Morton Pennypacker

“ Whenever I sit down I always feel and know my Inability to write a good Letter. As my calling in life never required it—Nor led to consider how necessary a qualification it was for a man—and much less did I think it would ever fall to my lot to serve in such publick and important business as this, and my letters perused by one of the worthiest men on earth. But I trust he will overlook any imperfections he may discover in the dress of my words, and rest assured that I indevour to collect and convey the most accurate and explicit intelligence that I possibly can ”

“ They have no regard to age, sex, whig or tory. I lament to hear the depreciation of your money and in particular the civil dissentions among you at Philadelphia. I think them very alarming. It sinks the spirits of our suffering friends here and pleases the enemy. Cannot the disturbers see that they are working their own ruin. Is there no remedy to apply. Better had they be cut off from the land of the living than to be suffered to go on. There’s nothing will give the enemy greater courage than Civil dissentions, and as long as there’s any hope they will endeavour. ”

“ General Washington wrote of Culper Junior in a letter to Congress. “This much I can assure you,” says Major Tallmadge, “he is a Gentleman of business, of Education and honor.” Of him on June 20th, 1779, Woodhull wrote: “He is a person that hath the interest of our Country at heart and of good reputation, character and family, I have reason to think his advantages for serving you, and abilities, are far superior to mine. As long as I am here shall be an assistant and do all that I can.” ”

“ One who can realize what he had to contend with must view with amazement the work of Austin Roe. Across the Sound General Washington had Dragoons posted, three every fifteen miles12 apart, to carry the messages to him, whilst on the Long Island side Austin Roe rode the fifty-five miles from Setauket to New York and the same distance back, through the enemy’s country, unattended. True, officers in British uniforms had permitted him to arrange for relays of horses which he could exchange along the way as required, but nevertheless it was a remarkable feat and should yet be recognised as such. ”

“ The gentlemen of General Arnold’s181 family I have the greatest reason to believe, were not privy in the least degree to the measures he was carrying on, or to his excape.
Go. Washington.
Nathaniel Green’s letter is addressed to Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth at Hartford, and reads: “I think I have not written you since the late desertion of Arnold. Was you ever more astonished in your life? A man high in reputation, and with the fairest prospects of domestic happiness. The love of parade and the thirst for gold has proved his ruin. How black, how despised, loved by none, and hated by all. ”

“ The spirits of their troops is high, and the expectation of the Tory’s is great to admiration. I hope you will not trust to an uncertainty, but prepare for the worst. I have a long time expected to hear of your appearing in force near the Bridge and keeping them in their strongholds and hope that their present expedition may serve to further convince them of the impracticability of subduing this country. And call your army together and be upon your guard and be very industrious to find out the schemes of the Torys amongst you. ”

“ If the younger cannot be engaged again, you will endeavor to prevail upon the older to give you information of the movements and position of the enemy upon Long Island—as whether they are all confined to the port at Brooklyn or whether they have any detached posts and where, and what is their strength at those posts—in short desire him to inform you of whatever comes under his notice and what seems worthy of communication. ”

“ Could not consent to be any longer an assistant if I was not almost an Enthusiast for our success.—I am perfectly acquainted with a full year’s anxiety, which no one can scarcely have an idea of but those that experience, and not long since there was not the breadth of your finger betwixt me and death—but so long as I reside here my faithful endeavours shall never be wanting. ”

“ It must not be forgotten that he was sent over to Long Island—the British had not yet entered New York, and from the spot from which he started on his way to Long Island it was at that time possible to send any man to any part of the city of New York within an hour. It is not possible to believe that any sane man would start on a week’s journey to reach a destination he could arrive at in safety within an hour. ”

“ CODES AND CAMOUFLAGE The necessity of transmitting information in a private manner taxed the ingenuity of many during the Revolutionary War. Clever ideas were experimented with, but none were more practical than those used by General Washington’s spies. True, when they first realized the necessity of secrecy a very crude method was adopted, originating with Abraham Woodhull and used first in his letter of April 10th, 1779. This was the use of the figures 10 for New York, 30 and 40 for Post Riders and 20 for Setauket. ”

“ Clinton’s positive order and determination to burn all the fields of wheat as soon as they are dry, and intends to exert himself in that to the utmost. They have brought in many cattle. If you don’t exert yourself the country will greatly suffer. A considerable force to march towards the Bridge would make them quit the River and country, for they are very fearful of your getting New York and have frequently said they have in all but just a garrison, it is the admiration of all friends that they can hold their ground up the river. ”

“ No one knew the real patriots in the City of New York at the close of the war as he did and much that seemed mysterious at the time can be traced to him, for besides Washington and Tallmadge, Alexander Hamilton, Richard Varick and several others were familiar with his handwriting and gave weight to his suggestions and opinions. ”

“ No one will challenge the emphasis put upon the importance of the Secret Service. Only lack of details has deterred its recognition. As early as April 1779, Major Tallmadge began by saying: “Some pieces of useful intelligence respecting the movements of the Enemy in this late intended Expedition to New London, and which I have reason to believe in a great measure defeated their intentions, have been communicated by Culper.” “Of very great importance” Washington considered it, and so wrote on July 11, 1780 “I rely upon this intelligence,” he wrote at another time. ”

“ The enemy I am informed are intrenching from the heights near Howard’s, southward. I have now received yours, with several resolutions, which I wish was in my power to put in execution; but, unless Cols. Smith and Remsen, mentioned in yours, join me with their regiments, or some other assistance, immediately, I shall not be able; for the people are all moving east, and I cannot get any assistance from them. I shall continue here as long as I can, in hopes of a reinforcement; but if none comes soon, I shall retreat, and drive the stock before me, into the woods. ”

“ Woodhull finds no one will write from New York.
May 8.
Sir. Your favor of the 28th of April is before me and observe the contents. Agreeable to your request I immediately repaired to New York and have done all that in me lay to engage a proper person, but have failed as no one will write on any account. I can only obtain verbal accounts for you and that but seldom, as the enemy have lately been made to believe that a line of intelligence is supported here. They are jealous of every person that they may see from this part. ”

“ A much better way is to write a letter in the Tory stile with some mixture of family matters and between the lines and on the remaining part of the sheet communicate with the stain the intended intelligence. Such a letter would pass through the hands of the enemy unsuspected and even if the agents should be unfaithful or negligent, no discovery would be made to his prejudice, as these people are not to know that there is concealed writing in the letter and the intelligent part of it would be an evidence in its favor. ”

“ If being so plundered by the enemy that the inhabitants have hardly a subsistance left, be not sufficient (for the marauders from our shore make no distinction between Whig and Tory further than what interest may point out) it surely cannot be reputable to leave it in the power of individuals to punish at pleasure, and enrich themselves by the plunder they take. Perhaps your Excellency may have seen the Proclamation lately issued by Governor Clinton prohibiting such practices. ”

“ You are to make a descent on Long Island and deplete227 and destroy such parties of the enemy as are found at Huntington and Setauket or other place on the Island, and, if you find it practical without too great hazard, you are to retake and bring off all the officers and soldiers of the Continental Army now on Long Island.
If any military stores, magazines, provisions, forage or naval stores are found on the Island, you are to bring off and destroy them. You are to procure such information before you attempt to go on as will render the descent possible and the design practicable. ”

“ Letters such as Parsons’ of September 5th, in which he says “the wretches who have crept into Congress are almost below contempt: our country will never prosper in their hands and they will starve us in the midst of plenty: to deny the very obvious justice and to insult us when we require it, is left only for Politicians of the New World.” Such, and there were others reached him besides Parsons’, must have induced him to believe that self government would not succeed. ”

“ The two most intelligent and confidential I got to undertake with difficulty, and they did it with the greatest reluctance and not without my pledging in the most solemn manner my honor not to inform any person upon earth of their names, or of their acting in the capacity of emisarys, they are persons of character and property, who cannot without utter ruin get out of the enemy’s power, and yet devoted to America, have agreed to serve in a way they do not like, but which is the only way they can at present serve her in. ”