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About this campaign

This Culper Spy Ring collection is inspired by the interactive exhibit at the Three Village Historical Society which presents the little known Culper Spy Ring, centered in Setauket, that was active during the American Revolution from 1778 to 1783.

This is the story of the Culper Spy Ring
When the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776, some Americans wanted to fight for independence from Great Britain and King George III. Those who favored independence were called patriots and those who supported the British were known as loyalists. George Washington suffered heavy losses at the first major battle in Brooklyn, resulting in British occupation of Long Island. He realized that credible information about British troop movements was vital in preparing a successful campaign.

Washington sent Captain Nathan Hale to Long Island to discover British plans. Hale’s ineffectiveness as a spy, his capture and execution, provided a framework for the development of a more effective intelligence operation. Over the next two years Washington struggled to establish a more reliable system.

In 1778 George Washington asked Benjamin Tallmadge, his new Chief of Intelligence, to organize a network of spies now known as the Culper Spy Ring. To accomplish this, Tallmadge needed spies he could trust. He recruited his childhood friends from Setauket, where he grew up.

The Spies!: How a Group of Long Island Patriots Helped George Washington Win the Revolution interactive exhibit at the Three Village Historical Society presents the Setauket-based Culper Spy Ring which was active during the American Revolution from 1778 to 1783.