N.B. The Enemy have no more than six sail of the line.
It would be possible to name several who were at this time trying to commit to paper the intelligence the Culpers found it too dangerous to attempt. Probably not more than three or four letters from any one of these individuals was written, and that mostly from information furnished verbally by the Culpers. Little appears to have survived of that which must have reached Headquarters during the Yorktown Campaign. Among the shortest and most welcome intelligence was a note inspired by verbal information furnished by Robert Townsend with the preliminary announcement of peace. This reads:
May 5th, 1782.
Sir. Your correspondent being absent which occasions my writing you the news here, which is as follows, just come to hand through the first channel. A cessation of arms is ordered, to take place within these lines both by Land and Sea—and terms of peace are given to Congress, but the conditions is here unknown, but generally supposed Independence is offered. The Enemy still continue to fortify, nevertheless, both on York and on Long Island. I have nothing further to inform you of but hope soon to have peace in our land—And am yours, &c.
Samuel Culper.
Written on the same day of the month two months later a long letter of Abraham Woodhull’s clears what has been a mystery to some members of the Townsend family.[(140)] With all his ingenuity Dr. Peter Townsend, the nephew of Robert, never succeeded in getting from him a syllable as to the part he played in the struggle for American Independence. It was common for him to relate experiences of others but his own were never mentioned. One day during his lifetime the young folks discovered among his effects a uniform looking suspiciously British. They knew him to be in sentiment a Whig and an uncompromising Federalist, and in amazement they questioned him as to the uniform. He admitted that at one period during the war he was obliged to stand on duty in the front doorway of British officers headquarters. Frequently thereafter the family would tease him by referring to this but although it appeared to greatly embarrass him he never gave them further enlightenment on the subject. Woodhull in this letter says: “Carlton’s called a Tyrant at New York by the inhabitants in general and makes them do Soldiers duty in the city without distinction. The first Gentlemen in the City stand at Officer’s doors Soldier like.”
* * * * *
From Newburgh on August 10, 1782, General Washington addressed Major Tallmadge as follows:
“I wish you without delay to open again, or at least to renew effectually, the channel of intelligence through the C..s. I know your correspondents have heretofore, in general, been well informed and that the only great difficulty has been in the circuitous route of communication.”
The answer to this is dated Newtown, August 18, 1782.