Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

soon overwhelmed by the British and captured,
his command being dispersed
At any rate, it seems obvious that young
Townsends strong sympathy with the patriot
cause not generally known For after the
British occupied New York, Townsend stayed
on the job in his Office there, mingling freely
with the citys many loyal Tories and, appar-
emily, never coming under suspicion OF giving
aid to Washington.
Thus, some time after Nathan Hale's tragic
death, when Washington wrote to Maj. Benja-
min Tallmadge, of the I'd Regiment, Light
Dragons, and asked him to establish a spy
system to get news out of New York Townsend
of the first men Tallmadge called on.
Like Townsend Maj. Tallmadge was Long
Islander; SO, indeed, were most of the men he
chose for the spy system. All, of course, knew
the neighborhood we'll.
Maj Tallmadge stationed himself in West
chester County, N Y. not far outside the Brit
ish lines, and communicated with his agents in
New York by boat, having his messenger cross
the sound to Long Island and receive there let
tiers from Townsend. He had, in addition to
Townsend another trusted man to get news for
him, one Abraham Woodruff, another Long
Islander; and Townsend and Woodruff together
shared, for the purposes of Identification in the
spy system, the name Samuel Culper." Town
send was known Samuel Cuper jr and
Woodruff was Samuel Culper, ST. Letters from
them were signed in this way; letters to them
were addressed in this way; and only they
themselves Maj. Tallnadge and Gen. Wash
ington knew just who the Culpers, senior and
junior, really were. This, of course, was to pre-
vent the British from identifying these two
daring spies.
ONE of the letters Mr.. Pennypacker discovered
written to Maj. Tallmadge, outlining
instructions for Townsend. Parts Of it read as
follows:
IN in he fy tn
all the useful information he can-to do this
he should mix as much possible among the
officers and refugees, visit the coffee houses,
and all public places. He is to pay particular
attention to the movements by land and water
in and about the city especially.
How their transports are secured against at
tempts to destroy then-whether by armed
vessels upon the TANKS, or by chains booms,
or any contrivances to keep of fire RATS.
THE number of men destined for the defense
of the city and environs, endea voring to desig-
nate the particular corps, and where each is
posted
ITO be particular in describing the place
where the works cross the island in the rear of
the city-how many redoubts are upon the line
from river to river, how many cannon in each,
and of what weight and whether the redoubts
are closed or open next the city
Whether there any works upon the Is
land of New York between those near the city
and the works at Fort Knyphausen or WASH
To be very particular to find out whether
any works are thrown up on Harlan River, near
Harlem Town, and whether Horns Hook is
fortified. If so, how many men are kept at each
place, and what number and what sized cannon
are in those works.
ITO inquire whether they have dug pits
within and in front of the lines and works in
general, three or four feet deep, in which sharp
pointed stakes fixed. These are intended
to receive and wound who attempt to
surprise at night.
THE state OF provisions, forage and fuel to
be attended to, also the health and spirits
of the army, navy and city.
These are the principal matters to be OBJ
served within the island and about the City OF
New York. Many more may occur to person
of c. Junr's penetration which he will note and
communicate"
Washington then ordered that Townsend
Culper, jr., or &C. Junr,' as he called him.
should stay in New York to get this informa-
ton, while woodruff, known as Culper, ST.,
should be stationed somewhere on Long Island
to receive news from Townsend and transmit it
to Maj Tallmadge or his representatives.
During the World War there was great deal
OF talk about secret codes and invisible inks
used by spies In transmitting information.