#ben tallmadge & nathan hale

[resurrectionist3]

June 6th, 1755 - Happy Birthday Nathan Hale!!!

We are gonna pretend like this isn’t several days late.

And this post is about to be super long…

Disclaimer: for the entirety of the post, I’m recalling information that was told to me by the tour guide from the Nathan Hale Homestead. If anything I wrote here is incorrect or not complete information, feel free to KINDLY correct me in a comment or repost, I would appreciate that☺️

-

Back in May (05/18/24), I visited the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry, Connecticut with my sister!!

I always drive by it when I go home from school and I finally got to visit for a tour! They also have a farmers market on grounds in the summertime as well as a couple other events throughout the year. I do hope i get to attend their Halloween ghost stories.

One thing i learned that i guess i didn’t ever realise was that Nathan never actually lived in this house. After his mother passed, Nathan’s father, Deacon Richard Hale and all 9(?) of his children lived together in a very, very small house. It wasnt until after Richard was remarried, that this newer and larger house was built. By this point, i believe Nathan had already moved away to be a teacher in New London.

Here are photos of their medicine cabinet and their fireplace✨

Photos of their piano forte in the sitting room and a drawn family tree.

And this was Deacon Richard Hale’s writing desk. If I remember correctly, he was a deacon in the church and a magistrate. He dealt with small court disputes in their house which I found very silly (and the wax stamp had an H on it idk why that made me die😭)

And here, in one of the upstairs rooms, they displayed artist renditions of what we think Nathan Hale and his brothers looked like. I think Nathan had 9 (?) biological siblings that survived to adulthood, one of which being his sister Johanna. And then i believe he had 3 step siblings after his father remarried (im trying to recall everything the tour guide said).

Johanna isnt depictied in these drawings, its only the brothers, but her room was on display for the tour and it had a lot of windows. The tour guide said it was because she apparently loved to read, so they made sure her room had the most windows for the most light??😭😭🥹🥹

Anyways, all of Nathan’s brothers went to war except for the youngest one. Also, if you look at the years of their deaths, Samuel Hale (the oldest sibling) actually outlived them all?? Which makes me want to scream???? Samuel also didn’t inherit the family farm, it actually went to his brother John.

Joseph Hale- (damn he can get it lowkey..🥵) while in the war was captured by the British and was on a prison ship until he was exchanged and honestly I’ve been thinking about it too much. So glad he didn’t die of dysentery or something. But he did pass of consumption at only 34 which I can’t even handle.

Enoch, went to Yale along with Nathan and they were in the same graduating class which i think is so cutesy. The tour guide also said that one of the pewter steins in one of the sitting rooms (i don’t actually have a photo unfortunately) belonged to Enoch and I wanted to scream, like was it ACTUALLY his???

They had a display of several items they found on the property like coins, buttons, ect. but I didn’t take a photo of that either. It was in the same room as these images of the brothers.

I think we all know Nathan, and quite honestly i didn’t even realise he had so many siblings until this tour. I suppose one could assume given the time period - everyone had like 5+ children. But of all the times i was taught about Nathan Hale (and that was kind of a lot, being a Connecticut resident for my entire life) no one ever mentioned his family or his siblings. There was a portrait of Deacon Richard Hale in the downstairs area- I didn’t realise this in the moment, my sister mentioned it later, but (based on the artist’s rendition) Nathan looked just like his father. I found it really funny when i realised it.

This was Nathan’s hunting rifle as well, another thing that apparently belonged to one of the members of the Hale family that made me want to scream (more on that in my final thoughts).

And last photo (the Turn: Washington’s Spies baddies are gonna LOVE this one)

This is a list of the Yale University (back then, it was just Yale College) honours graduating class of 1773. On it, is Nathan and Enoch Hale of course. But also, Nathan’s friend and “roommate” 👀 (and our favourite spymaster) Benjamin Tallmadge!!!!! I had to keep my mouth shut when the tour guide mentioned that he was on this list, but I was screaming internally and my sister and i made goofy ahh eye contact.

Their names are towards the top, Enoch and Nathan are listed in the third small column while Benjamin is in the sixth one all the way to the right.

Things that i saw/were talked about that i didn’t take a photo of was a shadow drawing of Nathan’s side profile. At some point, Nathan stood in front of a door in the house while someone traced the outline of his shadow onto it. I don’t quite know why that was done..? Perhaps it was for a genuine reason or maybe the Hale siblings were just messing around. But it’s a pretty big deal considering there are actually no true portraits of Nathan or his siblings. Just statues and drawings that are artist renditions based on historical accounts. There was a historian who wrote about Nathan Hale and came in contact with a member of the Hale family (Rebecca Hale, I believe). She told him about the shadow drawing and it was a long and interesting story that I unfortunately don’t remember all the parts to. A piece about the portrait is typed on a paper in the photo of Nathan’s rifle, if you can zoom in, you can read a little more on it.

Their gift shop was also small and cutesy and I spent a lot of money there on books. On display there, they had an old piece of wood from the original house. I got a published copy of Reverend John Hale’s, A Modest Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft.

If anyone wasn’t aware, Reverend John Hale (Nathan Hale’s great grandfather) was called to Salem, Massachusetts from Beverly to assist in the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. He was partially responsible for the persecution of several innocent people however, nearing the end of the trials, he began to disagree with the accusations. He published this firsthand account to condemn the actions of those involved with the trials and I’ve always thought it was so interesting. I’ve wanted to read this since I read The Crucible back in high school and i was very excited to see it at the gift shop.

You can also visit the Hale Farm in Beverly, MA where Rev. John Hale used to live and I want to someday. I’ve only ever been outside of it, I’ve never properly visited for a tour. (Cutesy fact as well: Rev. John’s Hale’s birthday is June 3rd, which is only 3 days before Nathan’s).

Final Thoughts:

The Hale Family was absolutely MASSIVE. Our tour guide mentioned being a descendant of the Hale Family and im sure a number of “born and raised” New England residents are as well somewhere in their ancestry. Based on the drawn family tree, most of the members had probably 4 kids minimum and then those kids all had a ton of kids. It’s also very funny to me how there are probably several Hale’s who are decently significant figures in history and it’s just wild that it’s all one family. I know it’s the same for royal families and such but it feels different somehow.

According to our tour guide, one theory about how Nathan Hale was captured was by Robert Rogers. That Rogers invited him to dinner and convinced Nathan that he was also part of the Continental Army. Nathan then confided his mission in Rogers and was lured into a false sense of security that lead to him being captured. Which is another one for the Turn baddies that almost made me die when I heard it. Especially since I don’t believe I’ve heard that theory before.

Something I did really enjoy about this tour was how it didn’t completely focus on Nathan. Of course that would have been fine and equally as interesting, but it was mainly a lesson on his family and some of his descendants. After being taught about Nathan Hale so many times, I had no idea about his entire family and his siblings.

It also never TRULY occurred to me that there aren’t any real portraits of Nathan Hale. They’ve all been artist renditions as paintings or statues based on historical descriptions of him and something about that is extremely wild to me. It makes me somewhat grateful for our easy access to camera and video in our modern world. There are so many faces and stories that have been completely lost to time - even some very significant historical figures have little to no surviving images. Like, we know who they are and that they were here at some point - we have their belongings and things that they used. Thats why seeing Nathan’s rifle in the bedroom or Enoch’s stein in the sitting room cause me to have such visceral reactions. This was theirs once. This was used by someone probably everyday. And now its almost like a ghost or memory of them. The land around the property is heavily wooded as well, lots of trees and stones. My sister and I took a short walk around the property before leaving and it really made me think: how many of these stones did they touch? How many of these large trees did they lean on? It drives me so insane honestly.

One last thing that hadn’t occurred to me before this trip was how the Hale family learned of Nathan’s hanging. According to the tour guide, Enoch and a couple his brothers had heard of a Hale being found guilty of espionage and being hanged. And after looking into it more, Enoch did confirm that it was Nathan and sent word to the rest of the family. It’s said that before being hanged, Nathan only asked for a few things: A priest (which he did not get), parchment, quill and ink for writing. He wrote a letter to his commanding officer and one to his family. According to the guide, i believe neither one was sent. Perhaps the one to the officer was sent, however he never received it because he was killed in battle before he had the chance. And allegedly, the one written to the Hale family was seized by the British and was likely used as a written confession rather than being sent home to Nathan’s family. I honestly can’t imagine how upsetting that must’ve been for all of them. Especially with each of the Hale brothers being in the war and likely all in different places, there wasn’t really any other way for them to find out that their own brother was hanged aside from the way everyone else learned of it - through the newspaper or by word of mouth. No other Hale brother died in the war either, they all survived and had relatively high rankings by the time the war was over.

~~~

So that was my trip, it was fun and informative and I would really love to visit again sometime. I highly recommend anyone who is a fan of history, or Turn: Washington’s Spies to visit if you can! They are only open seasonally though, and only on weekends. They do a tour every hour, so plan accordingly if you want to visit!

[yr-martyr]

🎶I know what is coming/I’m not a fool entire/you’ll bury me beneath the tree I climbed in as a child🎶

[mollafer]

"The Birth of American Intelligence Operations" by Marc Wolfe

BEHOLD! Another amazing work of art I have been recently introduced to!

This scene portrays the final meeting of Nathan Hale and George Washington as they planned the mission Hale would ultimately be killed during. Being an MI officer, we train so that moments like these never happen again. Every decision we make, we keep the soldiers in mind who will be out there risking their lives for us. I know Ben Tallmadge felt this same duty, as he not only lost a fellow MI officer, but his best friend that day.

I received this painting as a gift for my recent graduation from Military Intelligence School in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. And along with this painting came a certificate of authenticity with a little history of the origin of this painting, which I will include below the cut :)

During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the United States Continental Army wrote, "The necessity of procuring good intelligence is apparent and need not be further urged..." Military Intelligence has since been an important part of Army operations in each of the nation's conflicts.

This scene depicts the planning for one of the first known U.S. Army intelligence missions. In September 1776, General George Washington, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton, and Captain Nathan Hale met at Army headquarters in New York City to finalize the plan for CPT Hale's covert mission to Long Island to ascertain British Army movements and intentions.

Following the July 4th, 1776, U.S. Declaration of Independence, the New York campaign was critical to the newborn republic. After defeat at the Battle of Long Island in late August, General Washington needed to determine the location of a British invasion of Manhattan Island and one method to do so was to send a spy behind enemy lines. CPT Nathan Hale was the sole volunteer for this important but dangerous mission.

On September 1, 1776, General Washington organized "Knowlton's Rangers," the first Continental Army unit dedicated to tactical reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. During the Boston Campaign, LTC Knowlton served courageously at the battle of Bunker Hill and led the successful raid on Charlestown to capture British soldiers for questioning. Subsequently on September 16, 1776, during the Battle of Harlem Heights, LTC Knowlton commanded the reconnaissance force that found, engaged, and repulsed the initial British advance. After rejoining the fight later that day, LTC Knowlton was killed in action bravely leading his regiment in the American victory. The loss of this experienced, dynamic, and able leader impacted the young Continental Army. For his gallant exploits, leadership, and command of the first U.S. Army unit designed for intelligence operations, the MI Corps designated LTC Knowlton as its "MI Hero" in 1995. The Knowlton Award recognizes distinguished professionals who contribute significantly to the promotion of Army intelligence.

From Knowlton's Regiment, CPT Nathan Hale stepped forward to conduct intelligence missions against British forces on Long Island, ultimately giving his life for his country. A 21-year-old Yale College graduate and teacher, Nathan Hale had not seen action in the Boston or Long Island Campaigns and felt compelled to contribute to the Continental Army he had joined a year earlier. He saw this mission as a crucial opportunity to serve the patriotic cause. Thus, Nathan Hale dutifully volunteered to collect information against the British Army. According to a subordinate, CPT Hale met with General Washington on two occasions prior to departing. This scene portrays the final meeting.

Dressed in the guise of a school teacher, Nathan Hale crossed Long Island Sound from Connecticut and began his mission. After the British captured New York City, it was set ablaze under suspicious circumstances after midnight on September 21. The British immediately began to arrest local civilians for questioning. Nathan Hale was detained, found to have notes on the British Army, and immediately charged as a spy. According to the standards of the time, undercover spies were hanged as illegal combatants. Without a trial, Nathan Hale was executed on September 22, 1776. His last words were believed to be, "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country." Nathan Hale was the first American executed for conducting intelligence operations.

General George Washington's use and staunch advocacy of intelligence operations coupled with the distinguished service and sacrifice of LTC Knowlton and CPT Nathan Hale serve as a constant reminder to all MI Corps Soldiers of our significant heritage as well as the hazards of the Military Intelligence profession.

[alexander-the-ham-man]

This is how imagine Tallmadge and André conversation:

Tallmadge: I had a friend, Nathan Hale. He was hanged as a spy.

André: Yeah mate, heard of him. Ain't me. My situation is different.

Tallmadge:

[melpomeneprose]

“I regret only that I have but one life to lose for my country.” - the alleged last words of Nathan Hale

Ben & Nathan: @honorhearted.

[viola-ophelia]

thinking about how after john andre was captured & staying at the patriot camp, ben tallmadge was assigned to basically hang out with him while the army decided what to do with him, and one day randomly was like “have you heard of nathan hale,” and andre was like “idk maybe, why” and ben was like “well he was my BEST FRIEND and they HANGED HIM AS A SPY” and andre was like “oh... sorry for your loss... but you wouldn’t do that to me would you haha” and ben was like “ACTUALLY WE DEFINITELY WILL” and that was how andre had to learn that he was gonna die lol

[breezesofoctober]

In honor of finals week, here’s a scratchy sketch of Nate :)

[amberlynnmurdock]

New Love, New Haven

Chapter Thirteen: Relations between Wethersfield and New Haven

Pairing: Benjamin Tallmadge x Original Female Character

Summary: Ben and Sadie communicate through letters, but keeping up is harder than it seems.

A/N: I hope you enjoy this update, friends! We're approaching the final chapters, which makes me sad, but we have some fun chapters coming soon!!

New Haven 

End of August 1773 

Ben’s first letter came as soon as a week after he left town on horseback for Wethersfield. Sadie snatched the letter from her father’s hands. Her sprint caused her father's hair to sway over his forehead. 

“Aye! No running in the tavern,” Richard scolded, like Sadie was still a child. She didn’t care. Sadie sat at the end of the bar and ripped the wax-sealed envelope open. Suddenly, the noise of the tavern drowned out as Sadie began to read the letter in Ben’s voice. 

Dear Sadie, 

I’ve finally settled into my temporary home. I just arrived tonight, and after unpacking, I immediately wanted to write to you so I could send this letter by morning. You would love this abode I’m in. It’s small, but it’s got a lot of character. There’s a fireplace for when winter comes around. I have a big enough bed—anything is better than the small cots Yale made us sleep on. At least my desk is large; perfect for grading papers, reading, and of course, writing to you. I think I’ll find myself doing that a lot here. 

I miss you so much. I’ve not gone a day without thinking of you and our last night spent together. It’s on my mind, constantly. I better stop thinking of it now. 

I hope you’re enjoying the books I’ve left for you. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on them. I know we may be apart, but my heart feels like it’s with you.

Class starts next week. I can’t wait to tell you about my students. 

Yours, 

Benjamin Tallmadge 

Sadie read and re-read the letter, feeling her heart jump in her chest. This letter easily made her day. She tucked it in her dress’ front pocket and continued the rest of her shift, with Ben tucked in the back of her mind. 

☆☆☆☆

That night, Sadie sat up at her desk and began to write her response to Ben. 

Dear Benjamin,

I’ve been re-reading Shakespeare’s sonnets. They remind me of you. Reading them makes me feel like there isn’t such a distance between us. 

I can hardly wait to hear about how your first class went. I’m sure by the time you receive this letter you’ll already be on your fifth or sixth class. I know your students will love the way you teach, like I do. It’ll be hard for them to be distracted because of how captivating you are. What will you be teaching first? You forgot to mention in your letter. You know I love every detail when it comes to learning. 

Your dwelling sounds cozy. I can imagine how it looks. Your desk is large? Similar to the size of the desks at Yale? I bet you and I could fit both our work on there and work side by side. Then again, maybe we wouldn’t get much work done if I were there with you. 

I’m sorry if that was crude. 

I haven’t stopped thinking of our last night together, either. It makes me yearn for our next one even more. 

It’s tough without you and Nathan. I can’t lie. But it’s nice to have Genny here. The tavern is still busy, but I always half expect to see you and Nathan bounding through the doors.

Until your next letter. 

Yours, 

Sadie Hale 

Sadie’s eyelids began to feel heavy. She placed her quill in the ink pot and blew out her candle. Her room felt so very dark, and very cold, without Ben. She laid her paper out for the ink to dry and tucked herself in bed, thoughts of Ben lulling her to sleep. 

☆☆☆☆

For many weeks, it looked like that first week without Ben. 

Like clockwork, Sadie checked the mail for his letter every week or so and she wouldn’t hesitate to write a response that same night. She loved to receive his letters—it felt like it was Christmas each time a new one came in. What would Ben have to say now? What new updates? How was school going? How was the weather in Wethersfield? 

His letters have been positive for the most part, but it wasn’t until Sadie received his last letter, in October, that things started to feel as uncertain as the night he left. 

Wethersfield 

October 1773

The ocean was so dark blue that it was almost black. The sound of the water running up the shore and then falling back into itself put Ben in a trance. His feet dug into the sand. The night was completely still. The color of the sky matched the color of the ocean, save for the stars that twinkled. He looked up at them as they formed a new constellation, one he hadn’t seen before, one he thinks he’d name Sadie. He’s alone. 

And with a jolt, Ben wakes up in his cot, a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. His tiny room was hot and stuffy. Leaving a window open hadn’t helped at all. Ben kicked the thin sheets off of him and groggily stomped over to his desk. He was sure he was supposed to be up in a few hours for school. The next class is about basic algebra. But Ben’s not thinking about the lesson plan or what comes after that—his thoughts, and now he supposed, his dreams, were consumed by Sadie. He was struggling more than he thought by being so far away from her. 

Rubbing his eyes, he sat at his large wooden desk and lit a candle. 

Ben stared at the flame for a few moments before he searched for his ink, quill and paper. He began to write a letter to Sadie. 

Dear Sadie, 

It’s the middle of the night, and I’ve just woken up from a dream about you. I was at the beach alone. I felt completely in solitude. Something about the environment made me feel safe like you were there. And the stars in my dream formed a constellation I hadn’t seen before; it probably doesn’t exist, but when I looked at them, I thought of you. And then I woke up, to this reality of you not being here with me. I miss you terribly. I can hardly wait for the winter. I’m going to try my hardest to see New Haven before I go to Setauket. 

Tomorrow’s class is on algebra. I can’t teach them the complex subjects we studied together yet. When I do, I’ll take what I’ve learned from you and incorporate it. I think you’d love my pupils, Sadie. They are young and bright; eager to learn. 

I miss you, terribly. Please know that I think of you every waking moment—even when I dream. 

Yours, 

Benjamin Tallmadge 

Ben sighed as he laid the paper out for the ink to dry. He pulled out an envelope and laid it next to the letter to serve as a reminder in the morning to drop it at the post. He wished he had something of Sadie to hold close: a piece of clothing, a chain, one of her bows…anything. Anything, he wished he could hold close to his heart. But he had nothing. Nothing but his memories and whatever they translated to in his dreams. 

Feeling a wave of exhaustion hit him again, Ben returns to his cot. It’s so hot, he doesn’t bother throwing his sheets over again. 

New Haven

November 1773 

It was a misty morning in New Haven, and Sadie was preparing for the day ahead. 

New Haven felt much quieter these days, without Nathan coming by in the afternoons. Everything in the town was still the same: she saw the same shops open early, and the same townsfolk coming to the tavern at night, but with Nathan and Ben away, the changes felt like a big ripple in a small pond. Sadie kept to herself and did her chores quietly around the tavern. She helped her father carry new ale barrels up the stairs. She cleaned, she served, she smiled. 

She missed Nathan dearly. Sadie kept the thought of him constantly, like carrying a satchel on her shoulder. 

And of course, her thoughts always wandered to Ben. But she tried to only think of him at night before she was about to go to bed. It was too painful to think of him during the day—Sadie wouldn’t be able to get anything done if she did. So, she saved him for the night, because the night reminded her of him in so many ways: their late-night secret meetings, meeting him down by the door to go to the shore, that last night they had in her bed… 

She laced up her boots and got up from her bed. Before she went downstairs to prep the bar, she paused at her desk, which had Ben’s most recent letter displayed. She picked up the paper and read it again. It was about a dream he’d had of her. Yes, it was November now, and Ben’s most recent letter was from mid-October. 

If Sadie’s predictions were right, he should have received her response right before the end of October. But now it was mid-November and almost the holidays. Nathan would be coming back to New Haven in a few weeks, and Ben? Well, she didn’t know, because she hasn’t heard from him. 

For a long time, Sadie convinced herself it was because he was busy. Taking on a new teaching job came with a lot of responsibilities. He’d have to keep up with a lot of students and grade a lot of papers. And Sadie knew Ben’s work ethic—he practically threw himself into his work, letting each subject and lesson consume him, he must’ve gotten too busy, Sadie thought. Maybe his lessons got mixed up with his letters. Maybe he was planning on writing her a large update and was saving it for now. Maybe, maybe, maybe. 

Maybe he met someone else. 

She shooed the thought away as soon it crept into her mind. 

Sadie felt her heart wrench as she read and re-read his letter. She was transported back to her late summer evenings with Ben, trading sweet nothings and poetry, his notes…for a moment, she wasn’t pretending like she didn’t miss him. But then she heard her father call from the bar, and Sadie placed the letter back down and went downstairs. With each creak of the step, an image of Ben faded from her mind. 

Cleaning the tavern was a good distraction from it all. And it got even better when people began to trickle in, asking for ale or water. Asking Sadie what it was like to be without her brother. Saying they missed Nathan’s shining smile, too. Genny came in around noon, to Sadie’s delight. 

“I’ve got great news,” Genny beamed as she met Sadie at the bar. Sadie leaned over and rested her head in her hand. 

“Go on!” Sadie urged. 

“My father said if we wanted to, and your father would allow it, we could spend the spring next year in Middletown,” Genny said in a hushed tone. “You know, to study the herbs and learn about healing.” 

Sadie opened her mouth to reply but found herself at a loss for words. Well, what would happen if Nathan came around then? What if she needed to help her father here? What about Ben? How long would they stay there? 

“I…”

“Sadie, what is it?” Genny asked. “I thought you’d be excited. Middletown! A new place.” 

“It’s not that I’m not excited. It’s just that I have so much going on here in New Haven. What if I leave and Nathan decides to come back for a weekend? I’ve got to see him. And… you know, there’s Ben,” Sadie explained sheepishly. She felt a dent in her heart when she explained her grievances. 

Genny gave her a sympathetic look. “Sadie. You can’t place your life on hold, waiting for other people. Of course, Nathan is your brother—you’ll see him. But Ben? Has he written you back since October?” 

Sadie’s face darkened as she looked away, embarrassed. “Not yet.” 

Genny shrugged her shoulders. “This would be a good opportunity for us both. Get us both out of here. The boys did it! Why can’t we?” 

Sadie bit her lip. You can’t place your life on hold. 

“Well, all right. I guess the reality of it is what makes me nervous. I’ll speak to my father tonight. Perhaps, he may be more convinced if your father came in to talk about it. Over ale,” Sadie added. 

Genny smiled, “Perfect. I’ll see if he can tonight.” 

After Genny left, Sadie felt another dent form in her heart; things were changing and there wasn’t anything she could do about it. 

☆☆☆☆

Later that evening, Sadie sat at her desk, contemplating bringing her ink and quill out to write a letter to Ben. Since when did she feel so unsure of herself, when it came to Ben? Would it be strange to send another letter after he hadn’t replied to her? The last she checked, Ben was writing about dreams of her and telling her how much he missed her. What had changed? 

After much convincing, Sadie told herself that the purpose of this letter would be to inform Ben of her new ventures starting next spring. She’d be in Middletown, with Genny, studying healing. Middletown was not that far from Wethersfield and Sadie hated the hopeful feeling this thought brought. 

Dear Benjamin, 

I haven’t heard from you in a while. I hope everything is all right in Wethersfield. I can’t wait to hear about your lessons and pupils. I think I wrote that in my last letter. Are you okay? I’d love to hear from you. It’s been a while. 

I’m writing this letter to inform you that next spring I’ll be staying with Genny and her father in Middletown. We will be studying healing and herbs. After her father came in to talk to my father, he was convinced it would be a good learning opportunity and agreed to let me go. Of course, what’s heavy on my mind is what happens to us. But there’s not much I can do if I don’t hear from you. I can’t say no to an opportunity like this. 

If it’s meant to be, it will be, you and I. 

I’m holding on dearly to what we have, but I can’t hold on forever, Ben. 

I really do hope I hear from you soon. 

Yours, 

Sadie Hale 

A tear fell down Sadie’s cheek, splotching the word “Yours.” But Sadie didn't notice when she folded the letter and slipped it into an envelope. 

[enbylestat]

They Build Coffins: The Whumps of March 2024

They Build Cofiins

the beginning.

Relationships: Benjamin Tallmadge/an original character of mine, Lestat de Lioncourt/an original character of mine (implied), Nathan Hale & Benjamin Tallmadge (mentioned), The Culper Ring and Benjamin Tallmadge & George Washington.

Rating: E - explicit. standard reminder to read tags and if you don’t like it, don’t read it. Major character death warning!

Summary: Hurt no comfort/whump, America loses the war for independence, and the debt is paid back in blood.

Excerpt: Benjamin Tallmadge – John Bolton or 721 , if you like knew precisely what he was doing. It was one of the rare instances he possessed a semblance of self-assuredness. The cause, the social and political revolution that had started in 1775 at Lexington and Concord was losing. Tallmadge had gone to New Orleans for help. There’d been trouble on the road, a blonde dandy named Lestat and Benjamin had come to blows – they’d narrowly avoided murdering each other at pistol point. At least de Lioncourt had let him go.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Playlist.

Link of links.

Archive of our own.

[trekkiehood]

I wrote my final paper on why Nathan Hale's death led to a patriot victory and I got a 94 on it

[little-desi-historian]

Also Ben: refers to feminine beauty, uses Greek mythology analogies regarding Nathan Hale, talks at length about the Greeks and revolutionary ideals with Nathan Hale.

Idk man, sounds like lack of understanding of how actual 18th century queer folks worked.

Alexander Hamilton was, highly likely, bi, and you should watch Private Romeo for Seth Numrich playing a canon bi/queer/not 100% straight character, also, Lestat de Lioncourt and Will Graham are both canonically bisexuals and I adore them.

History: but Benjamin Tallmadge wasn’t gay 

Me:

[resurrectionist3]

Rest in Peace, King

Nathan Hale

June 6, 1755 - September 22, 1776

You loved to yap … and they hanged you for it😔

[yr-martyr]

Amrev people as things my friends have said part 6

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

Brewster, abt Simcoe: yeah, but like,,, what if I threw him in a creek *sips apple juice*

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

Hamilton: I’m thirsty

Laurens: drink the pond.

Lafayette: mmm yummy yummy schuykill (:

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Woodhull: what’s your pronouns?

Strong: …she…they …*passes out*

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Burr: IM GONNA SUE YOU!!

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R. Woodhull: (to Thomas) thats medicine, dipshit.

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Allen: I saw a shirt that said “I ❤️ NY” and i couldn’t agree less.

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Woodhull: I should ask him to fight!

Brewster: he won’t, I saw him leaving the meetinghouse.

Woodhull: Shit! Let’s go talk to Townsend!

Strong: wait which one was it?

Brewster: the one on Main St.

Strong: that’s for jehovas witnesses

Woodhull: oh. OH.

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Random child: HEY NICOLAS!!!

Hale: who’s Nicolas and what’s he doing.

Kid: You’re Nicolas

Hale: No I’m not??

Kid: Nicolas, look at that big crow.

Hale: IM NOT NICOLAS.

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N. Hale: (sick) *takes meat pie out of the freezer and hands it to Enoch*

E. Hale: you want one of these?

N. Hale: *nods sadly*

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Knowlton: *sprinting down the road as fast as possible*

Hale: *following him closely and also running*

All the other rangers: *also careening down the street*

The random stray cat they’re chasing:

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Warren: I’m a doctor, I’ve seen the horrors of the universe.

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(at Casimir’s funeral)

Random stranger: so! What’s the dead guy’s name?

Kosciusko: … Pulaski.

Random stranger: shit! Is he polish? I love polish people!

Kosciusko: ??

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(Ben showing a new recruit around)

Tallmadge: this is-

*scream from down the hall*

Recruit: what was that???

Tallmadge: Caleb.

[alexander-the-ham-man]

This poem was written by Nathan Hale for Tallboy. This is so sweet but at the same time breaks my heart.

[breezesofoctober]

I spent far too much time on this and it looks quite juvenile In terms of coloring because I am not a digital artist !!!!! But I felt a colored piece was overdue and I just love Ben and Nate so much :,)

[amberlynnmurdock]

New Love, New Haven

Chapter Eleven: Navigation 

Pairing: Benjamin Tallmadge x Original Female Character 

Summary: Nathan and Ben have a heart-to-heart. Sadie and Ben find other ways to keep a secret. 

A/N: Hope you’re all having a lovely June! I hope you enjoy this chapter! 

Warnings: very very mild sexual content (IDK why I’m even putting a warning but I guess it’s alluded lol) 

June 1773

Something had shifted ever since the secret was out about Ben and Sadie. Things were so much easier for them now, Sadie almost missed sneaking out and passing notes. For Sadie, it was nice to not have to worry about getting caught or have to watch her words around everyone anymore. Even for Ben—a weight had been lifted off his shoulders now that Nathan knew. It felt even more right to be with Sadie now that it wasn’t a secret anymore.

Sadie was wiping down the bar at the tavern, replaying the moment she had confessed to Nathan about Ben.

If they were kids, and Nathan had found out a boy was secretly dating his sister, he would’ve pushed the boy into the ground and told him to stay away. She laughed, remembering so many times Nathan defended her when she was young. Her mind wandered to an early

memory she had of Nathan.

☆☆☆☆

April 1763

It was a cold spring day and the sun shone brightly but not bright enough to feel warm outside. It was one of those days one had to be constantly moving around to not feel cold. For Sadie, she would rather be sitting comfortably in the wagon instead of running around and roughing it up with her brother and his friends.

Nathan held the handle of the wagon and ran across the field, dragging Sadie along. She held onto either side of the red wagon as Nathan took twists and turns in the field. Sadie laughed uncontrollably. Anyone else might’ve felt unsafe being pulled like that but Sadie knew her big brother wouldn’t do anything that’d hurt her.

They were racing his friends who pulled their own wagons. Nathan was the first to reach the big tree near the pond, and he raised his fist in the air in success.

"We won!” Nathan shouted at his friends.

His other two friends, names Sadie couldn’t remember, pulled up with their own wagons out of breath, and quite upset.

“She didn’t win! All she did was sit there and be pulled around,” one of them spat, sticking their tongue out at Sadie.

“Yeah, why is she even here anyway? She should be inside with the other tots knitting and doin’ whatever boring thing girls do!”

Sadie, completely shocked by their comments, kept still in the wagon. She looked at her brother and covered her face with her hands, tears welling in her eyes.

“Hey, stop that!” Nathan shouted at his friends. “She has every right to play out here like we do! Come on, Sadie. We’ll find something else to do.” Nathan huffed and began to pull the wagon, with Sadie, back to their house.  

☆☆☆☆

Sadie smiled at the memory. Nathan was always quick to defend her. Part of her wondered if it was hard for Nathan to realize she didn’t really need his defending anymore. Perhaps that’s why he reacted the way he did when he found out about Ben. She was older now; she could fight her own battles, and make her own decisions.

She started to wipe a stubborn speck of dirt on the counter. She didn’t hear the doors of the tavern open.

“Sadie,” Nathan’s voice came from behind. Sadie stopped wiping the counter and turned around to greet her brother with a smile. Folding the rag, she placed it on the counter and faced her brother.

“Nathan, what are you doing here so early?” Sadie asked crossing her arms.

“I’ve come to speak with you,” Nathan answered. His smile was crooked, his blonde hair shining even in the natural lighting of the tavern. Nathan held his tricorn in his hands in front of him, as if he had been caught with something he stole. The look of sadness on his face worried her. Knowing whatever it was couldn’t be good, she took a deep breath.

“What is it, Nathan?” Sadie asked, walking toward her brother.

“It’s—I’m leaving a bit earlier than anticipated. For East Haddam,” Nathan admitted with a deep sigh. “I wanted to tell you before Father did.”

“Oh,” was all Sadie could say. “Oh… well, when?”

“The end of the month,” Nathan replied.

Sadie raised her eyebrows, in an attempt to dry the tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes. She smiled brightly for Nathan, although it felt like her heart had been squeezed tightly.

“You get to start your new venture sooner!” She mustered all the lightness she could in her voice, clapping her hands together. She met Nathan’s pained expression with a smile and squeezed his shoulders. “I’m so happy for you, Nathan.”

“I didn’t want to go so early,” Nathan defended, shaking his head. “I wanted to spend the rest of the summer here with you, with Genny…but I must go.”

Sadie felt a lump in her throat form. Why was it, when things always changed in their lives, did Sadie always think back to when they were just kids? Right now, she couldn’t get the image out of her head of Nathan running around with her when she was just seven years old. Their mother yelled at them for playing in the mud. The image of Nathan on his way to Yale in a carriage with their father, for the first time ever. And now, another core memory was forming right before her eyes. Nathan was done with school, done with college, and now what lay ahead was simply the future. The days of them being kids were gone—this was real life now. Sadie didn’t need to be protected anymore, and Nathan didn’t have to do the protecting. Now it was time for them to learn how to navigate their lives, without them being in it all the time.

“This is the most exciting thing you’ve waited for,” Sadie reasoned, tears falling down her cheeks. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ll miss you,” Nathan simply answered, shrugging his shoulders. He wiped Sadie’s tears away and brought her in for a hug, holding her tightly. “’Tis not going to be the same without annoying you here at the tavern.” He smiled. Sadie laughed against his chest and pulled back, wiping her face.

“You better write to me,” Sadie playfully punched his shoulder. “And write to me all your lessons you teach. Maybe even ones you learn, too.”

“Of course, I will,” Nathan affirmed. “I’ll visit as much as I can, at any opportunity.”

“Then good,” Sadie nodded, gathering herself. “Now enough of this sentimental stuff.”

Nathan laughed, putting his tricorn on a nearby table. He offered to help Sadie clean the counter of the bar, which Sadie gladly accepted. The rest of the time he spent there, they talked about what he would be teaching first, and where he would be staying. Nathan spoke of Genny and how they will be working things out. He hopes Sadie will spend time with Genny when he’s gone.

And at least, Ben was here until the end of August.

☆☆☆☆

Ben sat at his desk, sitting quietly as he read through his book on mathematics. Truthfully, it was one of the more boring subjects for Ben. Not because he didn’t like it, but since it came so easy to him, it wasn’t quite exciting. Still, he disciplined himself and told himself to get through just one more chapter.

That’s when Nathan suddenly came inside his room, well, their room, and kicked off his boots and plopped on his bed. Ben chuckled at his friend, closing his book.

Nothing was strange between him and Nathan since he found out. Nathan didn’t appreciate being lied to all this time, but he was glad it was Ben who Sadie had fallen for. He trusted all of his friends, but he didn’t trust all of them like he trusted Ben. He would trust Ben with his life. If he could do that, why wouldn’t he trust him with his very own sister?

“I’m leaving earlier than anticipated,” Nathan told Ben, sitting up in bed. Ben turned around in his chair.

“When?” Ben asked.

“The end of the month,” Nathan answered.

“Christ,” Ben replied, “that’s in a fortnight.”

“I know,” Nathan sighed heavily. “I just told Sadie.”

“Hmm,” Ben remembers feeling weary whenever Nathan would say Sadie’s name, so it’s a foreign feeling for him to not put on a front now. “How did she take it?”

“Well, I suppose. I mean, it’s not the last time we’ll see each other,” Nathan laughed, “I guess it’s just different this time around. I’m not going away for school—this is my career, the rest of my life.”

“A lot of things are different now,” Ben said.

Nathan laughed ironically. He sighed before he spoke his next words.

“Your relationship with my sister is between you and her,” he began thoughtfully, “but please, Tallmadge, I just ask one thing: be kind to her. Look out for her.”

Ben’s mouth went agape. He shifted in his seat so he was fully looking at Nathan.

“My intentions with Sadie are pure. I—she is very, very important to me. I plan to be with her as long as she will let me,” Ben explained.

“Very well,” Nathan considered Ben’s answer. “Well, my next question is, how do you plan to uphold that? When you leave, in August?” Although Nathan couldn’t protect Sadie from everything anymore, that didn't mean he wouldn’t look out for her. He knows how sensitive his sister can be—if Ben were to not remain loyal when he left, Sadie would be upset.

With conviction, Ben stood up from his chair.

“I will write to her every single week. Day, if possible. Wethersfield is not far from New Haven—a day’s travel, which means the mail will come quickly. I will visit as much as I can, and—“

“Okay,” Nathan stood up, meeting Ben’s height. “Understood.”

Ben was nearly out of breath from his ramblings, defending his intentions.

“I don’t take being with her lightly, you must know this, Nathan,” Ben continued. “Especially since you are her brother and my best friend.”

“Forgive me for wanting assurance. Should I remind you I only found out about a few days ago?”

Ben rested his case when Nathan said that. He nodded in understanding.

“I trust you,” Nathan placed his hands on Ben’s shoulders, looking him in the eyes. “But you must prove it to her.”

“I will,” Ben affirmed. “Absolutely, I will.”

☆☆☆☆

Sadie sat up in her bed, her legs in a criss-cross position, in her nightgown. She had a small candle going by her bedside table. She peered out her window, waiting for Ben’s arrival.

It was half past midnight. Just because their secret was out in the open didn’t mean they couldn’t find other ways to sneak around. Sadie felt giddy. She’d never had someone of the opposite sex come into her room.

Earlier, Sadie put together the chamomile concoction she’s made once before to get her father to sleep heavily. She might’ve felt guilty but her father had been overworking himself lately, and a restful sleep was what he needed, whether he knew it or not.

Sadie saw a figure in the distance, and the closer it got to the tavern, Sadie could confirm that it was Ben. He wore his tricorn hat to cover his face, and a large jacket, and carried his satchel full of notes. Upon seeing him go to the back, Sadie quickly and quietly trotted down the stairs to meet him.

She put a finger to her lips to shush him. He followed her quietly up the steps. When the floor creaked, they froze. After hearing her father’s snore, they continued up the steps and quickly shuffled into her bedroom, where they would be safe.

“Phew,” Sadie exhaled as she shut the door behind her. She smiled at Ben, who shrugged his hat and coat off. “We made it.”

Ben smiled, his golden brown hair messy from the hat. He ran his fingers through his hair to fix it. He let his locks fall loose. He beckoned her over with his arms wide open. Sadie tiptoed to him and fell into his warm embrace, placing her cheek on his chest.

“So,” Ben simply said, “this is your room.”

Sadie pulled back, “Yes. There’s not much going on, but it is quite cozy. Especially when I have something to read.”

Ben’s eyes lit up at the mention of something to read. He briefly let go of her and got out his satchel, opening it up to reveal a large textbook for Sadie. Her eyes widen at the sight of it.

“Good Lord, Benjamin,” Sadie exclaimed. Ben laughed at her reaction. “Is this what you’ll be teaching in Wethersfield?”

“No,” he shook his head, “this is for you.”

“For me?” Sadie repeated. She held the large leather-bound book in her hands. It read Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms by Sir Isaac Newton. It was dated 1728.

“Wow,” she marveled at the book, “why this one? I am grateful for it, but I’m curious the reasoning.”

“Something different,” Ben explained simply. “This isn’t the only one I have for you, but it’s the first one you’ll get.”

“You mean you’ve got more books for me? Where are you getting them from?”

Ben smiled. “My own collection. I won’t have room for them to travel with me when I go. And I don’t know anyone better who will take great care of them, and find them useful, too.”

Sadie was touched. She placed the large book on her desk, running her fingers over the cover.

“And when do you go?” Sadie asked softly, running her fingers over the side of his face now. Ben’s eyes fluttered at her touch. Although she was only in her nightgown, and her hair was down as well, Ben thought she never looked more beautiful, standing in front of him.

“The end of August,” Ben answered.

She pressed her lips together.

“I’ll be a year older by then,” she mused.

Ben nodded in response.

They talked more as they held each other, standing in the middle of her room. Ben twirled one of the front pieces of her hair as Sadie spoke about her plans for the fall with Genny. She listened when Ben told her how his lesson plans were coming along. Good, he had said. He couldn’t wait to show her when they were ready. Sadie shook her head.

“Save it for the letters,” she said rather sadly, without meaning to. Ben furrowed his brows in concern, placing his fingers on her chin.

“I’ll always write you. And I’ll come back for you. I promise.”

Sadie walked past him and faced her bed. She fiddled with her hands. Maybe she was tired, maybe she was anxious, or both. These feelings she’d been hiding away would come about at some point. But, not tonight, she told herself.

Ben was right behind her as if he could read her thoughts. She turned around to look at him again with a sleepy smile. Suddenly, she felt his strong arms wrap around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. She placed her hands on his chest, bringing a bit of distance between their faces. Her heart began to beat fast. For a moment, Ben only looked at her behind his own tired blue eyes. He studied her, both their breaths growing heavy the longer they held contact. Suddenly, Sadie forgot what she had been worried about because the intense look in Ben’s eyes made her believe in something. In them.

“You drive me mad, Sadie,” Ben hoarsely whispered, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. Sadie smiled in response. “And you find that amusing,” Ben shook his head. “You don’t understand that I deeply desire you,” Ben confessed in a low voice, his warm breath hitting the cool of her neck. Sadie looked away from him, biting her lip, but the feeling was overwhelming. She was afraid if she looked at him with him looking at her like that, she’d combust right there.

She pulled him by his arms to her bed. She sat down first and had Ben sit next to her. With one leg on the bed and one hanging off, she took both Ben’s hands and held them.

“I’ve never had someone on my bed before,” Sadie confessed.

“It’s all right,” Ben comforted. “We don’t… have to do anything. We can just lay.”

“I want to,” Sadie continued. “I just…I don’t know…” Sadie wondered where her confidence had gone. Just months ago, she practically begged for Ben to touch her intimately and he refused. Now that the moment had presented itself again, she was scared. Perhaps she realized she had more to lose than she realized, once Ben went away. And once again, her worries bubbled on the surface. But when she looked at Ben, who looked so patient with her, her worries were gone.

“Let’s lay,” he suggested, taking her hand and pulling her toward him. He leaned back into her bed, and she nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck.

They would navigate those treacherous waters another time, Sadie thought. It was much more comforting to just be there in bed with Ben, with no expectations and no pressure. She didn’t have to say it. It was written all over her face. Ben knew she wasn’t ready. She’d save herself for him though, because one day, she would be.