Revolutionary Saturday/Don't forget to enter my Kindle contest!!!

            Today on Revolutionary Saturday I’d like to introduce you to Caleb Brewster, who was the kind of guy Harrison Ford or Bruce Willis would’ve played in their prime.

            A real die hard.

            Caleb was a whaleboat captain who conducted successful raids on British forts on Long Island.

            He was also a member of George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring.
            Caleb and his men hid along the Setauket, Long Island shore­ waiting for a signal that the message for Washington had arrived, courtesy of courier Austin Roe. It is believed that Anna Strong hung a petticoat in her clothesline to alert Caleb. But however he found out that his message was waiting for him, Caleb was always ready to act.

            He and his men rowed across the Long Island Sound to American-held Connecticut.

There, it was carried to Washington. Especially because of the long, round-about route from New York, time was of the essence. But Caleb often found a moment to raid larger British ships on the way to Connecticut. He was that kind of guy.

            Towards the end of the war, Benjamin Tallmadge was on board a whaleboat with Caleb when they came under British fire. Caleb went down with a musket ball through the chest. Tallmadge recalled in his memoir that he thought it was the end of Caleb. He was wrong.

            Caleb rose and fought on.

            He recovered and lived into his 80’s.

A letter from Caleb Brewster to Benjamin Tallmadge

            If you’d like to read more about Caleb Brewster and the Culper Spy Ring, check out my book, Upon Secrecy.

http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Secrecy-Selene-Castrovilla/dp/1590785738

Don't forget to enter my Kindle contest! Read yesterday's blog for details!!!!!

           

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