American Spy Network in the Revolution (1778-1783).
The most effective American spy network of the Revolution was located in New York and was known as the “Culper Ring.” The name stemmed from the two cover names used by its leaders, Abraham Woodhull being "Samuel Culper, Sr.," and Robert Townsend using the alias of “Samuel Culper, Jr.” The network was organized in 1778 when General George Washington asked his spymaster, Major Benjamin Tallmadge to organize spies in New York City, which was then occupied by a strong British force under the command of Sir Henry Clinton.
Benjamin Tallmadge, who used the name of "John Bolton," as spymaster of the network, was fortunate to have inside New York the enterprising, intelligent Robert Townsend, a successful merchant who had free access to all parts of the city and was thought to be a Loyalist faithful to King George III, the meticulous Robert Townsend wrote detailed reports in code, describing what he observed and what he heard, along with assimilating other reports from his network of spies. One of these spies was Enoch Hale, who hated the British and sought revenge for the hanging of his patriot brother Nathan Hale two years earlier. Robert Townsend’s messages were given to a Long Island farmer named Austin Roe who regularly crossed the East River, then, rode horseback to Setauket where he delivered the reports to Abraham Woodhull. In turn, Abraham Woodhull passed on the reports to a daring sailor, Caleb Brewster, who sailed his small boat across Long Island Sound to the Connecticut shore where he met with Major Benjamin Tallmadge in Fairfield.
Only General George Washington, Benjamin Tallmadge, Abraham Woodhull and Robert Townsend had the key to the elaborate codes and ciphers used by Robert Townsend, who wrote most of his secret messages with invisible inks. Robert Townsend was particularly adept at judging troop movements, and supply shipments brought to Sir Henry Clinton by sea, along with warships sailing in and out of the harbour. Members of the Culper network also kept Sir Henry Clinton's headquarters under constant surveillance and were able to report to Benjamin Tallmadge and General George Washington any loyalists posing as patriots who visited the British commander. In 1780, its work undoubtedly saved a French army marching to General George Washington’s aid.
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