Many have become aware of the Culper Ring in the last few years. Organized by George Washington and Benjamin Tallmadge, the Culper Ring was a group of spies operating mostly in New York City, Long Island, and Connecticut.
But this was not the only group of spies in the Revolution. There was a ring that operated out of New Brunswick.
Meet Joshua Mersereau.
As Washington retreated out of New Brunswick on December 1, 1776, he tasked Mersereau with setting up an espionage operation in New Brunswick. Joshua frequently corresponded with Washington and was the conduit for the information. His two teenaged sons, Joshua III and John LaGrange Mersereau took an active role. John had a weak right arm and couldn't carry a musket, so he offered his services in espionage. John was involved in operating taverns, ferries, and a stage line, and retreated to Staten Island when the British occupied New Brunswick, gathering intelligence from behind enemy lines.
It may have saved the country.
Washington retreated from New Brunswick through Princeton and on to Trenton, and then across the Delware to winter in Pennsylvania. That winter was critical for the rebel army--Washington used it to turn his rag-tag group of raw recruits and militiamen into a fighting force capable of going toe-to-toe with the British regulars and Hessian mercenaries. But Cornwallis was in pursuit. He wanted to crush the rebel army before the end of the year. But the Mersereau Ring got wind of Cornwallis' plans, including which boats Cornwallis was going to use to get his army across the Delaware--and it removed the boats, forcing Cornwallis to set up a camp in Trenton.
So without the intelligence provided by the Mersereau Ring, Cornwallis likely would have crossed the Delaware and crushed what was left of the colonial army. And, of course, we all know what happened in Trenton later that month.
And it was the Mersereau Ring--not the Culper Ring--that was responsible for uncovering Benedict Arnold's betrayal. The Mersereau's tipped off Tallmadge that British Major John André was plotting with General Benedict Arnold. André was travelling under a fake name and Tallmadge had actually granted him a safe conduct pass. But an agent from the Mersereau ring found out about the alias and alerted Tallmadge. When Tallmadge later heard that a British officer had been arrested with details about the surrender of West Point to the British, he realized who it was.
Benedict Arnold, seated, hands papers to British officer John Andre
Washington would later say to Congress: "I have people constantly on Staten Island who give me daily information of the operations of the enemy. These are brave men." The Central Intelligence Agency cites Joshua as being a Founding Father of American Intelligence. The Mersereau family lost much property in the war to the British, and Cornelius, another brother, was captured and viciously tortured by the British. They were awarded land in New York by Congress as compensation after the war, and they left the New Brunswick area.
Correspondence has been uncovered between the Mersereau Brothers. The first letter is from Joshua III to John. It says:
Can't believe the Culper Ring uses such elementary methods to encrypt letters. Check out this list.
Enclosed in that letter is a document. You can click here to see it.
The second letter is a response from John to Joshua III:
The third of each will tell you the true message contained in the next letter.
And the final letter is dated April 13, 1777. It appears to be a report of the Battle of Bound Brook. Here is what it says:
Cornwallis took action today North of Brunswick. To wit:
Loyalist Lowe appointed royal Magistrate.
A large Column of Soldiers, significant in number, marched toward Bound Brook.
They left about seven o'clock and have yet to return.
The soldiers came West and met slight resistance near Smock's Farm.
Encountering an ally Scout, they determined a Garrison was located in Bound Brook.
Cornwallis wrote London speaking favorably, but Washington's Men escaped without incident.