Did you know George Washington was the leader of a secret spy ring?

His codename was ‘Agent 711 and the covert tactics he used helped to turn the tide of the American Revolution!

In 1778, Major Benjamin Tallmadge proposed forming a covert spy network.

George Washington, liked this idea!

...A LOT and approve the creation of ‘The Culper Ring With Tallmadges help, Washington began assembling his team.

Starting with Abraham Woodhull and Robert Townsend, who each became key informants for the Patriots.

Woodhulls alias was ‘Samuel Culper, Sr.

While Townsend was referred to as ‘Samuel Culper Jr.

cementing their place at the top of the organizational food chain.

From there, the network grew not only in members, but in strategy.

Like any good spy ring, they used codes to communicate fragile information in secrecy.

Enter ‘The Culper Code a four page booklet with 763 numerical entries, each representing a specific word, place, or name.

This book was given to key operatives of the ring, so that sensitive messages could only be coded or decoded by specific people.

Going one step further, some messages used invisible ink, such as lemon juice.

The true text was written between the lines of a seemingly normal letter, and could be revealed by applying heat.

But this method was WIDELY used and thus easily intercepted.

Recognizing this problem, Washington provided funding to Sir James Jay to develop a NEW invisible ink, which could be revealed with a specific chemical mixture nicknamed ‘sympathetic stain.

This state of the art ink could only be made in small quantities, and the scarcity of ingredients added to its security.

But let's say there wasn't enough special ink to go around!?

In this case, informants would instead use letter mask sheets of paper with a specific shape cut out of them that would lay on top of a letter to reveal the true message.

And if a message needed to go behind enemy lines, the letters would be stuffed inside common items like hollowed out quills.

bullet casings, balls of yarn, and even coat buttons!

But perhaps the most unorthodox method of communication was used by Anna Strong who signaled to Patriot spies via clothesline.

Robert Townsend would stash messages in one of six different locations on her property.

Then Anna would hang a black petticoat on her clothesline to signal that information was ready.

And the number of handkerchiefs displayed indicated which of the six coves along the shore the letter could be found.

This laundry assisted, dead-drop system was never discovered by the British, despite her land being under THEIR occupation.

Regardless of what methods they used, The Culper Ring provided the Patriots with the information they needed to gain the upper hand against the crown.

One of Britain's own intelligence officers said it best... “Washington did not really out-fight the British... He simply out-SPIED us” Funding for this video was made in part by a community engagement grant around the American Revolution.

A film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botst & David Schmidt You can steam the full film starting Nov.

16th on the PBS app.

Wed like to thank the following funders.

Simple Civics Brought to you in part by the Indiana State Teachers Accosiation