addressed to prominent Tories. These could be sent with fair
assurance of safety. The messenger knew of course that they were not
to be delivered to the party addressed and discovery of them in his
possession would only have disarmed suspicion. Their only rival in
cleverness was the British Headquarters, where André and DeLancey
exerted themselves. Like the early attempts on the American side those
used by the British were sometimes more ingenious than efficient, as
exemplified in the silver bullets which were used to convey messages
between Generals Burgoyne,[59] Clinton, and Howe. Experiences of
several of these messengers are historically recorded. One courier
being cautioned that upon no account was the message to be delivered
to anyone besides General Burgoyne unless it was General Clinton
himself, suspecting that he was in territory occupied by the British,
was surprised when challenged, but declared himself to be a friend of
General Clinton’s and asked to be taken to him. He had no knowledge
that there was a Clinton on both sides and not until he found himself
in the presence of General George Clinton did he discover his mistake.
Then he swallowed the silver bullet, but it was too late. His action
had been observed and he was immediately taken into custody, when
being interrogated as to what business he had with General Clinton,
and discovering some embarrassment in his answer, it was proposed to
administer an emetic, to ascertain what he had swallowed with such
precipitation. The idea was adopted, and the consequence was that he
threw up the silver ball; which being unscrewed was found to contain
important intelligence. The courier was of course hung as a spy.
General Washington believed more could be accomplished by strategy than
by bullets. He was careful to conceal his plans during the war but when
peace came he permitted to be published in the “Columbian Centinal” a
letter which he wrote from Mount Vernon, dated July 31, 1788.[60] The
following extracts from this letter give an interesting angle to the
campaign around New York:
“It was determined by me, nearly twelve months before hand,
at all hazards, to give out, and cause it to be believed by
the highest military as well as civil officers, that New York
was the destined place of attack, for the important purpose
of inducing the eastern and middle States to make greater
exertions in furnishing specific supplies, than they otherwise
would have done, as well as for the interesting purpose of
rendering the enemy less prepared elsewhere. It never was in
contemplation to attack New York, unless the Garrison should
first have been so far degarnished to carry on the southern
operations as to render our success in the siege of that place,
as infallible as any future military event can ever be made....
That much trouble was taken and finesse used to misguide and
bewilder Sir Henry Clinton, in regard to the real object, by
fictitious communications, as well as by making a deceptive
provision of ovens, forage, and boats, in the neighborhood, is
certain: Nor were less pains taken to deceive our own army;
for I had always conceived, where the imposition does not
completely take place at home, it would never sufficiently
succeed abroad.... Your desire of obtaining truth, is very
laudable; I wish I had more leisure to gratify it as I am
equally solicitious the undisguised verity should be known.
Many circumstances will unavoidably be misconceived, and
misrepresented. Notwithstanding most of the papers, which may
properly be deemed official, are preserved; yet the knowledge
of innumerable things, of a more delicate and secret nature
is confined to the perishable remembrance of some few of the
present generation. With esteem, I am, Sir, your most obedient
humble servant.
“GO. WASHINGTON.”
Many deceptive letters were forwarded by General Washington, and of
extreme interest were the experiences of those who carried them. The
almost instantaneous success of those he prepared in July 1780 is
mentioned in the chapter on Secret Service Secrets. Another that was
equally successful Mrs. Elizabeth Oakes Smith, one time of Patchogue,
Long Island, recalls in her book “Hugo.” This little work was written
after a visit to the Iron Furnaces in northern New Jersey and New York,
owned and operated by Peter Townsend whose daughter married the brother
of Culper Junior. Mrs. Smith says:
“It was here, adown these glens, that the intercepted messenger
of Washington passed with dispatches meant to delude Sir Henry
Clinton into the belief that New York was the point of attack
designed by the combined French and American forces. At the
moment these intercepted documents were published in New York
and the city put into careful state of defence, the whole
forces of Washington were rapidly and silently on their route
to Yorktown. This politic stroke of Washington’s is told with
much spirit by many of the older inhabitants of the valley.
The author heard it from the lips of Mr. Pierson, a gentleman
of eighty-seven, with a mind still clear and vigorous, who had
the incident from Montaigne, himself the intercepted messenger.
When Washington gave him the package he carefully pointed
out the route designed for him to take, and then resumed his
writing, for the great man was busily employed at a small
table. Montaigne saw at once the way would lead him directly
under a battery of the enemy, who at that time held what is
called the Clove or Ramapo Pass. He remained at the door,
hesitating to obey, and fearful to explain the difficulty.
Washington lifted up his head--‘What, not gone, sir!’ he cried.
Montaigne then said: ‘Why, General, I shall be taken, if I go
through the Clove!’ Washington bent his eyes sternly upon him,
and brought his foot down heavily upon the floor--‘Your duty,
sir, is not to talk, but to obey.’”
The _Political Magazine_ in London printed the sequel to the above on
page 343 of their June, 1781, issue. It is copied from the New York
_Gazette_ of April 4, and reads: “On Saturday another rebel mail was
brought to this city taken last Thursday with Montaigne the post rider,
who was in person brought to town by the captors. It contains a great
number of letters.”[61] Several are published in full, including
Washington’s, in which it is hinted that he is preparing to attack New
York.
* * * * *
Masks were also used by British Headquarters to disguise the contents
of important intelligence. These required two sheets of blank paper
through each of which an oblong opening was cut. One of these sheets
was deposited with the recipient and the other kept by the sender. A
letter was then so written that the message to be conveyed could be
read through the opening when the mask or cut out sheet of paper was
laid over the letter. Without the mask the letter was so worded as to
convey an altogether different meaning. On another page is illustrated
the masked letter sent by General Clinton to inform Burgoyne that there
would be no British army to meet him at Albany. Another illustration
shows a code letter that Moody, the British spy, assisted Benedict
Arnold in preparing. It is addressed to John Anderson (Major André),
advising the British commander that he (Arnold) has accepted the
command at West Point and will betray it. The full text of this letter
will be found on page 127.
* * * * *
Besides the Stain, John Jay had a code that General Washington was
familiar with, but it appears not to have been used by the Culpers. In
a letter to a friend he explains its use briefly, as follows:
“I cannot omit this opportunity of giving you a cypher, Viz.
Entick’s New Spelling Dictionary, printed at London in 1775,
which you will easily find at Philadelphia. I bought mine at
Bell’s book-store. Add twenty to the number of the page, and
ten to that of the word you use. Distinguish the first column
by a dot over the first figure, and the second column by a dot
over the second figure. For instance, the word duration is the
first word in the first column of the 139th page, and must
be thus written, 159 11. Again, the word beauty is the tenth
word in the second column of the 60th page, and must be thus
written, 80 20. But as it may often happen that you may want to
write names or words which you will not find in the dictionary,
use the following alphabet in such cases:
“a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
n m l k i h f i e d c b a l y v x t u r p w s z o y
“The design of this alphabet is obvious; use n for a, m for b,
&c.”
[Illustration: A CODE LETTER FROM ROBERT MORRIS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON
_See page 216._
]
The code letter that may have given General Washington the greatest
thrill required still another dictionary to translate it. It was that
used by Robert Morris, the financier of the Revolution. On another page
the closing half of one of his letters is illustrated. Historians tell
us how Washington had appealed to Morris for funds to conduct the war.
Sometimes he was fortunate in raising a sufficiency but at a critical
period it seemed to Robert Morris that his only prospect was to obtain
the needed sums from a wealthy Quaker. “How can I, friend Robert, who
am a man of peace, lend thee money for the purpose of war? Friend
George is, I believe, a good man and fighting in a good cause; but I
am opposed to fighting of any sort.” This was the Quaker’s plea, but
Morris recalled that Washington had also mentioned the urgency of funds
for the secret service. That appealed to the Quaker. “The gold was dug
up from his garden and handed over to Morris to forward to General
Washington. His adopted son Custis says: ‘Its application to the secret
service produced the happiest effects upon the cause of the Revolution
in that critical period of our destiny.’”[62]
The code used by the Culpers covers too much space for reproduction
here. However some of the words most frequently used have been
collected and will be found on the page following, and a section of the
original code prepared by Major Tallmadge for General Washington is
reproduced on page 218.
This is part of the secret code used by General Washington,
Benjamin Tallmadge, Robert Townsend, and Abraham Woodhull,
during the Revolutionary War.
---------------+--------------------------------+--------------------
USE OF MEANS |USE OF MEANS |USE OF MEANS
| |
e a | 711 General Washington | 15 advice
f b | | 28 appointment
g c | 712 Clinton | 60 better
h d | | 121 day
i e | 713 Tryon | 156 deliver
j f | | 151 disorder
a g | 721 Major Tallmadge | 178 enemy
b h | alias John Bolton | 174 express
c i | 722 Abraham Woodhull | 230 guineas
d j | alias Samuel Culper | 286 ink
o k | 723 Robert Townsend | 309 infantry
m l | alias Samuel Culper, Jr. | 317 importance
n m | 724 Austin Roe | 322 inquiry
p n | | 345 knowledge
q o | 725 Caleb Brewster | 347 land
r p | | 349 low
k q | 726 Rivington | 355 lady
l r | | 356 letter
u s | 727 New York | 371 man
v t | | 476 parts
w u | 728 Long Island | 585 refugees
x v | | 592 ships
y w | 729 Setauket | 660 vigilant
z x | | 680 war
s y | 745 England | 691 written
t z | | 708 your
341 January | e 1 | 73 camp
215 February | f 2 |
374 March | g 3 |
22 April | i 4 |
373 May | k 5 |
336 June | m 6 |
337 July | n 7 |
29 August | o 8 |
616 September | q 9 |
462 October | u 0 |
427 November | |
154 December | |
---------------+--------------------------------+--------------------
[Illustration: A SECTION OF THE CODE PREPARED BY MAJOR TALLMADGE FOR
GENERAL WASHINGTON’S SPIES]
FOOTNOTES to “CODES AND CAMOUFLAGE”:
[59] Of ten messengers sent out by different routes to Howe, not one
returned to Burgoyne.--Winsor’s Narrative and Critical History of
America, Vol. VI, p. 312.
[60] In full a copy of the letter from which the above extracts are
taken may be examined in the collection at East Hampton, L. I.
[61] The boldness with which some of the English magazines mentioned
affairs in America during the Revolution is surprising. How many of
these were inspired by Robert Townsend it would be interesting to know.
In fact even Rivington might have been surprised had he discovered how
often among the news items he had troubled Townsend to prepare and
mail for him to the English magazines there were extra items written
by Townsend that he had never seen. One that was published after the
surrender of Cornwallis, calculated to destroy the morale of the
troops, appears on page 676 in the December, 1781, issue of the same
London magazine. It reads: “By only showing themselves one morning for
a few hours near Kingsbridge, and sending the French baker boys round,
to make a rattling among the broken bricks and rubbish, at the mouth of
the Rariton. This was enough for him (Clinton). He instantly sent off
express upon express, demanding assistance ... from Lord Cornwallis,
who, at that very instant was besieged, at the distance of nearly 500
miles from New York, by that very army which still kept him in such
alarm.”
[62] See Recollections of Washington by G. W. P. Custis, p. 294.
A CREW THAT DOUBLE CROSSED
The spies were never safe; to them sometimes friends were as dangerous
as foes. The British and Americans upon several occasions captured
their own men, but perhaps only once was the same whale boat captured
by both sides. The discovery that they were detaining their own men
certainly embarrassed the British officers in this particular instance.
It was no less than William Heron who by capture they were not only
detaining but from him their own men had taken the boat and outfit and
it was necessary for them to get his things together again. William
Heron’s home was in Reading, Connecticut, and he was at the time a
member of the state legislature.
Hiram he called himself in correspondence with British Headquarters,
and as Hiram he was known to Washington’s secret service. Perhaps none,
aside from General Parsons, knew that Heron was their most active spy,
even Governor Trumbull being deceived into giving him a commission as
a privateersman. His trips across the Sound with messages for British
Headquarters were frequent and he was most active particularly during
the weeks of Arnold’s treason. When he visited West Point he was
entertained by Arnold and slept under his roof. Parsons gave him a
letter of introduction in which he vouches for him and Arnold trusted
him with letters he wished to reach British Headquarters.
At the time of his capture which was in April, 1781, he was negotiating
to make a second Arnold of Parsons.[63] Matters were progressing nicely
when he crossed the Sound and landed near Oyster Bay with messages
for Headquarters. Soon he was surrounded by British troops and found
himself and crew prisoners. His actions must have appeared suspicious
for that they claimed to be bearers of a flag did not deter their
captors from making away with the boat and all that was in it. The
available correspondence on the subject is interesting. First is a
letter dated Westbury 21st April, 1781.
To Major Kissam. _Sir_, I had the honor to receive yours
this evening and have forwarded the letter to Major DeLancey
immediately. The bearers of flags of truces agreeable to
General Orders are to be sent back as soon as they have
delivered their dispatches, but if Wm. Heron has to transact
business in his private affairs on this Island, he must first
obtain his Ex. Gov. Robertson’s particular leave for that
purpose; and shall therefore have the honor to wait upon you,
Sir, tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock, in order to see whether
Heron’s request is likely to be granted, and till that time I
beg to detain him at your house or any other proper place. I am
with great regard, Sir, Your most obedt. humble servant,
DEWURMB, LT. C.
Another dated Westbury 23d Apl. 1781 reads:
To Major Kissam, Cowbay. _Sir_, I enclose a passport for Mr.
Heron, and should wish for his return to Stamford whenever the
wind will permit of it. I have not yet received an answer from
New York but as soon as those things wanted by Gen. Parsons
shall arrive I will not fail to forward them to the General by
another flag.--I have the honor to be with great regard, Sir,
Your most Obedt. humble servt.
DEWURMB, LT. C.
Probably Heron feared he would not be able to reach Headquarters.
He therefore from his place of confinement addressed a long letter
to Major DeLancy which unfortunately for General Parsons has been
preserved. This letter explains the progress he had made since his last
visit. It is dated April 24th, and reads:
“The business I had to negotiate with Genl. P----s after my
return home, I paid the utmost attention to, and in order to
break the ice (as says the vulgar adage) I found myself under
the necessity of summoning what little address I was master
of, in order to secure myself a retreat should the matter I
had to propose prove disagreeable to P----s. Therefore after
giving him a satisfactory account of my commercial negotiation
(which I knew would be alluring to him) I introduced the other
branch of the business in the following manner. I told him that
in justice to the confidence he reposed in me, I conceived
myself in duty bound to conceal no material circumstance from
him. Impressed with this sense I begged leave to communicate
the substance of a conversation I had with a gentleman at New
York, whom I knew to be in the highest confidence with the
Commander in chief.... ‘The terms offered by the parent state’
continued the gentleman, ‘are so liberal and generous, that I
wonder at any gentleman of an enlarged and liberal mind, giving
his assistance in prolonging the calamities of his country,
and as General P----s is well known to possess these talents
as well as great influence in the army and country, Government
would wish to make use of him for the laudable and honorable
purpose of lending his aid in terminating this unhappy war in
an amicable Re-union with the parent State: should he undertake
it, Government will amply reward him, both in a lucrative and
honorary way and manner, besides, I super-added, making a
provision for his son.’
“... During this conversation I observed that he listened with
uncommon attention, and as it grew very late, he said it was a
matter which required deliberation, he therefore postponed it
to another opportunity,
“Next morning he sent for me and resumed the subject of our
last or preceding nights discourse. He said he had weighed
the matter and found himself, upon the strictest examination,
disposed to a reconciliation and to effect which he would use
his influence and lend his aid to promote it, but that he saw
the embarrassments in his way in regard to inculcating such
principles in the army, though he did not doubt, but in time,
he could bring the officers of the Connecticut line over to his
opinion. That in order to effect it he thought he could do it
more to the purpose by resigning his commission, which would
save every appearance of those honorary ideas, inseperable
from the military profession; that he would draw after him the
officers above referred to, who look up to him as a father, and
that their joint influence would be exerted among the citizens,
which would turn the tables in favor of Government in our
State: but in consideration of those services, he must have a
reasonable and meet compensation for his Commission, it being
all he had to depend upon.”
Filed with the above are other papers which show that he was permitted
to reach Headquarters. They are dated 25th April, 1781, and read:
“Memorandums taken of a conversation with Hiram.
“He promises to get from Genl Pa----s the following information.
“The exact state of West Point.
“What troops.
“What Magazines.
“What new works and how many Guns.
“Who commands.
“If there is a boom below Fort Clinton.
“He is to let me know what P----s wish is, how we can serve him
and the method he means to point out himself. He is to tell
him he can no way serve us so well as continuing in the army;
that the higher his command, the more material service he can
render--he is to promise him great rewards for any services he
may do us. He is to hold up the idea of Monk to him, and that
we expect from his services an end to the war. That during
the time he continues in their army, he shall have a handsome
support and should he be obliged to fly, to remind him of the
Example & situation of Arnold.”... Twelve additional questions
by Major DeLancy were filed on the 20th of June. The first
reads: “Is it your opinion that Genl. P----s will enter so
heartily as to make us hope he will take an open determined
step in our favor? Should that be the case you can hold up
the situation of General Arnold and say it is in his power to
place himself in one equally conspicuous; and as he must loose
his present property for a time the Commander in Chief will,
for every man he puts in our possession pay three guineas; or
should he choose it, he will specify the sum that shall be paid
on such event as we shall wish taking place. In the meantime
should he exert himself to give us intelligence, he need only
name the recompense, and most punctual attention shall be paid
to it.”
The correspondence continues:
BROOKLYN, Ap. 26, 1781.
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.
It was the William Heron above who made a farce of the engagement at
the Setauket Church in August 1777. Putnam’s orders to Parsons were
to destroy the enemy at Huntington and Setauket, bring off all the
officers and soldiers of the Continental Army on Long Island, and
destroy all the stores; and what he did was to capture a number of
horse blankets and a dozen mounts. On page 108 of the life of Parsons
will be found a part of what follows, including the original orders:
* * * * *