George Washington
Letters
 
HOME / About / HISTORY / George Washington Letters / LETTER 12

Letter 12:
SPY CHIEF TALLMADGE REPORTS:
INTELLIGENCE COORDINATION DURING THE REVOLUTION

A letter from Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge to Gen. George Washington, July 22, 1780 — As head of intelligence for the Continental Army, Tallmadge was responsible for not only keeping Washington apprised of critical intelligence, but also sharing intelligence, sometimes concurrently with senior leaders of the Continental forces. In this case, Tallmadge tells Washington he has passed the same knowledge of British fleet movement to Maj. Gen. William Heath, head of American forces in Rhode Island.

Benjamin Tallmadge to George Washington, July 22, 1780

Veals Ford on Croton—July 22d 1780 9 oClock P.M.

Sir
I have this moment recd the enclosed from the Cu[lpe]r’s, which I have the Honour to enclose to your Excellency & forward by Express to Genl Howe — Least the Intelligence of the Embarkation of Troops for the Eastward should not be recd from your Excellency at Rhode Island in season, I have forwarded that part of the Intelligence which respects the Destination of the British Fleet & Army Eastward, to Major Genl Heath.

If any matters contained in the enclosed blank Letter from Cu. Junr should respect the plan of our future Correspondence (of which I lately wrote) should be obliged to Your Excellency for such Extracts as may be necessary. I have the Honour to be with great Esteem Your Excellency’s most Obedt Hble Servt

Benja. Tallmadge

P.S. The Letter from C. Junr is directed to Col. Floyd at Brook–Haven because he is a disaffected Person, & should the Bearer of that letter be stopped & Searched nothing of importance could be discovered, as the letter appears to be on matters of business.

B.T.

• "matters contained in the enclosed blank Letter" is a reference to the use of invisible ink.

• " Col. Floyd" is Col. Richard Floyd IV, who is referenced as a disaffected person, which means he was disloyal to the America cause. In fact, Floyd was a loyalist throughout the war while his brother Benjamin supported the independence effort.

Image of a letter from the George Washington Letter's display from the Smithsonian and DIA Image of a letter from the George Washington Letter's display from the Smithsonian and DIA

A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE LETTER

Infographic image of supportive content.