Background: The Three Village Area, which includes Stony Brook and Setauket, NY, was central to intelligence gathering activities for George Washington during the American Revolution. Special Collections, a division of Stony Brook University Libraries (SBU Libraries) owns two American Revolutionary War-era, Culper Spy Ring letters authored by General Washington. Significant to regional and national historical narratives, SBU's letters were composed in 1779 and 1780 and document espionage activities right here in our community.

Washington was desperate for credible reports about British activities in New York City and on Long Island. Intelligence officer Major Benjamin Tallmadge turned to his trusted childhood friends and family in Setauket to aid with the efforts. Spycraft including codes, aliases, and the “sympathetic stain” (invisible ink) was used to conceal information and the identities of the ring’s members. Abraham Woodhull (alias, Samuel Culper Sr.) and Robert Townsend (alias, Samuel Culper Jr.) gathered intelligence in British occupied territories. Although Washington did not want to know the true identities of the spies, he was profoundly involved in giving directives and highly regarded reports from Townsend as evidenced in his letters to Tallmadge.

Transcription:

Dear Sir

I have received yours of the 13th: as I have
your several late favors with their inclosures. It is im:
:possible for me, circumstanced as matters are, to give
a positive answer to C- juniors request, as I cannot,
without knowing his views, tell what are his expectations.
Of this - both you and he may rest assured, that should
he continue servicable and faithful, and should the
issue of our Affairs prove as favorable as we hope, I
shall be ready to recommend him to the public, if
public employ should be his aim, and if not, that
I shall think myself bound to represent his conduct
in the light it deserves, and procure him a compen:
:sation of another kind.

I shall take the first opportunity of
sending you a further sum of Money for contin:
:gencies.

I am Dear Sir
Your most ob.’ Servt
Go: Washington