Sally Townsend, George Washington's Teenage Spy

by Paul R. Misencik

Overview

Sally Townsend of Oyster Bay was a petite, vivacious, intelligent and remarkably beautiful young lady with beguiling eyes. A 1779 Valentine poem from an admiring British officer reads: "Thou know'st what powerful magick lies Within the round of Sarah's eyes."

She was the sister of Robert Townsend, a principal member of the "Culper Ring," General Washington's most effective spy network. During the British occupation (1776-1783), Loyalist and Hessian troops were quartered in and around Oyster Bay, two Redcoat officers in the Townsend home.

Sally assisted her brother in gathering intelligence while coyly flirting with the enemy. The romantic interest of Jager officer Ernst Wintzingerode, she dallied with Major John Andre and was courted by Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe of the Queen's Rangers. She paid a heavy price for her role in thwarting the Benedict Arnold treason plot.

The book explores the possible identity of the mysterious "Agent 355" mentioned in a cryptic Culper Ring message.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786499878
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	11/19/2015
Pages:	236
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Paul R. Misencik is a former airline captain and retired division chief of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He is a member of the First Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line, a living history foundation. He lives in Reston, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Preface 1

Prologue 5

1 The Townsends of Oyster Bay 9

2 The Coming War 15

3 The War Begins 22

4 The Capture of Long Island and New York 33

5 The British Come to Oyster Bay 40

6 Living with the Enemy 52

7 The Times That Try Men's Souls 57

8 The Jägers Come to Oyster Bay 62

9 Spring and Summer of 1777 68

10 Oppressive Occupiers 72

11 Simcoe and the Queen's Rangers 82

12 The Beginning of the Culper Ring 91

13 The Destruction of the Apple Orchard 102

14 Etched Windows and a Valentine 107

15 Major John Andre Visits Oyster Bay 112

16 Simcoe-Dashing But Ruthless 115

17 Simcoe Is Captured by the Americans 123

18 The Winter of 1779-1780 128

19 A Hint of Treason 130

20 The Message Is Sent to Tallmadge 141

21 The Capture of Andre 153

22 Cries for Vengeance 167

23 A Sad Farewell 170

24 Thoughts Regarding Agent 355 173

Afterword 184

John Andre (1750-1780) 184

Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) 186

Caleb Brewster (1747-1827) 188

Austin Roe (1749-1830) 189

Benjamin Tallmadge (1754-1835) 189

John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806) 191

Anna Smith Strong (1740-1812) 193

Robert Townsend (1753-1838) 194

Abraham Woodhull (1750-1826) 195

Epilogue 197

Chapter Notes 203

Bibliography 215

Index 219

Editorial Reviews

informative and engaging from beginning to end...impressively well researched...deftly written....very highly recommended”—Midwest Book Review.

From the Publisher