George Washington's Secret Six

by Brian Kilmeade

  Abraham Woodhull married Mary Smith in 1781. He spent the rest of his life in Setauket, where he raised three children and served in roles of authority in the Suffolk County government. He never spoke much about his role in the spy ring. Mary died before Abraham; Lydia Terry became his second wife in his final years. He passed away on January 23, 1826, and was buried in the Setauket Presbyterian Church graveyard. In 1936, the Mayflower Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution erected the following marker near his simple headstone:

  Friend and confidant of George Washington, Head of the Long Island Secret Service During the American Revolution he operated under the alias Samuel Culper, Sr. To him and his associates have been credited a large share of the success of the Army of the Revolution. Born in Setauket Oct. 7, 1750 in the original Woodhull homestead, son of Richard W. & Margaret Smith. Fifth generation from Richard Woodhull, the original grantee of a large portion of Brookhaven Town. He was a Presbyterian, occupying a “Pew of Authority” in the old church and doing much toward the building of the new church. He was a man of integrity punctual and precise in his business relations. He freed his slaves long before they were legally free. He filled numerous important positions being Magistrate in Setauket many years, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas 1793–1799, First Judge of Suffolk Co. from 1799–1810.

  Agent 355, whose name and whose fate have both been lost to time, might have escaped imprisonment and gone on to live a long and happy life. Or she might have passed away somewhere in the dark, disease-infested hull of HMS Jersey. When the British left New York in November 1783, they abandoned the Jersey in the harbor, with several thousand starving prisoners still on board.

  It is extremely difficult to learn much at all about the lives and deaths of those unlucky enough to have been captured. After the surrender of the British, the former colonists sought to piece together their shattered lives and homes; many records were lost, destroyed, or simply filed away without any thought to their deeper significance. Thousands of individuals were missing from battlefields, prison camps, and prison ships; thousands more were untraceable due to emigration, desertion, or simply westward movement into the newly opened territories beyond the Appalachians. In the mid-nineteenth century, as the generation who lived during the Revolution was passing away, historians made some efforts to reconstruct lists of inmates’ names by interviewing survivors of the Jersey. Though quite rare (and, since they were recalled several decades after the fact, not wholly reliable accounts), women’s names do appear on some of these lists; none have yet been proved to be that of Agent 355.

  • • •

  For generations, the only Revolutionary War spy immortalized in history books was the brave but ultimately unsuccessful Nathan Hale. Tales of the Culper Ring were relegated to local legend or mystery (who was Culper Junior?). Learning the true identity of Washington’s most consistent and valuable spy in the one city the general valued most was a pursuit undertaken by several prominent researchers, who analyzed the oral traditions and followed up on hunches. Townsend was always among those considered likely contenders, but the spy could not be unmasked until the “wagon full” of his letters was found in 1929 and given over to the care of Morton Pennypacker, who compared the writing with that of surviving Culper letters. At last a much more complete story of the ring could be told.

  This momentous discovery was made during a dark and uncertain time in American history. The Great Depression threatened the very fabric of the nation, then all eyes were focused on the upheaval in Europe and the creeping threat in the Pacific. The United States was poised at the brink of its next great chapter and was not concerned with rewriting history. Despite Pennypacker’s efforts to shine a light on these provincial heroes of Long Island, Manhattan, and coastal Connecticut, the Culpers once again sank into obscurity. But even if their story was not known across the nation, the fruits of their labors, their letters, and their lives were—and continue to be—felt from sea to shining sea in the freedoms and independence all American citizens enjoy.

  Epilogue

  We knew the story of the Culper Ring was important. We knew it was a story whose characters and events should be standard fare in history classes across the country. But what we didn’t know was how relevant it still proves today within the intelligence community of the United States.

  In February 2012, we were granted access to CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, where we met with the agency’s chief historian.

  Outside the building is a statue honoring Nathan Hale’s courage and patriotism; inside the building are exhibits on various spying operations of the past. But nowhere did we find homage to the Culper Ring—until we sat down for our meeting.

  We were stunned to learn that the history of the ring is taught as part of the introductory training for new agents. Whether suggested by Washington or Tallmadge, or simply figured out, through bravery and intelligence, on their own, the methods used by these citizen-spies—the dead drops, the well-crafted backstories, the compartmentalizing of intelligence, the secret encrypted code—are many of the same methods still used today by secret agents the world over.

  And like the courageous men and women of our modern covert services, the Culpers worked in profound secrecy. They never sought credit, never received accolades, and never revealed the risks they took or the sacrifices they made to serve our country. Under the unblinking leadership of Benjamin Tallmadge, Washington’s secret six served a newborn nation against a military that was considered to be unbeatable. The observation of Major George Beckwith bears repeating: “Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply outspied us!”

  In this book, we have included photographs of some of the places, portraits, and humble graves that bear silent testimony to our nation’s first and most accomplished ring of clandestine operatives.

  There are no statues of these brave souls, whose feats should earn them a place of honor alongside the heroes of the Revolution. It is our sincerest hope that Robert Townsend, Abraham Woodhull, Caleb Brewster, Austin Roe, James Rivington, and Agent 355 will be given their rightful place in American history. Their extraordinary heroism and patriotism, unknown to their contemporaries, should not be forgotten. George Washington wouldn’t have wanted it any other way—after all, he preserved their letters among his belongings, and it is because of him that we know their story.

  The secret six’s intelligence route allowed them to transmit top-secret information from Manhattan through enemy territory to George Washington in about two weeks.

  Benjamin Tallmadge, who fought side by side with George Washington, was tasked with forming the Culper Ring. His leadership and knowledge of Long Island made him indispensable.

  Collection of the Litchfield Historical Society, Litchfield, Connecticut, a gratis copy of the work deposited in the society’s library

  Robert Townsend did not have the bravado of his older brother or his father, but his quieter heroic qualities made him the perfect spy leader—Culper Junior. True to his unassuming character, he seems never to have commissioned a painting of himself. This one rough sketch depicting him in his forties is known.

  Courtesy of the Friends of Raynham Hall, Inc.

  James Rivington was the respected publisher of the Rivington Gazette, a loyalist newspaper. What the British didn’t know was that he was also a spy for George Washington. With the help of Robert Townsend, he interviewed British officers about their military exploits and took their inside intelligence directly to Washington. Rivington’s biggest contribution was acquiring the redcoats’ battle plan for Yorktown. The colonists would beat Lord Cornwallis in that battle and win the war in the process.

  Collection of the New-York Historical Society

  Austin Roe’s tavern still stands today, though it was moved from its original location. From here, Roe made the fifty-five-mile journey to Manhattan, passing through occupied Manhattan and Long Island to reach Robert Townsend.


  Courtesy Kurt Knapp Photography

  The first man to sign on to the spying mission was Abraham Woodhull, known as Culper Senior. His detailed logbook enabled historians to put together many of his movements during the ring’s years of operation. (Woodhull never wanted to be paid for spying but did want to be reimbursed for his expenses, one of the reasons his log entries were so detailed and accurate.) After the war, he became a respected judge but never spoke about his days in the Culper Ring. No portrait of Abraham Woodhull exists today, but his grave reflects his eminent position as a judge and his anonymity as a spy.

  Courtesy Kurt Knapp Photography

  As the war heated up, the cover for the secret six grew deeper. First they used invisible ink, then code numbers, and finally they used both, writing in invisible ink between the lines in books using the code number system. This page from one of the few codebooks invented by and issued to the secret six demonstrates how the spies replaced places and people with numbers.

  Courtesy of Library of Congress, Manuscript Division

  Robert Townsend’s business, Templeton & Stewart, was just a few blocks from Rivington’s Gazette office, with the Long Island ferry dock located conveniently between the two.

  Courtesy of Library of Congress, Manuscript Division

  Major John André, a charismatic ladies’ man, ran a British spy ring and ultimately lost his life because of it. After his capture, he tried to negotiate a prisoner swap for himself, but General Washington had only one deal in mind: a swap of André for Benedict Arnold. After that was rejected, André was hanged on October 2, 1780.

  Collection of the New-York Historical Society

  Benedict Arnold is known for being a traitor but before that was best characterized as a respected battlefield general. His expectation that the colonists would lose the war and his bitterness over his belief that Congress owed him money together prompted him to secretly join the British. Had he succeeded in handing over West Point to the redcoats, Washington would have lost the Hudson River and most certainly the war. The Culpers tipped off Washington to Arnold’s traitorous ways and thwarted the plot.

  Collection of the New-York Historical Society

  In addition to West Point, Arnold hoped to deliver George Washington into British hands as well. He sent important intelligence back to Manhattan with Major John André, who was code named John Anderson. The note shown here ultimately cost André his life when Patriots intercepted him and found it in his boot. André himself later drew the self-portrait below the note on the day before his execution.

  Collection of the New-York Historical Society

  In 1783, George Washington and his army returned to New York City in victory. He would return as president seven years later and would govern the country from Manhattan. Major Tallmadge asked the general to delay his entry so that he could secure members of the ring, because many thought they were loyal to the king and they could be harmed unless protected.

  Collection of the New-York Historical Society

  Robert Townsend’s grave, located on the edge of the Townsend family burial site up against a fence, is startlingly nondescript. Townsend wouldn’t have wanted it any other way: an unassuming man, he lived and died without revealing his key role as one of George Washington’s most successful and essential spies.

  Courtesy Kurt Knapp Photography

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  There are so many great people responsible for the completion of this book. I urge you to read what follows and take note of them all. First, I must thank my longtime friend Bruce Stegner, whom I informed of this ring in 1988; he held on to the concept and has relentlessly researched the secret six ever since, unwavering in the belief that this story just had to be told to a larger audience. And thanks to our respective families—Renee, Rebecca, Olivia, and Julia Stegner; my wife, Dawn, Bryan, Kirstyn, and Kaitlyn Kilmeade; and Jeanette, Will, and Madeleine Yaeger—for indulging our excitement about the story and mirroring our enthusiasm as every aspect of the ring was brought to light and life.

  Thanks to the brilliant Tiffany Yecke Brooks, without whom we could not have researched and written this project. Tiffany has worked with Don for years but absolutely fell into her sweet spot on this book, because it combined her passion for historical research with creative writing. She kept both of us on task.

  Roger Ailes, who allows me to work at the most patriotic company in America, is due a tremendous amount of thanks. He underlined the need for all of us to know our history and recognize the incredible bravery and selflessness of the first generations of Americans, which are demonstrated in the story of the six brave individuals who made up America’s first spy ring.

  Of course, this book could not have been written without the guidance of all-star Fox VP Bill Shine, a Long Islander who is endlessly supportive and understands the significance of the story because it happened in his backyard. We also owe a salute to Diane Brandi, who was the first to hear the book pitch; without her guidance and support the project would never gotten done.

  I must also salute my Fox & Friends cohosts, Steve Doocy, Gretchen Carlson, and Alisyn Camerota, who have heard me talk about this story for years and could not have been more supportive. Thanks for stepping up to help me during her free time go to Alyson Mansfield, executive producer of Kilmeade & Friends. I also can’t say enough for the producing team on Fox & Friends, led by Lauren Petterson and Jennifer Rauchet, for their faith in the project before they read even a word on paper.

  To Bob Barnett, who believed in the project so much that he wisely navigated us to the Sentinel imprint of the Penguin Group to see it through—thank you. We are in awe of his perpetually sunny, upbeat approach to life and humbled by his loyalty to us even as he handles the most famous and powerful people in the world.

  Don and I were truly thrilled and moved to know that Adrian Zackheim, president and publisher of Sentinel, would be editing the book, and it flowered under his skilled eye. And what can we say about Bria Sandford that would be sufficient thanks for her role, except that she is a true professional in every way, thrives on making deadlines happen, is endlessly patient, and is extremely bright? To say that she was kind of important to this project would be like saying that LeBron James is kind of important to the Miami Heat.

  Over the twenty-plus years that I have spent learning about this story, many passionate people and organizations have shared with me their hard-earned knowledge and research of the ring and these historical figures. I fear I might leave someone out, but here it goes nonetheless.

  Steve Russell Boerner of the East Hampton Library Long Island Collection offered patience and insight that were critical in so many ways to the success of the book. Gina Piastuck and Frank Sorrentino from the collection brought Morton Pennypacker back to life, and thanks to Frank’s rapid translation of the Woodhull-Townsend logs, we were able to break much new ground on this story. Thanks to Andrea Meyer and John Burke for thier work on Agent 355. And the good people at Black Rock history in Connecticut were a great resource for our Caleb Brewster research.

  The invaluable John Tsunis not only gave us a conference room at his Holiday Inn to hold a major secret six summit with historians from around Long Island but also introduced me to Gloria Rocchio and the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. Gloria shed light on many aspects of this story and has been a stalwart in supporting the legacy of the ring and preserving Long Island history. She has been not only a great help but also a great friend. Michael Colucci and Deborah Boudreau, also part of the Ward Melville group, were a tremendous source of assistance and encouragement.

  We could not have seen this project through without the cooperation and help of the people of the Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay. Claire Bellerjeau, Townsend family historian, is one of the most knowledgeable people you will meet on the era and the ring; her knowledge and enthusiasm were essential in making Robert Townsend and the rest of his family come
alive on these pages. Collections manager Nicole Menchise and executive director Harriet Gerard Clark could not have been more helpful or insightful. They allowed us to walk the house as Robert Townsend did centuries ago, fueling our motivation to spread this story to millions more.

  I could not imagine carrying out this project without Barbara Russell, town of Brookhaven historian. She not only educated me about the Setauket spies of 1780 but also brought me to the locations as they stand today. Elizabeth Kahn Kaplan helped me not only with the story but also, as curator of the Three Village Historical Society’s exhibit, got my family excited with her tremendous knowledge and passion. If you truly want to understand how special this revolutionary spy story is, just spend a few minutes with Bev Tyler. He has an awe-inspiring depth of knowledge on the topic and played a key role in acquiring many of the sketches and maps you see in the book.