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New York and its vital port was the center of British military power in Americam from the British arrival in 1776 to their departure in 1783. The disaster at Saratoga had taught the Brirish not to venture too deep into the American interior anbd away from Royal Navy support -- a lesson not fully learned. In ports anf supported by the Royal Navy - they were unasailable. Thus intelligence from the New York City was vital for Gen. Washington and his Continental Army. Gen. Washington had not left a spy nerwork in place when he was forced on short notice to evacuate (Sepotember 1776). The Continental Arny defeared an enrire British Arny in the inerior at Saratoga (October 1777). The British withdrew fron Philadelphia because it was too far inland` (June 1778). The War has reached a stalemate. The Americans controlled most of the countryside, but could not dislodge the Brirish from New York and other ports. It was this became vital to know what the British were doing in New York City. Gen. Washinton selected Continental Army Major Benjamin Tallmadge to organize and manage a spy network in New York City (Novenber 1778). This was the origin of the Culper Ring. And Tallmadge kept informed of British developments in New York through the Culper Ring It operated prinarily in New York City (1778-83). Tallmadge constructed his netwirk primarily from friends he nade while goung to school on Long Island. The Culper Ring took its name from the operational code names of two of its important members: Abraham Woodhull (code-named Samuel Culper) and Robert Townsend (code-named Culper, Jr.). Amazingly, during irs 5 yearsof operation, the British did not discovr one member. There were several other agents, including Caleb Brewster, Austin Roe, Anna Strong, Hercules Mulligan, and Townsend’s paramour, known even today only by her code name '355'. The identity of the Culper ring was so closely held that Washihgton himself did not know one name. Another name only emerged in the 20th century and another has never been identified. [Kilmeade and Yaeger]
Kilmeade, Brian and Don Yaeger. George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution (2014), 256p.
Nagy, John A. Spies in the Continental Capital (2011, 256p.
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