Rachel Revere gave this letter and some money to a
friend to deliver to her husband Paul Revere after his "Midnight
Ride." Rachel didn't know that her friend was a British spy!
He delivered the letter to the British and pocketed the money.
My Dear by Doctor Church I send a hundred &
twenty five pounds / and beg you will take the best care of yourself and not /
attempt coming in to this town again and if I have an / opportunity of coming
or sending out anything or / any of the Children I shall do it pray **** keep
up / your spirits and trust your self and us in the hands / of a good God who
will take care of us tis all my / Dependance for vain is the help of man aduie
my / Love from your /affectionate R. Revere
British troops captured this letter from Benjamin Tallmadge as he was carrying it from George Washington to the Culper Gang. The letter
illustrates the spy network which worked in New York City and Long Island
alerting Washington of British troop movements.
New Windsor June 27th, 1779
/ Sir, / I observe what you say respecting /your position at Bedford--and the
fatigue / of the horse--with regard to the first, when / Bedford was pointed
out, it was descriptive / only of a central place between the two Rivers / and
as near the enemy as you could with / military prudence take post for the
purpose / of [covering] the inhabitants, and preventing the / ravages of small
parties. The judgment / of the officer commanding, is, under the / idea just
[captured], to direct the [practices]. / [Sport] and choice of ground which
ought to be / varied continually, while you re near / enough to the enemy to
give assistance to / the people.--With respect to the second / matter I have
only to add that I do not / wish to have the horse unnecessarily esc[-] /
posed, or fatigued, but if in the discharge / of accustomed duties they should
get worn /down, there is no help for it.-Col. Maylans / Regiment is on its
march to join you, which / will render the duty [carrier] and Your Troops /
there more respectable.-- / The inclosed contains matter for our knowledge
only.- / I am Sir- / Your Mo. Respect. [Servant] / Gon. Washington
Abigail Adams (Nov 11,
1744 - Oct 28, 1818) advocated an expanded role for women in public affairs
during the formative days of the United States. Married to John Adams (1797-1801) she
was an invaluable partner to him as he developed his political career,
culminating in the presidency of the United States. In 1761, the then 17-year-old Abigail Smith
spent hours together with her 26-year-old suitor, John Adams. Their
hours apart were consumed with thoughts of each other, expressed in playful and
passionate love letters. The intimacy of their courtship remained
throughout their marriage, as did their copious letters.
From their initial
courtship in 1761, through their time as President and First Lady over three
decades later, the couple shared insights on their lives and times through
their letters. John and Abigail Adams wrote over a thousand letters to each
other during the months (sometimes years) that John was away from home helping
found a new nation.
As was the custom of the
time, they adopted pen names:
- Abigail was Diana, after the
Roman goddess of the moon and later she adopted the pen name, Portia, wife
of the great Roman politician Brutus.
- John adopted the name,
Lysander, after the Spartan war hero.
John often addressed his
letters to his "Dear Adoreable" or "My dear Diana," or “My
Dear Portia,” but Abigail addressed her letters to John, as she would for the
rest of her life, to "My Dearest Friend."
My Dearest Friend,
…should I draw you the
picture of my Heart, it would be what I hope you still would Love; tho it
contained nothing new; the early possession you obtained there; and the
absolute power you have ever maintained over it; leaves not the smallest space
unoccupied. I look back to the early days of our acquaintance; and Friendship,
as to the days of Love and Innocence; and with an indescribable pleasure I have
seen near a score of years roll over our Heads, with an affection heightened
and improved by time -- nor have the dreary years of absence in the smallest
degree effaced from my mind the Image of the dear untitled man to whom I gave
my Heart...
