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The origin of the quote on the title page is dark. It’s from the diary of Rev. Enoch Hale, Nathan Hale’s older brother who attended Yale with him. (Their friends referred to Enoch as “Primus,” as he was the elder, and Nathan as “Secundus”—Latin for “first” and “second.”)
Enoch records in his diary on September 21st “…write a line to send to Uncle Sam’ll Hale at Portsmouth.” Seemingly innocuous, that uncle was the father of a son of the same name–the Tory cousin who on that same night was betraying Nathan Hale.
On September 23rd, the day after Nathan Hale was hanged, Enoch recorded, “Pleasant morn. Write to brothers t[he] Capt’n & Ens’n…” (“The Capt’n” is Nathan.)
If that doesn’t break your heart, nothing will.
On September 30th, Enoch wrote, “Hear a rumor t[hat] Capt Hale belonging to the east side Connecticut river near Colchester who was educated at College was [seen] to hang on t[he] enemy lines at N York being taken as a spy—or reconnoitring t[he] camp—hope it is without foundation—something troubled at it sleep not very well.”
Over the next month Enoch continues to hear and record rumors that his favorite brother was captured and executed, and that their cousin Samuel Hale played a role.
Finally on October 25th, Enoch rides to Washington’s camp at White Plains to investigate the rumors for himself.
According to Nathan’s biographer, George Dudley Seymour:
“[Enoch Hale] records on [October 17th] he called at Squire Wolcott’s (East Windsor) to get a pass to ride to New York, which he concludes to do the following week—not, as it would appear, that he really entertains any hope that his brother has not perished so much as from a natural desire to learn further particulars and to talk face to face with those who last saw his brother in life. He executes his plan and in his entry of Oct 26th records in outline what he learned in New York.”
Here is Enoch’s entry from October 26th, 1776:
“Go to camp to see officers of Col Webb’s Reg’t—& talk some of my Brother. He went to Stanford & crossed over the sound tot Long Island. The next account of him by Col. Montezure [Captain Montresor] with a flag. That one Nathaniel Hale was hanged for a Spy Sept. 22d Aid de Camp Webb with a flag, informs That Being suspected by his moment [that] he wanted to get out of N York was taken up & examined by the Gen’l & some minutes being found with him orders were immediately given that he should be hanged. When at the Gallows he spoke & told that he was a Capt in the Cont’l Army by name Nathan Hale! —Some deserters asserted the fact & described his person—Lieut. –––––––– said he saw a woman that said she was then in N Y, saw—& k[n]ew him hanging having been before acquainted with him.——His effects are mostly saved His money (if he left any) plundered—& Considerable due to his under Officers, as well as 25 Dol. that belonged to A. Wright [Asher Wright, Nathan’s boyhood friend and valet in the army] & 42 to another which he had in keeping—Return & lodge at T.M. [Titus Mead’s] Greenwich. Ride 20m cost 1/8.”
Having the answer he didn’t want, Enoch Hale returned home.
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