Turtle may be too obvious. Also on 7Sep1776

A Council of War recommends to General Washington that the American Army remains in New York and fights to hold the city. Washington orders Colonel Thomas Knowlton to organize a picket unit of rangers to be used chiefly on scouting duties. Among the volunteers was a genteel, young officer named Nathan Hale, who will later undertake an espionage assignment to determine British activities on Long Island.

https:// phillybowtietours.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/september-7-1776/