Part 10 (1/2)

Let others toil amidst the lofty air By fancy led through every cloud above Let empty Follies build her castles there My thoughts are settled on the friend I love.

Oh friend sincere of soul divinely great Shedest thou for me a wretch the sorrowed tear What thanks can I in this unhappy state Return to you but Grat.i.tude sincere T'is friends.h.i.+p pure that now demand my lays A theme sincere that Aid my feeble song Raised by that theme I do not fear to praise Since your the subject where due praise belong Ah dearest girl in whom the G.o.ds have join'd The real blessings, which themselves approve Can mortals frown at such an heavenly mind When G.o.ds propitious s.h.i.+ne on you they love Far from the seat of pleasure now I roam The pleasing landscape now no more I see Yet absence ne'er shall take my thoughts from home Nor time efface my due regards for thee.

(3) _Benjamin Tallmadge_

Benjamin Tallmadge, one year older than Nathan Hale, was Hale's cla.s.smate and one of his correspondents. Like Hale he became a teacher for a time, and then, entering the army, served with distinction throughout the war. He was intrusted by Was.h.i.+ngton with important services. In October, 1780, he was stationed with Col. Jameson at North Castle. He had been out on active service against the enemy and returned on the evening of the day when Major Andre had been brought there and had been started back to Arnold for explanations. This was four years after the death of Hale.

Listening to the account of the capture, and the pa.s.s from Arnold, Tallmadge at once surmised the importance of retaining Andre and insisted upon his being brought back.

When Andre was once more in American hands, Tallmadge is said to have been the first to suspect, from the prisoner's deportment as he walked to and fro and turned sharply upon his heel to retrace his steps, that he was bred to arms and was an important British officer. Major Tallmadge was charged with his custody, and was almost constantly with him until his execution. Tallmadge writes: ”Major Andre became very inquisitive to know my opinion as to the result of his capture. In other words, he wished me to give him candidly my opinion as to the light in which he would be viewed by General Was.h.i.+ngton and a military tribunal if one should be ordered.

”This was the most unpleasant question that had been propounded to me, and I endeavored to evade it, unwilling to give him a true answer. When I could no longer evade his importunity and put off a full reply, I remarked to him as follows: 'I had a much loved cla.s.smate in Yale College, by the name of Nathan Hale, who entered the army in the year 1775. Immediately after the battle of Long Island, General Was.h.i.+ngton wanted information respecting the strength, position, and probable movements of the enemy.

”'Captain Hale tendered his services, went over to Brooklyn, and was taken just as he was pa.s.sing the outposts of the enemy on his return.'

Said I with emphasis,

”'Do you remember the sequel of this story?'

”'Yes,' said Andre, 'he was hanged as a spy. But you surely do not consider his case and mine alike?'

”I replied, 'Yes, precisely similar, and similar will be your fate.'

”He endeavored to answer my remarks, but it was manifest he was more troubled in spirit than I had ever seen him before.”

Major Tallmadge walked with Andre from the Stone House where he had been confined to the place of execution, and parted with him under the gallows, ”overwhelmed with grief,” he says, ”that so gallant an officer and so accomplished a gentleman should come to such an ignominious end.”

What would have occurred if Andre had not been recalled, but had reached Arnold--whether both could have escaped by boat to the _Vulture_ as did Arnold; whether Arnold, leaving Andre to his fate, could have escaped alone under these suspicious circ.u.mstances; or whether Hamilton and the others, who were dining with Arnold when the news of Andre's capture reached him, could have managed to hold both until Was.h.i.+ngton's arrival, cannot now be surmised. We only know that to Major Tallmadge belongs the credit of the recall and retention of Andre as a prisoner, thereby preventing the loss of West Point.

Major Tallmadge remained in the army and was greatly trusted by Was.h.i.+ngton, rendering important a.s.sistance in the secret service. He took part in many battles and in time became a colonel. For sixteen years he was in Congress. He died at the age of eighty, leaving sons and grandsons who won honored names in various callings.

(4) _William Hull_

When Captain William Hull, impelled by a strong natural caution, spoke as forcibly as he could of the disastrous results that might follow Nathan Hale's acceptance of the office of a spy in his country's service, he described not only the result of the failure which seemed almost inevitable, and which would result in a disgraceful death, but also the contempt that would be felt among his fellow-officers should he be successful. Hale, as we have seen, deliberately chose these dangers that appeared so appalling, and lost his life in the manner predicted by Hull.

Could Captain Hull, on that September day in 1776, have looked forward to other days in 1812, when, because of his surrender of Detroit, he himself would stand as the most disgraced man in the American army, he would have wondered what disastrous set of causes could have doomed him to lower depths of discredit than he had imagined possible for his friend Hale.

This is the story of Captain Hull as told by his grandson, the Rev.

James Freeman Clarke, a Unitarian clergyman, and an author of high repute.

After remaining in the army throughout the Revolutionary War, where he distinguished himself on repeated occasions, constantly rising in rank, he settled in Ma.s.sachusetts, practicing law, becoming prominent as a legislator, and finally as one of the Ma.s.sachusetts judges. In 1805, as General Hull, he was appointed governor of the territory of Michigan by President Jefferson, and removed thither, stipulating that in case of war he should not be required to serve both as general and governor, as he did not believe the duties of both could be successfully administered by the same person.

The outbreak of the war of 1812, which occurred while Madison was President, found what was then the northern frontier of America wholly unprepared for hostilities. The country was new, with dense forests and few roads. There were no adequate means of land defense, and no adequate navy to patrol the lakes.

The British, as usual, had all the vessels needed, well-drilled soldiers, and, more terrible than all, more than a thousand Indians, ready to commit any atrocities upon defenseless white settlers. As Hull had insisted, another officer was appointed to command the troops, such as they were, but this officer became ill and Governor Hull was forced to take command.

In the meantime, no amount of urgent entreaties could induce the authorities at Was.h.i.+ngton to send reenforcements to the a.s.sistance of the defenseless settlers. The American troops were unprepared to maintain their own position, and absolutely unable to conquer and annex Canada, as the government expected them to do. General Hull found himself with some eight hundred men facing more than fifteen hundred British regulars, and threatened in the rear by a thousand Indians.

What President Madison or any of his officers would have done, we cannot say. They appear to have thought that it was General Hull's duty to annihilate the British army, effectually dispose of the Indians, and present Canada to the American government.