lower New York Bay and invaded Long Island. To capture from the British. -
Regiment Moved to Roxbury
On January 30, 1776, Hale’s regiment was moved to the right wing in Roxbury. There they participated in successful actions in March. In tjis march they were trying to drive the British out of Boston. -
Regiment Moved to Manhattan
In the spring of 1776, the Continental Army moved forces to Manhattan. The point of this was to prevent the British from taking control of New York City. Hale’s regiment was one of the units assigned to this effort under the command of Washington. -
Volunteers to Spy
George Washington asks for a volunteer for an extremely dangerous mission: to gather intelligence behind enemy lines before the coming Battle of Harlem Heights. Nathan Hale of the 19th Regiment of the Continental Army stepped forward and become one of the first known American spies of the Revolutionary War. After getting caught he was hung. -
Hale's Hanging
This event is important because he was hung after being caught spying on the British army. Hale was sailing back into US territory when the british searched him and found incriminating documents. On Septemnber 21st he was interigated by General William Howe and sentanced to be exacuted the following day. At the gallows Nathan Hale saqid "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country."
