114 THE BOROUGH OF THE BRONX 



in pieces, and secure the collection of arms and stores, they well 

 know, we shall not be able soon to replace." 



The question was: How could the enemy's plan be most suc- 

 cessfully opposed and defeated? To Washington there seemed 

 but one way of discovering Howe's plans, and that was for a 

 competent person to enter the British lines, and procure intelli- 

 gence of their designs. The duty of finding a volunteer for this 

 delicate enterprise was left to Lieutenant Colonel Knowlton, who 

 had distinguished himself at Bunker Hill, and who had some of the 

 best fighters under him. 



Summoning his officers for a conference, Colonel Knowlton 

 explained to them the situation, and the vital importance of the 

 mission. But his plea was met with cold response. The work re- 

 quired of them, so they argued, was degrading for men of honor 

 and refinement. Colonel Knowlton was about to give way to 

 despair when Captain Hale, emaciated from the effects of a recent 

 illness, entered the room and volunteered to undertake the work 

 requested by his Commander-in-chief. In vain Hale's brother 

 officers tried to dissuade him, but no argument deterred him from 

 his resolve to serve his country. 



"I think I owe my country the accomplishment of an object 

 so important, and so much desired by the Commander of our 

 armies, and I know of no other mode of obtaining the informa- 

 tion than by assuming a disguise and passing into the enemy's 

 camp. I am fully sensible of the consequences of discovery and 

 capture in such a situation, but for a year I have been attached to 

 the army and have not rendered any material service. Yet, I am 

 not influenced by the expectation of promotion or pecuniary re- 

 ward. I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary 

 for the, public good becomes honorable by being necessary. If 

 my country demands a peculiar service, its claims of the perform- 

 ance of that service are imperious." 



Accompanied by Colonel Knowlton, Captain Hale presented 

 himself before General Washington and received final instructions. 

 He started on his fatal expedition from the Roger Morris house, 

 better known as the Jumel Mansion on Harlem Heights. 



Assuming his professional character of schoolmaster, he was 

 taken down the Sound at night and landed at Great Neck in 

 Huntington Bay where he boldly plunged into the enemy's lines. 



