“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.”
These letters, with those significant words, “You must keep a very good look out,” were on their way, but had not had time to reach Major Tallmadge when he was surprised by a night attack. Lord Rawdon, with nearly all of the British light horse, accompanied by a body of light infantry, had come upon them under cover of the darkness and compelled them to fight, principally with the broadsword, until Colonel Sheldon found it necessary to order their retreat. Tallmadge lost in the affray a fine horse, most of his field baggage, and the money and letters that General Washington had sent him for the Culpers. Upon receipt of this information at Headquarters, General Washington replied to Major Tallmadge on July 5th, as follows:
“Sir: I have just received your letter of the 3d. The loss of your papers was certainly a most unlucky accident and shows how dangerous it is to keep papers of any consequence at an advanced post. I beg you will take care to guard against the like in future. If you will send me a trusty person I will replace the guineas.
“I observe yourself and other officers have lost some cloathing. Though I have not given an order of the kind before, yet in this particular exigence I am ready to give one on the Clothier to those officers who have been the sufferers for such articles as are absolutely necessary. You will be pleased to communicate this to Col. Sheldon and request him to send the Pay Master with a proper return to Head Quarters.