1862: Partly in response to the heavy losses inflicted at the Battle of Antietam, President Abraham Lincoln issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. (Source: Library of Congress)

1776: American patriot Nathan Hale was hanged for spying on British troops. As he was led to the gallows, Hale's famous last words - inspired by a line from Joseph Addison's popular play, Cato, reportedly were - "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." Hale allegedly spoke these words to British Captain John Montresor, chief engineer of His Majesty's Forces in North America and aide-de-camp to British General William Howe, while preparations for his hanging were underway. Nathan Hale was commissioned a first lieutenant on July 1, 1775, and was promoted to captain on January 1, 1776. General George Washington believed that General Howe, who had evacuated Boston in March 1776, would continue the battle in New York. In fact, the British had captured Staten Island and had begun a military buildup on Long Island. (Source: Library of Congress)