Part 4

When Genl. Scott was about leaving this Post he proposed a plan for the regular conveyance of Cr’s letters to your Excellency, which he intended to lay before your Excellency on his arrival at Head Quarters. I hope before the General removes from Fredericksburgh his pleasure may be known, that Cr. may not be at a loss how to convey his letters with certainty and expedition. His extreme cautiousness and even timidity, in his present undertaking, would not admit of having his business made known to any Persons who are not at present his confidants--so that, as Genl. Scott observed before he left us, if it was communicated to any other persons he would most probably leave his present employment immediately--I mention this, not fearing that his letters or business will be made public at camp, but lest some persons in this quarter should be made acquainted with his present situation, which, as I before observed, would make him extremely unhappy, and as he assured when he embarked in the business, he should leave the Island immediately. I am with all due Respect, &c.

BENJ. TALLMADGE.

To this General Washington replied:

_Headquarters_, 20th. Nov. 1778.

_Sir._ I was favored with your letter of Yesterday. You will be pleased to observe the strictest silence with respect to C---- As you are to be the only person entrusted with the knowledge or conveyance of his letters.

The 23d of November found another long letter of Abraham Woodhull’s on its way to Headquarters, the first page of which may be read among the Notes.(104) Continuing he says:

“I am firmly of opinion that a sudden attack of ten-thousand men would take the City and put an end to the war, and save the stores and Long Island from devastation. All the best of their troops are on Long Island. There is about 300, most of them Hessians, at Brooklyn Ferry. 350 New Town, British; 1500 British Jamaica; 800 Yeagers, Flushing; 200 Jerico, most of them Dragoons; 400 foot, 70 Dragoons Oyster Bay; 150 Lloyd’s Neck, N. Leveys; 400 Hempstead, Dragoons; Stripping Barns and out houses for boards to build huts for Winter. 40 wagons 100 troops this day at Smith Town collecting cattle, sheep, Boards, &c. They make no distinction between Whig and Tory, abuse all to a great degree, and no redress can be obtained. Count d’Estaing’s dispatches for France are taken and brought to town but are Cypher prepared so they cannot be found out. I will note to you that much provision is brought to town from the Jerseys privately; flour, beef, &c. I saw a gentleman of my acquaintance, lately from England, where he hath been three years; he saith Independence will certainly be granted this session of Parliament. My business is expensive; so dangerous traveling that I am obliged to give my assistants high wages, but am as sparing as possible. I have drawn on you for fifty Pounds in Specie, York Money, which please accept. I should be glad to have given you a better account but it cannot be obtained their movements are so strange that causes every one to admire. Hoping this may be of some service I remain Your most Obedt. Hbl. Servt,

“SAMUEL CULPER.”

In a letter enclosing the preceding to Headquarters Major Tallmadge adds:

“It may not be amiss to observe, in addition to Culper’s letter, that the gentleman mentioned by him to have lately arrived from England, is one Doctr. Nicoll, a gentleman of my acquaintance, on the varacity of whose report I have been persuaded I might safely depend--Your Excellency will perceive by the enclosed that C---- has drawn for 26 or 27 Guineas. In addition to this he has forwarded an order for the payment of sd. money to his friend. If your Excellency should see fit to transmit any money, it may be safely entrusted to the Bearer, on whose integrity I could depend in matters of much greater importance.”

As will later be observed, General Washington was now in receipt of a secret formula for their correspondence, which he wished to put to use. Therefore he answered Major Tallmadge saying: “I should be glad to have an interview with Culper myself, in which I would put the mode of corresponding upon such a footing that even if his letters were to fall into the enemy’s hands, he would have nothing to fear, on that account.” However in his letter following the above he says: “When I desired an interview with him I did not know his peculiar situation. I now see the danger that so long an absence would incur and I must leave it entirely to you to manage the correspondence in such a manner as will most probably insure safety to him and answer the desired end.”

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Major Tallmadge answered this on December 23d, saying: “Since your Excellency judges it improper to have an interview with C----, any private instructions which you may wish to transmit him, not so proper for me to transcribe, may be very safely conveyed to him, as from the regularity of his dispatches and the characters of the persons who I know are entrusted with their conveyance from N. Y. to Brook Haven, I dare venture to say there is not the least probability, and I had almost said hardly a possibility of a discovery.”

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From Philadelphia on January 2d, 1779, came instructions for Major Tallmadge to forward his letters through General Putnam. “There are regular Expresses established between Danbury and the Head Quarters of the Army,” it reads. “And you therefore need not in future send a special messenger the whole way. Send your letters to General Putnam at or near Danbury, letting him know that they are to be forwarded with dispatch. I shall get them sooner than by a single express.”

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Culper’s next letter, dated Feb. 26, is one of great length,(105) detailing the strength and position of all the troops of the enemy. In the closing paragraph he says: “Coll. Floyd returned on his Parole the 16. I earnestly wrote you for his discharge. I repeat it again, I anxiously desire you would not forget. I am very likely to stand in need of his services. I desire you will send me one hundred pounds, by the next appointment without fail, as I have spent already forty pounds more than I have received from you. Board is £3 per week in New York besides other necessary expenses postage and etcetra.”

“SAMUEL CULPER.”

* * * * *

An enclosure from Brewster accompanied the above letter. His in full is as follows:

FAIRFIELD, Feb. 26th, 1779.

_Dear Sir._ I have returned from the Island this day. Genl. Erskine remains yet at Southampton. He has been reinforced to the number of 2500. They have three redoubts at South and East Hampton and are heaving up works at Canoe Place at a narrow pass before you get into South Hampton. They are building a number of flat bottom boats. There went a number of carpenters down last week to South Hampton. It is thought by the inhabitants that they will cross over to New London after the Continental Frigates. Col. Hewlet remains yet on Lloyd’s Neck with 350, wood cutters included. Col. Simcoe remains at Oyster bay with 300 Foot and Light Horse. There is no troops from Oyster Bay till you come to Jamaica. There is one Regt. of Highlanders and some at Flushing and Newtown, the numbers I cannot tell, but not a regiment at both places. The most of the shipping of force has left New York. There is one 50, one old East India man, one 20 that is repairing at the ship yard, the Scorpion at N. City Island, one old India man at Huntington, 40 guns, the Halifax Brig at Oyster Bay, one sloop of ten guns they are repairing all their flat bottom boats in New York and building a number at the ship yard. This intelligence is as late out of New York as the 20th of the month. The inhabitants is fitting a number of Privateers out in the City. There was one French ship brought in with 500 hogsheads of Sugar last week. I am with respect, Yours, &c.

CALEB BREWSTER.

From General Washington at Middlebrook dated March 21st, 1779, came a long letter of instructions, most of which will be found in another chapter. To Tallmadge he says: “With this letter you will receive fifty guineas for S. C. which you will cause to be delivered as soon as possible, with an earnest exhortation to use them with all possible econemy, as I find it very difficult to obtain hard money.... As all great movements and the fountain of all intelligence must originate at, and proceed from the Head Quarters of the enemy’s army, C. had better reside at New York--mix with and put on the airs of a tory, to cover his real character and avoid suspicion.... The temper and expectation of the tories and refugees, is worthy of consideration; as much may be gathered from their expectations and prospects. For this end an intimacy with some well informed refugee may be political and advantageous--Highly so will it be to contract an acquaintance with a person in the Naval Department, who may either be engaged in the business of procuring transports for the embarkation of the troops, or in victualling them.”

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An unusual line heads Samuel Culper’s next letter. It reads:

“_Sir._ No. 10 10 April 10 1779.

It is the forerunner of their use of a code. Without alteration his letter follows just as it was originally written.

“Whenever I sit down I always feel and know my Inability to write a good Letter. As my calling in life never required it--Nor led to consider how necessary a qualification it was for a man--and much less did I think it would ever fall to my lot to serve in such publick and important business as this, and my letters perused by one of the worthiest men on earth. But I trust he will overlook any imperfections he may discover in the dress of my words, and rest assured that I indevour to collect and convey the most accurate and explicit intelligence that I possibly can; and hope it may be of some service toward alleviating the misery of our distressed Country, nothing but that could have induced me to undertake it, for you must readily think it is a life of anxiety to be within (on such business) the lines of a cruel and mistrustful Enemy and that I most ardently wish and impatiently wait for their departure. I sincerely congratulate you on the miscarriage of the Enemies intended expedition up the Sound. I can discover no movement on foot at present. Their excursions are always very sudden and seldom begin to move before dark, and it will be ten to one if ever it will be in my power to give you early intelligence of their sudden excursions, as I can only write at times. All I can say you must be every where upon your guard, and be more assiduous than ever in order to defeat the designs of our Enemies. Within and without their lines I am confident that they are using every art to distract your army and to divide the Country. It is a matter of surprise to me to see such numbers of deserters come in since the General’s pardon, published in the News Paper. But it is some releaf to find that they are mostly those that deserted from them heretofore. On the 25 Last Month 7 Sail Transports with about one hundred and seventy Scotch Troops of the Duke of Athol’s Regiment arrived from Halifax under convoy of the Rainbow of 44 Guns, Sir George Collier, who is come to succeed Admiral Gambier. On the 26th, 23 Sail arrived from England (which place they left the 2th Jany.) under convoy of the Romulus of 44 guns. They were chiefly loaded with stores and provisions for the Army. Very few goods came in the fleet. They say they have a large supply of money come in the Romulus. I have conversed with several gentlemen of different sentiments that came in the fleet and those that have a desire in favor of the Crown cannot give me a sufficient reason to think that any troops will come out this Spring, or that Great Britain will certainly continue to act against America. And those on the contrary say they will withdraw their force and give us Peace. On the 4th April arrived 7 Sail of Transports from Cork with provisions. The enemy now have a very large supply of Provisions and Stores indeed I think enough for three months without any addition. On the 6th Admiral Gambir sailed for England in the Ardent of 64 guns together with a number of transports, how many I am not able to ascertain nor think it very material--and this day sails another small fleet under convoy of the Rose, of 20 guns. All transports laying in the East or North River are completely victualed and waterd for sixty five days for their compliment of troops that they were accustomed to transport. The number of Ships, Brigs and Snows in the Harbour differeth not much from two hundred, out of which thers two sloops of war, four Frigets and two forty four guns ships and an old Indiaman with their usual number of guns for their defense, and an old 74 Store Ship, with only her upper teer of guns in. It is currently reported that Admiral Gambier met an express soon after he sailed from the Hook, from the West Indies and turned him back and now lays at the Hook. We expect every day to hear important news from England. The Enemy seem to be in high spirits, and say now Great Britain is Roused and will support them and carry on the war at all events and appear to be more sanguine than ever. But I dont wonder at it for they are kept as ignorant as possible and believe every report that is in their favour. The Torys say they have not the least doubt but that they shall succeed and enjoy their possessions yet.

“N. B.-- No. 10 represents N. York 20 Setauket 30 and 40 2 Post Riders.”

Another letter also marked No. 10 and dated April 12, addressed to John Bolton is signed only with the initials S. C. It begins: “Your No. 6 came to hand, together with a Vial for a purpose that gives me great satisfaction, and twenty guineas. It is a great satisfaction to me to hear that his ---- is well pleased with my letters.” The rest of the two sheets is a repetition of his letter of the 10th and may be a rough draft of it. It at least puzzled Major Tallmadge and he promptly started across the Sound for Setauket. There he found Abraham Woodhull suffering from the greatest fright of his life. It was only one of a series soon to follow, and was perhaps the least serious of them all. It would be hard to imagine that when Alexander Hamilton read this from Tallmadge to General Washington his usual calm countenance was not convulsed in smiles. The full letter will be found among the notes.(106) Here is the extract:

“I must now relate an anecdote respecting the Vial which I forwarded Culper. Much pleased with the curious ink or stain, and after making some experiments with the same, he was set down to answer my letter which accompanied it. He had finished the enclosed when very suddenly two persons broke into the room (his private apartment). The consideration of having several officers quartered in the next Chamber, added to his constant fear of detection and its certain consequences made him rationally conclude that he was suspected and that those steps were taken by said officers for discovery. Startled by so sudden and violent an obtrusion he sprang from his seat, snatched up his papers, overset his table and broke his Vial. This step so totally discomposed him that he knew not who they were or even to which sex they belonged--for in fact they were two ladies who, living in the house with him, entered his chamber in this way on purpose to surprise him. Such an excessive fright and so great a turbulence of passions so wrought on poor Culper that he has hardly been in tolerable health since. The above relation I had from his own mouth. He is much pleased with the Ink and wishes if any more can be spared to have a little sent him. By this he thinks he could frequently communicate intelligence by persons permitted to pass the lines. Some pieces of useful intelligence respecting the movement of the Enemy in this late intended Expedition to New London; and which I have reason to believe in a great measure defeated their intentions, have been communicated by Culper.”

In the same letter Major Tallmadge incidentally states: “Culper was the other day robbed of all his money near Huntington, and was glad to escape with his life.”

Culper’s next letter was dated from New York, April 29th. It was a “Stain” letter and only a poor copy of it has survived. Letters of importance were already on their way to Headquarters when from Smith’s tavern in the Clove, on June 13th, 1779, General Washington addressed Major Tallmadge as follows:

“Your letter of yesterday with the enclosures from Culper came duly to hand. Should suspicions of him rise so high as to render it unsafe to continue in New York I should wish him by all means to employ some person of whose attachment and abilities he entertains the best opinion, to act in his place, with a request to be critical in his observations rather than a mere retailer of vulgar reports--To combine the best information he can get with attentive observation will prove the most likely means to obtain useful knowledge--a mode of conveying it quickly is of the utmost importance and claims much attention. When I can procure more of the liquid Culper writes for, it shall be sent, at present I can not say when this may happen--I thank you for the information respecting Long Island--The letter to Mr. Deane shall be sent.”

Two letters, both dated June 5th, and numbered 13, were the next received from Abraham Woodhull. In them he relates his narrowest escape from capture.(107)(108) Colonel Simcoe and his Rangers hastened to Setauket in April, 1779, upon information furnished by John Wolsey against him. Fortunately, he was with Robert Townsend in New York at the time; but they fell upon his father and plundered him in a most shocking manner.[12] Hardly was it thought possible that Woodhull would be able to pay the price of satisfaction, but through a friend he accomplished it.

Woodhull’s next letter is worthy of study. Two features of it are here emphasized. In full it will be found among the notes.

“No. 14. 20 June 20, 1779.

“Your No. 8, on the 16th, found me at 20, anxiously concerned for our interest, and unwilling it should be neglected, and some reason to fear that by delay the door might be shut and out of my power to performe what I proposed in my No. 13, which I have concluded would be your desire. I thought proper to detain 40 until I went to 10 to endeavour to gain the best intelligence I could, and settle the plan proposed. I returned on the 19, and my success hath exceeded my most sanguine expectations.(109) I have communicated my business to an intimate friend, and disclosed every secret, and laid before him every instruction that hath been handed to me. It was with great difficulty I gained his complyance, checked by fear. He is a person that hath the interest of our Country at heart and of good reputation, character and family as any of my acquaintance. I am under the most solomn obligations never to disclose his name to any but the Post, who unavoidably must know it. I have reason to think his advantages for serving you and abilities are far superior to mine. I must call on you for ten guineas which will about defray my charges with what I have received. If what I have done is disapproved of it can be dropped, but if mine was worth attention this will not certainly be of less value. You will receive a letter from him in a short time beginning at No. 1. He will expect an ample support at the same time he will be frugal; as long as I am here shall be an assistant and do all that I can. In the Interim I remain

“Your most Obt. Huml. Servt., “SAMUEL CULPER.”

General Washington received through Major Tallmadge on June 26th, the news of Simcoe’s raid, and the next day answered in a long letter with which he sent ten guineas for Culper and mentioned one George Higday, who had attempted to get him information from New York.(110)

Entire direction of the Secret Service within the City of New York having now been placed in the care of Robert Townsend, his first letter(111) must have been looked forward to with anxiety by Abraham Woodhull, who announced its receipt in his No. 15, which is incorrectly dated June 31, 1779:

“Enclosed you have Mr. Saml. Culper Junr’s letter, which is but short but hope it may be of some service. He hath wrote in the stile of Loyalty, I think through fear like me at first unaccustomed to the business and filled with fear but the longer one continues in the business if unsuspected of more real service can he be. I have appointed to see him on the 8th inst. and shall repeat again to him those instructions that I have received from time to time from you, and use my utmost endeavor to acquaint him with the steps I used to take and circumstances necessary to judge from, that a person unaccustomed would not readily conceive of. My greatest desire is that he may be useful and answer your most sanguine expectations. He wishes that the ink or stain might be forwarded. He hath hinted to you the prospect of their making excursions in to Connecticut very soon. Very probably the war will be carried on in that manner, as free liberty is granted to the Refugees to plunder as much as they can. You must keep a very good look out or your shores will be destroyed. It is a pity that company could not be destroyed at Lloyd’s Neck. Their refugee boats are continually coasting along and much endanger 40. They entirely disown the defeat of their troops in Carolina, and I confess I am not fully satisfied about it. Have not yet seen nor heard of its being published by authority. Just received the enclosed and the boat awaiting have not had time to write as I would. Please excuse hast and any imperfections you may discover, and am your humble servant,

“SAMUEL CULPER.”