Memoir of Col. Benjamin Tallmadge

Guerilla, rebel, politician, spy—Col. Benjamin Tallmadge lived one of the most remarkable lives of the American Revolution

When British troops defeated the Continental Army on Long Island, Gen. George Washington was forced to abandon New York in order to save the revolution. The British established their headquarters in New York City, beginning an occupation that would last the length of the war. Priceless intelligence flowed through the city’s harbor, and Washington wanted to claim it as his own. To Benjamin Tallmadge, a young officer of the Continental Army, the general assigned an impossible mission: Infiltrate New York, establish a spy network, and report everything the British know.
 
Throughout the war, Tallmadge and his spies collected intelligence on troop movements, sneak attacks, and the treachery of Benedict Arnold. Nearly two and a half centuries later, the heroic exploits of the Culper Spy Ring serve as the inspiration for the acclaimed TV series Turn: Washington’s Spies and the video game Assassin’s Creed III. In this lively and engaging memoir, the days of revolution are remembered by a patriot who fought in the shadows—and helped redefine the nature of espionage.