Letter 5:
THE CULPER SPY RING
This George Washington letter, the fifth in a series of 18 to be displayed, details British commanders,
troop numbers, ships and cannons as of July 20, 1780.
This letter illustrates tradecraft used by the Culper Spy Ring, which was formed by Washington's head of
military intelligence, Tallmadge. To protect human intelligence sources, true names were not used in
correspondence and numbers were used in place of some words to encrypt the message.
July 20, 1780
Sir,
Your 856 (letter) came to hand and found me very ill with a fever—And Still
continues
all that I could do was to send 724 (Austin Roe) with directions Who returnd this day
in great haste with the inclosed dispach from C. Jur. Also assures me of the arival of
Adml Graves With six ships of the Line and is Joyned by three more out of N.Y. also 1
of 50 & 2 of 40 Guns and has Saild for R. Island and is Supposed these Will be there
before this can Possibly Reach you Also 8000 Troops are this day imbarking at White
Stone for the beforementiond Port—I am told for certain that the french have only 7
Sail of the Line I greatly fear their destruction—Whe hourly expect a Number of the
Enemy in this Quarter for What end I Know not. You must excuse all imperfection at
this time on the account of my beforementiond Fever—nevertheless you have
Perhaps all the Needfull—And pray for your Success and exercions”
And I am your sincerely
Samuel
Culper
A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE LETTER
