Abraham Woodhull: Stammering Farmer & Spy

Last week I introduced you to Caleb Brewster, the valiant captain/spy who could’ve easily been portrayed in an action movie.

This week I give you Abraham Woodhull: the stammering, terrified farmer who handled day to day operations of the ring.

Why did Benjamin Tallmadge recruit such a pathetic excuse for a spy? That’s probably why. Abraham was scared of just about everything. No one would ever believe he was capable of intrigue and espionage.

Benjamin and Abraham grew up together in Setauket, Long Island. Benjamin knew he could trust Abraham. Poor Abraham must’ve held his friendship and the American fight for freedom close to his heart, because being a spy nearly gave him a heart attack.

It is believed Abraham recruited Robert Townsend – the pivotal member of The Culper Spy Ring. Abraham was a customer of Robert’s dry good business. It had to have freaked Abraham out to speak with Robert and convince him to betray his Quaker faith, for in Manhattan, especially, it was never safe to talk. Redcoats were everywhere.

Abraham’s hypocondria reached new heights when he took on the role of Culper Senior. After executing a letter for Washington, it was not uncommon for Abraham to retreat to bed complaining of fever, and stay there for days.

Abraham shook so much that he spilled the only vial of invisible ink on hand once. He made frequent mistakes – more understandable because he was not trained in his endeavor but learned as he went along – but Washington did not understand at all. He was quick to criticize when things went wrong, and even disbanded the Culpers in one angry moment.

But Washington ultimately did have faith in Abraham and the Culpers. When he needed vital information fast, he rallied the Culpers back into action. Of all his spies, he relied on and trusted the Culpers most.

Revolutionary Saturday!

Have you heard of Benjamin Tallmadge?

If no – you’re not alone.

Have you heard of Benedict Arnold?

Chances are, you have.

Funny thing, Benjamin Tallmadge is the person who suspected that Benedict Arnold had turned traitor. If not for Tallmadge, Arnold might have carried off his nefarious plan.

So why do we remember villains, and only a few select heroes? What does that say about us?

Benjamin Tallmadge organized Washington’s Culper Spy Ring – one of Washington’s main secrets to winning the war.

And Tallmadge did something even more incredible, in a human way: After retreating to safety from the Battle of Long Island, he returned across the East River and was nearly killed – all to save his horse.

This is the kind of man I celebrate.

A good man.

A man who deserves to be known.  

My time is short today. I’m helping my son apply to colleges, I have to cook dinner, and I’m working on a novel.

But I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the memory of Benjamin Tallmadge.

I hope you will do the same.

                                                                      Benjamin Tallmadge,
                                                       as depicted by my marvelous illustrator,
                                                                         Bill Farnsworth

Revolutionary Saturday!

           Abraham Lincoln said, “...if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”

            I say, “If you want to know someone’s character, give them a gun.”

            Throw them in the middle of a war.

            Your real character comes out when you’re fighting for your life.

            I realized this when I started researching the American Revolution. The fact that I wanted to write about a war was a great surprise to me. The prospect of writing about history was shocking. And gosh, if you told me in the third grade that I was going to write about George Washington someday, I would’ve called you a flat-out liar.

            But the universe works in mysterious ways.

            I was led to the story of George Washington’s spy ring when a sick friend happened to mention that a woman hung her petticoats on a clothesline as a secret signal. With that one image I was hooked. Imagine a woman risking her life for such intrigue! Imagine craving something that much.

            When you think of people in the American Revolution, don’t dwell on our differences. They didn’t have cell phones, cars, computers...So what? They possessed wants and needs and passions just as we do. What’s in our hearts never changes.

            The more I researched, the more I realized this. And the more I empathized with these people who sacrificed so much to be free.

            I will tell you stories about unsung heroes of the American Revolution in the coming weeks.

            But let me start with George Washington.

            I truly believe we would not be a country if not for this man. Put simply¸ he refused to give up. He was grace under pressure. Much is made of the fact that he lost battle after battle at the beginning of the war. Much should be made of the fact that he kept going.

            When I read the story of the Battle of Long Island I couldn’t believe we weren’t shouting it from the rooftops. This was better than fiction! But somehow Washington’s crossing of the East River was overshadowed by his crossing of the Delaware. Folks, he couldn’t have gotten to the Delaware if he hadn’t crossed the East River first.

            Washington’s ragtag troops were defeated in a matter of hours. They dragged themselves into trenches, waiting for the British to take them prisoner or kill them. When the British hesitated, Washington made his bid to save his men.

            What happened that August night was nothing short of miraculous.

            Think you know George Washington?

            Think again.

            Because if you want to test a man’s character, watch what he does when he’s defeated.

            George Washington would not surrender.

            A lesson for any time.

Here’s a shameless plug for my picture books on the American Revolution, published by Calkins Creek Books/Boyds Mills Press:

The American Revolution Comes To Life
with Little Known True Tales

George Washington In a Whole New Light!

Author and historian Selene Castrovilla unearths two new facets of the father of our country in her picture books about the American Revolution: BY THE SWORD & UPON SECRECY.

Washington’s other crossing. We all know the story of George Washington crossing the Delaware, but he never would’ve made it there if he hadn’t first crossed the East River. Washington’s valiant and miraculous retreat of all his men to safety following his devastating loss at the Battle of Long Island is perhaps his greatest moment – and yet largely unknown. Learn about this amazing feat in BY THE SWORD (Calkins Creek Books, 2007.)

AN INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION NOTABLE BOOK

NEW YORK STATE READING ASSOCIATION - Recommended Intermediate Reading

MOONBEAM CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD GOLD MEDALIST FOR NONFICTION


A Kansas Reading Circle Selection

George Washington, spy? Yes, the father of our country was also a superb spymaster – and thank goodness, because that’s how he won the revolution! Major George Beckwith, head of British intelligence operations in the colonies, put it like this: “George Washington did not really outfight the British; he simply outspied us!” Somehow this fascinating and vital part of Washington’s character has been vastly ignored by history – until now. In UPON SECRECY (Calkins Creek Books, 2010) you’ll follow Washington’s most valued spies – Long Island’s Culper Spy Ring – on their most important and exciting mission. Without this contribution, we would likely not be a country.

A Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year, 2010

Read an excerpt of BY THE SWORD:
http://selenecastrovilla.com/excerpt_sword.html

Read an excerpt of UPON SECRECY:
http://selenecastrovilla.com/excerpt_secrecy.html

Order BY THE SWORD on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Selene-Castrovilla/dp/1590784278/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319873584&sr=1-5

Order UPON SECRECY on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Secrecy-Selene-Castrovilla/dp/1590785738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319873714&sr=1-1