Fortitude under the smart of unmerited sufferings is one of the rarest traits of humanity. War is not only characterized by general suffering and disaster, involving nearly every family of the country, but by personal adventures and sacrifices, which not unfrequently leave a sting to rankle in the minds of successive generations. There is a moral sublimity in one's voluntarily casting himself between his country and its fiercest enemies, uncovering his own brave head to receive the blow, that by his sacrifice kindred and posterity may glide unscathed and peacefully down the stream of time; but this sublimity is greatly intensified when young men of brilliant abilities, stainless reputation, and of undoubted worth to society nobly assume responsibilities attended with extraordinary perils, and likely soon to culminate in saddest failure and ruin. The career of Nathan Hale and of John André, two of the most brilliant and virtuous young officers representing the opposing forces of that stormy period, presents one of the most striking examples of this kind in the annals of time. Hale was born in Coventry, Conn., June 6, 1755; graduated with high honor, at Yale College, at the age of eighteen years, and soon became a successful teacher. His parents designed him for the ministry; but the crash of arms at Lexington so aroused his patriotic impulses that he immediately wrote to his father, stating "that a sense of duty urged him to sacrifice everything for his country." He soon after entered the army as a lieutenant, and was, a few months later, promoted to the captaincy. While stationed with the troops near Boston, he was noted as a vigilant officer; and, in the early part of September, 1776, when in New York, he, with an associate, planned and captured a British sloop laden with provisions, taking her at midnight from under the guns of a frigate.

Just before the capture of New York, Washington became exceedingly anxious to ascertain the plans of the enemy, who were encamped in force on Long Island. A council of war was held, and an appeal made for a discreet officer to enter the enemy's lines and gather information. Captain Hale, who was only twenty-one years of age, came nobly forward and offered to undertake the perilous mission. He entered the British lines in disguise, examined the island, made drawings andmemoranda of everything most important, ascertained their plans, conducting his enterprise with great capacity and address, but was accidentally apprehended in making his escape. But while Hale was making discoveries at Long Island, a portion of the British army had crossed the East river under cover of the fire of their fleet, and had captured New York, General Howe taking up temporary headquarters in the vicinity of Fiftieth street. Hale was brought to the headquarters of Howe, who delivered him to the notorious Cunningham, ordering him to be executed on the following Morning, unless he should renounce the colonial cause. He was unmercifully hanged upon an apple-tree, and his remains cast into an unknown grave.

André was born in London, in 1751; was educated at Geneva, after which he entered a counting-house. Disappointed in love, he abandoned business and entered the army, where he rose by the intrinsic worth of his character to be captain, major, and finally adjutant-general, under Sir Henry Clinton, chief commander at New York. As he had read extensively, had a vigorous memory, brilliant powers of conversation, understood several languages, wrote poetry, and was a fine singer, he became naturally a universal favorite in all select circles.