Nathan Hale (colonel)
Encyclopedia
Nathan Hale was an American soldier. Born in Hampstead, New Hampshire
, he soon moved with his father to Rindge, New Hampshire
. Hale participated in the American Revolutionary War
and fought in the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Battle of Bunker Hill
, Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, and Battle of Hubbardton
. In the latter one, Hale was taken prisoner by the British. He died on September 23, 1780.
from Moses Hale and Elizabeth Wheeler. He was the first born son. In 1760, Hale and his father moved to Rindge, New Hampshire
. His brother was Enoch Hale
.
Two years after Hale moved to Rindge, his father passed away. While in the city, Hale became a farmer and a merchant. On January 28, 1766, Hale married Abigail Grout. He became an officer of the peace of Rindge in 1768. From 1773 to 1775, Hale moderated of Rindge's annual town meetings.
to help fight. Massachusetts won the battle and that was the start of the American Revolutionary War
.
On June 2, 1775, Hale was commissioned into the army as captain of the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment
. They battled in the Battle of Bunker Hill
on June 17, 1775. The battle was the militias of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island against Great Britian for the territory of Bunker Hill. The militias had about 2,400 men and the British had over 3,000. The colonies suffered 450 casualties and the British suffered 1,054 casualties in the British Pyrrhic victory
.
Hale was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment
on November 8, 1776. In the same year, Hale served under George Washington
.
He was promoted to colonel
on April 2, 1777. In the same year he served with Major General
Arthur St. Clair
at the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga. The Siege took place from July 2–6, 1777 and was between the United States against the British. Arthur St. Clair led about 3,000 men against John Burgoyne
and William Phillips who led 7,000 men as well as about 800 Indians and Canadians Not much was done in the battle and Burgoyne took over Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Independence while the Americans retreated.
Hale fought in the Battle of Hubbardton
where he was taken prisoner by the British on July 7, 1777. His surrender there was the subject of controversy. Hale was arrested for treason but was never allowed a trial to explain himself. He was later let off on limited parole where Hale was not allowed to serve in the Army and he had to come back to the enemy lines after two years unless he was exchanged. He returned to Rindge on July 20, 1777. Since he was not exchanged, Hale went back to the prison on June 14, 1779. Hale died on September 23, 1780 in New Utrecht, Brooklyn
while in prison.
Hampstead, New Hampshire
Hampstead is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,523 at the 2010 census. Hampstead, which includes the village of East Hampstead, is home to a portion of the Rockingham Recreational Trail.- History :...
, he soon moved with his father to Rindge, New Hampshire
Rindge, New Hampshire
Rindge is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,014 at the 2010 census. Rindge is home to Franklin Pierce University, the Cathedral of the Pines, and part of Annett State Forest.-Native American inhabitants:...
. Hale participated in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and fought in the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
, Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, and Battle of Hubbardton
Battle of Hubbardton
The Battle of Hubbardton was an engagement in the Saratoga campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought in the village of Hubbardton, then in the disputed New Hampshire Grants territory . On the morning of July 7, 1777, British forces, under General Simon Fraser, caught up with the American...
. In the latter one, Hale was taken prisoner by the British. He died on September 23, 1780.
Early life
Hale was the born on September 23, 1743 in Hampstead, New HampshireHampstead, New Hampshire
Hampstead is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,523 at the 2010 census. Hampstead, which includes the village of East Hampstead, is home to a portion of the Rockingham Recreational Trail.- History :...
from Moses Hale and Elizabeth Wheeler. He was the first born son. In 1760, Hale and his father moved to Rindge, New Hampshire
Rindge, New Hampshire
Rindge is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,014 at the 2010 census. Rindge is home to Franklin Pierce University, the Cathedral of the Pines, and part of Annett State Forest.-Native American inhabitants:...
. His brother was Enoch Hale
Enoch Hale
Enoch Hale was born in Rowley, Massachusetts on November 28, 1733. He and his brother Nathan Hale would move to Rindge, New Hampshire as young men. During the French and Indian War Enoch Hale served in the New Hampshire Provincial Regiment in 1755 and 1757-1758...
.
Two years after Hale moved to Rindge, his father passed away. While in the city, Hale became a farmer and a merchant. On January 28, 1766, Hale married Abigail Grout. He became an officer of the peace of Rindge in 1768. From 1773 to 1775, Hale moderated of Rindge's annual town meetings.
American Revolutionary War
In 1774, Hale became the captain of a minute men militia. They went to the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775. The battle was between Massachusetts and Great Britain. Once Hale was told of the shot heard 'round the world, he and his fifty men marched to Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
to help fight. Massachusetts won the battle and that was the start of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
On June 2, 1775, Hale was commissioned into the army as captain of the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment
3rd New Hampshire Regiment
The 3rd New Hampshire Regiment, also known as the 2nd Continental Regiment, was authorized on 22 May 1775, organized 1-8 June 1775, and adopted into the Continental Army on 14 June, 1775, as the third of three regiments raised by the state of New Hampshire during the American Revolution...
. They battled in the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
on June 17, 1775. The battle was the militias of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island against Great Britian for the territory of Bunker Hill. The militias had about 2,400 men and the British had over 3,000. The colonies suffered 450 casualties and the British suffered 1,054 casualties in the British Pyrrhic victory
Pyrrhic victory
A Pyrrhic victory is a victory with such a devastating cost to the victor that it carries the implication that another such victory will ultimately cause defeat.-Origin:...
.
Hale was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment
2nd New Hampshire Regiment
The 2nd New Hampshire Regiment, also known as the 8th Continental Regiment, was formed in early May of 1775, as the second of three Continental Army regiments raised by the state of New Hampshire during the American Revolutionary War. Its first commander was Colonel Enoch Poor, with Joseph Cilley...
on November 8, 1776. In the same year, Hale served under George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
He was promoted to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
on April 2, 1777. In the same year he served with Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
at the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga. The Siege took place from July 2–6, 1777 and was between the United States against the British. Arthur St. Clair led about 3,000 men against John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
and William Phillips who led 7,000 men as well as about 800 Indians and Canadians Not much was done in the battle and Burgoyne took over Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Independence while the Americans retreated.
Hale fought in the Battle of Hubbardton
Battle of Hubbardton
The Battle of Hubbardton was an engagement in the Saratoga campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought in the village of Hubbardton, then in the disputed New Hampshire Grants territory . On the morning of July 7, 1777, British forces, under General Simon Fraser, caught up with the American...
where he was taken prisoner by the British on July 7, 1777. His surrender there was the subject of controversy. Hale was arrested for treason but was never allowed a trial to explain himself. He was later let off on limited parole where Hale was not allowed to serve in the Army and he had to come back to the enemy lines after two years unless he was exchanged. He returned to Rindge on July 20, 1777. Since he was not exchanged, Hale went back to the prison on June 14, 1779. Hale died on September 23, 1780 in New Utrecht, Brooklyn
New Utrecht, Brooklyn
New Utrecht was the last of six towns to be founded in what is today the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. It was named after the city of Utrecht, Netherlands. In 1652 Cornelius van Werckhoven, a surveyor born in Utrecht and a principal investor in the Dutch West India Company, began purchasing...
while in prison.