There were several women in the
Setauket spy chain that operated during the Revolution and kept
General Washington supplied with information regarding the movements
of the British troops in New York and on Long Island.
One of the most
interesting stories concerns Ann Smith Strong (she was called Nancy
in the spy records), wife of Judge Selah Strong, who lived in
Setauket. The British army was having a great deal of trouble with
American saboteurs and any one who rode about very much, out of
uniform was suspected of unfriendly intentions. Nancy gave Austin Roe
excuses for his trips to New York by giving him large orders for
goods so he could ride safely to New York to fill them.
Since Caleb
Brewster was a well known figure in Setauket, it was not safe for
him to always land his boat in the same spot, so he had six landing
places. Abraham Woodhull could not always know whether Brewster was
in the village, or at which landing place his boat was hid, so Nancy made
it her business to keep track and passed this information on to
Woodhull through her clothesline. Most of the petticoats worn by the
women in those days were red so if Mr. Woodhull saw a black
petticoat waving on Nancy's clothesline he knew Brewster was in
town. Each of the landing places had a number, and by counting the
handkerchiefs hanging on Nancy's clothesline he knew at which
landing place Mr. Brewster's boat was hidden.
Nancy was not
discovered by the British, but her husband, Judge Strong, was
arrested and thrown into prison on one of the worst British prison
ships. Nancy got permission to visit him and took a boat load of
food, which probably saved his life and the lives of other
prisoners. Later on she secured his release, although he had to flee
to Connecticut for safety. Nancy's place in the spy ring was an
important one, and she occupies a front place in the line of
Colonial American's great women.
Later on in the war, General
Benedict Arnold, who was dissatisfied with the treatment he had
received from Congress, planned to turn over the key fort at West
Point, of which he was in charge to the British. Arrangements between General Arnold, and the
British, through the go-between British officer Major John Andre
(known as James Anderson) were almost completed in September 1780,
when Robert Townsend, discovered the plot. Word was passed along to
Austin Roe who took it to Setauket, and Abraham Woodhull turned it
over to Caleb Brewster, who carried it across the sound to the
headquarters of Maj-Tallmadge.
On September 10, Maj.
Tallmadge had
received a letter from General Arnold saying he expected a "James
Anderson" from New York and if he should come to Major Tallmadge's
headquarters, would he give him an escort to Gen. Arnold's
headquarters below West Point. On September 23, James Anderson (who was
Major Andre) was
captured while crossing the American lines near Tarrytown. The
following morning when Gen. Arnold received word that Major Andre
was being held as a British spy, he hurriedly called for a horse and
rode to the river, where he ordered his bargemen to row him, not up
the river to West Point, but down the river to the British man of
war "Vulture" and so he escaped to the British.
Major Andre was
convicted and hanged as a spy October 2, 1780. The surrender of West
Point was prevented by the fast work of the Setauket spy ring, and
again the course of history was changed through their activities.
After the war, Benedict Arnold went to live in London, where he was
despised even by the country he had sold out to, and died in June
1801.The only tribute to his memory in American hearts was a
contempt and hatred more enduring than granite.