Where letters from either of the Culpers have been condensed for the sake of brevity, a figure within parentheses has been used to indicate that the same letter will be found among the Notes beginning on [page 232]. A more perfect analysis is thus assured to the student of history.
Acknowledgment is due for assistance to so many, particularly among the heads of the larger public libraries and historical societies, that it becomes impracticable to name them individually. They have shown a uniform enthusiasm and untiring effort that makes the present publication possible.
Morton Pennypacker
Kew Gardens, L.I.
September, 1930.
CONTENTS
| FOREWORD | [1] |
| NATHAN HALE | [19] |
| GENERAL WASHINGTON’S SPIES | [30] |
| SECRET SERVICE SECRETS | [60] |
| TOWNSEND’S PERSONALITY | [102] |
| SPIES AND SPIES | [112] |
| JOHN ANDRÉ AND ARNOLD’S TREASON | [120] |
| ARNOLD AND ANDRÉ MEET | [144] |
| EYEWITNESSES EXPLAIN ANDRÉ’S CAPTURE | [160] |
| AFTERMATH | [184] |
| CODES AND CAMOUFLAGE | [209] |
| A CREW THAT DOUBLE CROSSED | [219] |
| NOTES AND AMPLIFICATION | [232] |
| INDEX | [289] |
ILLUSTRATIONS
| COUNCIL OF WAR, BROOKLYN, AUGUST 29th, 1776 | [Frontispiece] | |
| From a painting by John Ward Dunsmore | ||
| Showing Generals George Washington, Samuel Parsons, Joseph Spencer, Thomas Mifflin, John Morin Scott, Alexander McDougall, Israel Putnam, Peleg Wadsworth and John Fellows. | ||
| FACING PAGE | ||
| MAJOR TALLMADGE AND GROUP OF AMERICAN GENERALS | [32] | |
| Philip Schuyler, Marquis de LaFayette, Nathaniel Green, George Clinton, Robert Howe, Israel Putnam, John Lamb and William Heath. | ||
| JOHN JAY’S LETTER TO WASHINGTON | [52] | |
| Introducing the mode of secret correspondence invented by his brother James. | ||
| WRAPPER ENCLOSING URGENT MESSAGES | [82] | |
| This is in the handwriting of Abraham Woodhull, made directly from the original without reduction. | ||
| ALEXANDER HAMILTON’S LETTER TO LAFAYETTE | [84] | |
| Showing how quickly messages from the Culpers were forwarded through Lafayette to the French fleet. | ||
| HOUSES ONCE OCCUPIED BY WASHINGTON’S SPIES | [102] | |
| Raynham Hall, Oyster Bay, L. I. Home of Culper Junior and his sister Sarah Townsend. These contemporary silhouettes give their only known likenesses. | ||
| Lower left—Present-day home of the Colonial Dames of America. Built by one of Washington’s spies. (See p. 10 in this volume, and Iconography of Manhattan, vol. 6, p. 79.) Lower right—Culper Senior’s home at Setauket. His three great-great-grandchildren in the foreground. | ||
| J. L. GARDINER EIGHTEENTH CENTURY RECORD | [115] | |
| His record made near 150 years ago, of a whispered conversation with Clinton, Major André and Col. Simcoe that had been overheard by a servant. | ||
| A BENEDICT ARNOLD CODE LETTER | [126] | |
| Advising the British commander that he has accepted the command of West Point and will betray it. | ||
| COL. SIMCOE AND PROMINENT BRITISH OFFICERS | [136] | |
| Lord Cornwallis, Major John André, Sir Henry Clinton, Admiral Arbuthnot, General John Burgoyne, General Riedesel and Lord Rawdon. | ||
| THE CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRÉ | [160] | |
| Engraved from a painting by J. Halpin | ||
| ALEXANDER HAMILTON’S NOTE | [178] | |
| Informing General Washington that he was too late to have Arnold recalled. | ||
| WASHINGTON’S LETTER | [192] | |
| Thanking those who engaged in the capture of Fort St. George near Mastic, Long Island. | ||
| WASHINGTON IN NEW YORK, 1783 | [206] | |
| From a painting by J. R. Chapin | ||
| There is a story, perhaps true but lacking satisfactory proof, that one of the mounted figures at the right of the picture is there to represent Major Tallmadge and the other, one of his Dragoons; and that the man this way from him with hat in air is Robert Townsend, otherwise Culper Junior. | ||
| MASKED LETTER USED BY BRITISH | [208] | |
| Sir Henry Clinton thus informed Burgoyne that there would be no British army to meet him at Albany. | ||
| ROBERT MORRIS’ LETTER TO WASHINGTON | [216] | |
| His Quaker friends approved the work of the Culpers, and he could get money for them when it was refused for other purposes. | ||
| CODE USED BY WASHINGTON’S SPIES | [218] | |
| This was prepared by Major Tallmadge and used by the Culpers, Senior and Junior. | ||
| HANDWRITING THAT DISCOVERED ROBERT TOWNSEND TO BE GENERAL WASHINGTON’S CULPER JUNIOR | [232] | |
| PORTRAITS ON JACKET. | ||
| General Washington, Major Tallmadge, John Paulding, Nathan Hale, James Rivington, Sarah Townsend, Robert Townsend, alias Culper Junior. On backstrap of jacket, Washington in 1772. | ||
