To Captain Poers, Commander of His Majesty’s Brig Argo, &c.
Sir, Major Gen. De Riedesel begs you will in compliance with the directions from Head Quarters, as you will see by the enclosed extract of a letter from the Deputy Adjt. General, order Mr. Wm. Heron’s boat which you took possession of a few days ago, back in all haste to the place where you first found her; and the men who navigated her will be sent without any delay to that place to receive their boat; and it is requested, Sir, that you will please to give such particular directions to your people, that she and everything belonging to her, may be restored to them as complete as she was found, without any further detention whatever. I have the honor to be with all respect, sir, Your very obedient humble servant.
—— ——.
Then from Westbury, under date of April 27th, 1781, the following note was forwarded by the detained men, who found upon their arrival Heron and the boat waiting for them:
“To Major Kissam. Sir, The enclosed papers will inform you that the people belonging to the Flag of Mr. Heron are to be sent to the other side as soon as Mr. Heron returns. The prisoners I hereby send, and beg you will be kind enough to guard them until they leave the Island; and in case of necessity to furnish them with provisions which shall be paid for whenever you will let me know the price thereof. The boat which was taken by the Argo brig will perhaps arrive at Hempstead Harbor to-day. I have the honor to be with great regard, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant,
“DeWurmb, Lt.C.”
Without delay they set out for Stamford and reached there just in time to fall into the hands of our General Waterbury, who treated them just as the British had on the other side of the Sound. We know now what they never suspected, that one of them, namely Heron, had recently furnished British Headquarters with information intended to enable Sir Henry Clinton to capture the spies of General Washington. Perhaps he had not quite sufficient detail. More likely the Culpers saved themselves by refusing to work as soon as the discovery was made that they were about to be betrayed. Employed with this crew of Heron’s were two whaleboat men who were also in Washington’s service. One was able to persuade General Waterbury to send him express to Headquarters. Promptly came word to release the crew and return their boat, just as the British had done on the other side. The letter was addressed to General Waterbury, Stamford, and reads as follows:
Head Quarters, New Windsor, 29, April, 1781.
Sir. Captains Scudder and Dean inform me that you had, from not being acquainted with circumstances, detained a Boat in which they had been over to Long Island. These Gentlemen were employed under my order at that time and will have occasion to cross the Sound every now and then as the business upon which they are engaged may require.—You will therefore be pleased to give them up the boat, and as I have now, in a confidential manner, intrusted you with their business, I shall hope that you will not only keep it a secret, but endeavour to assist them in the prosecution of a plan in which the public goods much interested. I do not mean to protect or countenance them in any manner of trade should they attempt to carry it on. I am, &c.
P.S. It may very probably lay in your way to obtain intelligence from New York. Should any thing material occur, you will oblige me by communicating it to me.