Benjamin tallmadge, american continental army officer who oversaw the culper spy ring during the american revolution and later served as a member of the u. Though he moved back to raynham hall following his fathers death in 1790 and lived for years with his sisters sarah and. Stony brook university, special collections and university archives. Robert townsend served his country well, and at great risk to himself and his family. The culper ring was a spy ring organized by major benjamin tallmadge under the orders of general george washington in the summer of 1778 during british occupation of new york city at the height of. Benjamin tallmadges most significant accomplishment was overseeing the culper spy ring during the american revolution. Tallmadge usually traveled with washington and the. Washingtons spies museum of the american revolution. He was recruited by longtime friend benjamin tallmadge to help the revolutionary forces against the. Culper spy ring simple english wikipedia, the free.
The culper ring was a spy ring organized by american major later colonel benjamin tallmadge under orders from general george washington in the summer of 1778 during british occupation of new york city at the height of the american revolutionary war. Washingtons director of military intelligence, benjamin tallmadgewho had been nathan hales roommate at yalemanaged to recruit. Benjamin tallmadge had learned from nathaniel sackett how to. Culper spy ring american intelligence organization. Series 3b varick transcripts, letter book 12, image 160. Library of congress george washingtons nameless but pivotal female spy is known to us only as agent story at link.
Washington, benjamin tallmadge, robert townsend and. Account book of robert townsend, merchant, of oyster bay. Tallmadge created the culper code book, which assigned ciphers to 763 names or words. The book was adapted into the amc period drama series, turn. Washingtons spies is an american period drama television series based on alexander roses book washingtons spies. Informants for the culper ring used fake names and corresponded using a numerical code. With his latest book, george washingtons secret six. Appointed by george washington to organize intelligence in britishoccupied new york, tallmadge. When benedict arnold who up to that point was more famous for his eggs was planning to give west point to the british, washington. The culper ring was a spy ring organized by american major later colonel benjamin tallmadge under orders from general george. American espionage has its roots in the revolutionary war, specifically in the network known as the culper spy ring. Benjamin tallmadge was a graduate of yale who became general george washingtons chief intelligence officer and eventually rose to the rank of colonel.
The story of americas first spy ring 2006 is a history. Only 21 at the start of the americas revolutionary war, benjamin tallmadge was an enthusiastic patriot. Under the orders of general george washington, major benjamin tallmadge organized the culper spy ring in 1778 to gather information on british troop. Fortunately for the infant nation, sacketts replacement, 26yearold benjamin tallmadge, created what is considered one of americas greatest espionage operations. Tyler how did the culper spy ring operation come about. Under the orders of general george washington, major.
Operating in britishoccupied new york, this spy ring gathered and shared military. Fact and fiction in brian kilmeades secret six new. Veiled messages here is a sampling of the secret code used by gen. Research materials about george washington, the culper spy ring, and the. In november 1778, george washington appointed major benjamin tallmadge as director of military intelligence, charged with creating a spy ring in new york city, the site of british. During the american revolution, a man by the name of abraham woodhull ran a ring of civilian spies on behalf of general george washington against the british using the pseudonym samuel culper. Benjamin tallmadge for the continental army during the american revolution. Officially recognized as an american hero, hale has been embraced as a symbol of rebellion and is the namesake for schools, dormitories, inns, and book series. Benjamin tallmadge has become famous over the last few years as the leader of the culper spy ring. With the war officially ended in 1783, the culper spy ring disbanded. The strategy, started with a man named robert townsend. Tallmadge was in charge of bringing intelligence from britishcontrolled new york to the continental army, and he did so by assembling a network of spies known as the culper spy ring, with the help of abraham woodhull and robert townsend. Tallmadge was a classmate of nathan hale in college and, in the early years of the revolutionary war, helped organize the culper spy ring. Brewsters friendship with the tallmadges and his expertise as a seaman made him a natural for recruitment to the culper ring.
During the revolutionary war, he founded the culper spy ring, an intelligence network based in new york city, and organized guerilla attacks against the british. Benjamin tallmadge american continental army officer. Appointed by george washington to organize intelligence in britishoccupied new. During the revolutionary war, he founded the culper spy ring, an intelligence network based. If youre looking for the culper spy ring, which is what led me to this book, tallmadge didnt write much about that. The culper ring ended up being incredibly successful. George washington to benjamin tallmadge, august, 1780. The culper code book george washingtons mount vernon.
More books george washington and the culper spy ring. Benjamin tallmadge george washingtons mount vernon. The culper ring was a spy ring organized by major benjamin tallmadge under orders from general george washington in the summer of 1778, during the british occupation of new york city at the height of the american revolutionary war. Culper spy ring, american intelligence organization that was put together and managed by maj. The culper ring was a spy ring organized by major benjamin tallmadge under orders from general george washington in the summer of 1778, during the british occupation of new york city at the. For fiction and nonfiction featuring or about the culper spy ring. Primary sources george washington and the culper spy ring. The culper spy ring code book was created and used by the culper spy ring to compose and send coded messages to george washingtons headquarters during the revolutionary war. Letters written in 1779 and 1780 by george washington to benjamin tallmadge about the culper spy ring.
The culper spy ring was a small group of men and women gathered in 1778 by a young cavalry officer named benjamin tallmadge from his hometown of setauket, long island. If you use the culper code to encrypt your own 21stcentury letters, you might be surprised at the amount of common words common to us, anyway that are not included. Culper spy ring code book the shops at mount vernon. How george washington used spies to win the american. The code book, developed by benjamin tallmadge, consisted of seven hundred and sixtythree numbers representing words, names, and places. Though the television show turn used a significant amount of artistic license, benjamins role as. Culper spy ring turn ons, american revolutionary war. Major benjamin tallmadge established the culper spy ring with the purpose to outspy the british troops activities and movements in manhattan, therefore allowing. Seth numrich as benjamin tallmadge, daniel henshall as caleb brewster and. The culper name was suggested by washington, who devised it from culpeper county, virginia. The spy ring that saved the american revolution sentinel, 20, coauthored by don yaeger and currently one of the topselling. This organization provided timely and accurate intelligence to general george washington from 1778 to 1783 and set a high standard for future clandestine operations.
Benjamin tallmadge 17541835 was an american revolutionary, congressman, author, and spy. The culper code book was used by the culper spy ring to send coded messages to george washingtons headquarters during the revolutionary war. Major benjamin tallmadge, washingtons new head of amy intelligence, had been the one to facilitate woodhull and caleb brewsters inclusions into what was swiftly becoming the. Under the orders of general george washington, major benjamin tallmadge organized the culper spy ring in 1778 to gather information on british troop movements, fortifications, and military plans in the new york area. The culper ring was a spy ring organized by major benjamin tallmadge under orders from general george washington in the summer of 1778, during the. Addtional books about the culper spy ring if the library does not own a book that you need, stony brook university students, faculty, and staff may be able to request it through interlibrary loan. Benjamin tallmadge tallmadge was a continental army officer who in 1778 recruited abraham woodhall of setauket and thereby established the culper spy ring.
The culper spy ring was a small group of men and women gathered in 1778 by a young cavalry officer named benjamin tallmadge from his. Caleb brewster and the culper spy ring connecticut. Those involved in the culper ring did so at great personal risk to their lives. Born in 1750, farmer abraham woodhull was the leading spy in the culper spy ring. Known as the culper spy ring, tallmadge s homegrown network would become the most effective of any intelligencegathering operation on either side during the revolutionary war. Also, if you are looking for a memoir that talks about the culper spy ring this isnt the book for you. Benjamin tallmadge, revolutionary soldier and american businessman. The culper ring was a spy ring organized by american major benjamin tallmadge under orders from general george washington in the summer of 1778, during the british occupation of new york city at. To answer this question we must start at the beginning. Washingtons first spy on long island was nathan hale, who was captured and executed on september 22, 1776.
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