The Workings of the Culper Ring

Samuel Culper (Jr) to Richard Floyd, July 20, 1780

Washington, George, 1732-1799--Career in espionage.

Floyd, Colonel [Richard?].

Espionage--United States--Prevention.

Washington, George, 1732-1799--Correspondence.

This cover letter discussing Culper's alleged attempts to purchase items for Floyd was an attempt by Robert Townsend to ensure the actual attached letter would get past British patrols if Austin Roe, the Culper Spy Ring courier, was questioned.

This letter is addressed to "Col. Floyd" which could actually be either Richard Floyd or Benjamin Floyd, brothers who were both Colonels and both related to the Culper Spy Ring members. Both men lived in the Brookhaven area and were known as Loyalists.

Townsend, using the pseudonym Samuel Culper, wrote to Floyd in emergency cases pretending to reply to mercantile orders to get messages written in invisible ink on the page of this letter through the British lines without challenge. One other occurrence of this practice is documented in the Summer of 1780.

This letter is generally considered to have been part of the warning the Culpers provided Washington that the British planned to attack the newly arrived vulnerable French Fleet at Newport.

Robert Townsend

Samuel Culper (Jr)

George Washington Papers

George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence. 1697-1799, Image 422, 423, 424

1780-07-20

Library of Congress

This letter accompanied the letter from the same date, July 20, 1780, by Culper Sr. to Tallmadge. It may have had other items connected to it.

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English

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