Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835

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Benjamin Tallmadge (1754-1835) acted as principal director of George Washington's secret service from 1778-1783, after the death of Nathan Hale. He won distinction as a field officer, notably at the capture of Fort St. George, Long Island, in 1780. With his leadership, Washington was able to create a strong and successful chain of spies throughout the New York area, beginning the secret service in America. These agents, primarily the Culper Spy Ring, gathered information for Washington, which greatly aided in winning the war.

Tallmadge was born in Setauket, Long Island. He was extremely bright and attended Yale University at the age of fifteen. He embarked on a career in education and soon became a headmaster of a school in Wethersfield, CT. When war broke out, Tallmadge became interested and decided to join. He began his army career as 1st lieutenant in Colonel John Chester's Regiment of Wadsworth's Connecticut Brigade, and eventually rose up the ladder to become Brigade Major and then captain of a troop in the 2nd Continental Light Dragoon Regiment. In the summer of 1778, his dragoons were assigned under Brigadier General Charles Scott, who was Washington's intelligence chief. Tallmadge's new job was to recruit intelligence sources throughout the Connecticut and New York area. He contacted old friends from Long Island and New York City, gradually forming the Culper ring. When Charles Scott had to go home because of family problems in the fall of 1778, Tallmadge was promoted once again and began to report directly to Washington.

Tallmadge is now remembered as one of the founders of the first organized espionage operations in America. He developed a numerical substitution code that effectively withstood British attempts to decipher it. After his successful career during the war, he was elected to Congress, where he served eight terms.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf William L. Clements Library. James McHenry papers, 1777-1832. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 14 -- Materials held at the University of Pennsylvania, 1705-1788 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. Light Dragoons Regiment, Second. Second Dragoon Regiment orderly book, 1782-1783. New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Woolsey family papers, 1750-1969 (bulk 1811-1921) Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn War of 1812 mss., 1776-1879 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
referencedIn Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, Papers, 1777-1794 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
contributorOf Letters Received from Commissioned Officers Below the Rank of Commander and from Warrant Officers, 1802–1886 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Palfrey family papers, 1713-1915 Houghton Library
creatorOf Smith, John Cotton, 1765-1845. John Cotton Smith personal, legal and political papers, 1788-1845. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn James McHenry Papers, 1775-1862, (bulk 1775-1816) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Freeman, Douglas Southall, 1886-1953,. Tallmadge-Norwood-Wilkins collection, 1769-1962 (bulk 1851-1934). James Monroe Museum & Memorial Library
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Benjamin Tallmadge correspondence, 1803-1828. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Scrapbook of Benjamin Tallmadge, 1774-1840. Library of Congress
referencedIn Espionage papers, 1775-1956 . Houghton Library
creatorOf Personal reminiscences of Major Benjamin Tallmadge : of scenes in the Revolutionary War in which he took a prominent part : manuscript New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Benjamin Tallmadge collection Litchfield Historical Society
referencedIn Hooker family. Hooker family papers, 1623-1929 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Treadwell, John, 1745-1823. Governor John Treadwell papers, 1797-1818. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Benjamin Tallmadge collection Litchfield Historical Society
referencedIn Day family. Day family papers, 1767-1929 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Adams, Elijah, Esq. Elijah Adams letter, 1824 Dec. 13. Litchfield Historical Society
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Papers. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn Sam Schaefler historical and literary letters and documents, 1674-1970s Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Sylvester Manor Archive, 1649-1996 Fales Library & Special Collections
creatorOf Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804. Jeremiah Wadsworth business and commissary records, 1759-1847. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786. Papers, 1777-1780 American Philosophical Society
contributorOf General Records of the Department of State, 1763 - 2002. Letters Received, 1789 - 1906 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
creatorOf Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908. Huntington-Wolcott papers, 1698-1911, bulk: 1750-1895. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Washington Irving collection, 1683-1839, (bulk 1753-1839) Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Autograph letter signed : Canaan, to General Greene, 1779 Aug. 26. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Colt family. Papers, 1777-1913. Rutgers University
referencedIn Wolcott, Oliver [and] Co. Account books, 1804-1815. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Tallmadge family papers, 1756-1932. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Wadsworth, Elijah, 1747-1817. Family papers, 1792-1868. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Manuscript collection, 1704-1974, 1759-1829 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf William L. Clements Library. War of 1812 collection, 1806-1860. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de, 1725-1807. Papers of Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau 1777-1794. Library of Congress
creatorOf Wadsworth, Elijah, 1747-1817. Elijah Wadsworth family papers, 1792-1868 [microform]. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Stowe, Lyman Beecher, 1880-1963. Lyman Beecher Stowe speech, 1920 Aug. 2. Litchfield Historical Society
referencedIn Sylvester Manor Archive, 1649-1996 Fales Library & Special Collections
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1760-1833. Papers, 1614-1880. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Sabin, Frank T. Autograph letters of Major André and his captors. Boston Athenaeum
referencedIn Wolcott, Oliver, 1760-1833. Papers of Oliver Wolcott, 1759-1837. Library of Congress
referencedIn Adams family. Adams family papers, 1798-1928. Litchfield Historical Society
referencedIn Rutgers, Henry. Papers, 1730-1875, bulk 1783-1824. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Benjamin Tallmadge collection, 1756-1846. Princeton University Library
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Autograph letter signed : Litchfield, to Samuel M. Hopkins, 1820 Jul. 19. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Adenaw family. Adenaw family papers, 1915-1946. Litchfield Historical Society
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Revolutionary War military records, 1776-1783. New Jersey Historical Society Library
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Personal reminiscences of Major Benjamin Tallmadge : of scenes in the Revolutionary War in which he took a prominent part : manuscript. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786. Papers, 1777-1780 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Autograph File, T, 1580-1975. Houghton Library
referencedIn George Washington collection 1758-1799 Washington, George William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Letters to Mrs. Peter Colt, 1782 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Wolcott family. Alice Wolcott collection, 1740-1893 (bulk 1790-1835). Litchfield Historical Society
referencedIn A rough draught of Fort St. George / 1780. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin. Letter, 1817 November 29, Litchfield, Conn. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Gelston, David. Letter book, 1793 Mar.-1800 Sept. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Benjamin Tallmadge correspondence, 1781-1782. Library of Congress
creatorOf Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Autograph letter signed : Litchfield, to Samuel M. Hopkins, 1809 Sept. 28. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Crosby, William Bedlow, 1786-1865. William Bedlow Crosby papers, ca. 1686-1892. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Woolsey family papers, 1750-1969 (bulk 1811-1921) Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Whittlesey, Elisha, 1783-1863. Papers, 1811-1863. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn James McHenry papers 1777-1832 McHenry, James papers William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn Woolsey family papers, 1750-1969 (bulk 1811-1921) Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Adams, Joseph, 1767-1856. Joseph Adams stock certificate, 1801 Nov. 17. Litchfield Historical Society
referencedIn Colt, Peter. Letter, 1782 May 24, Williamsburg [Va.] to Mrs. Peter Colt, Wethersfield [Conn.]. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Freeman, Douglas Southall, 1886-1953,. Tallmadge-Norwood-Wilkins collection, 1769-1962 (bulk 1851-1934). James Monroe Museum & Memorial Library
referencedIn Hoar, George Frisbie. 1826-1904. Autograph collection, 1598-1945 Houghton Library
referencedIn Hooker family papers, 1623-1929 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Rutgers, Henry, 1745-1830. Papers, 1730-1875 bulk 1783-1824. New York State Library
creatorOf May family. Papers, 1752-1875. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn War of 1812 collection 1806-1860 War of 1812 collection William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume X, miscellany, 1764-1805 Cornell University Library

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correspondedWith Adams family. family
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associatedWith Carrington, Elisha. person
associatedWith Colt family. family
associatedWith Colt, Peter. person
correspondedWith Colt, Peter, 1744-1824 person
associatedWith Crosby, William Bedlow, 1786-1865. person
associatedWith Cushman family. family
correspondedWith Cushman, John P. (John Paine), 1784-1848 person
correspondedWith Cushman, Maria Tallmadge, 1790-1878 person
associatedWith Davis, Puah. person
associatedWith Day family. family
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Deming, Julius, 1755-1838. person
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associatedWith Dwight, Timothy, 1752-1817. person
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associatedWith Horsford, Eben Norton, 1818-1893 person
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memberOf United States. Congress. House corporateBody
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correspondedWith Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804 person
correspondedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799 person
associatedWith Whittlesey, Elisha, 1783-1863. person
associatedWith William L. Clements Library. corporateBody
correspondedWith Wolcott family. family
associatedWith Wolcott, Oliver, 1760-1833. person
associatedWith Wolcott, Oliver [and] Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Woodbridge, Dudley. person
associatedWith Woolsey family. family
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associatedWith Woolsey family. family
Place Name Admin Code Country
Brookhaven NY US
Litchfield CT US
Litchfield CT US
Subject
Slavery
United States
Business enterprises
Cipher and telgraphic codes
Presidents
Privateering
Real property
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Revivals
Second Great Awakening
Women
Occupation
Army officers
Businessmen
Legislators
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1754-02-11

Death 1835-03-07

German,

English

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