May 28

May 28 Arrested BEFORE Espionage - George Higday's Failure as a Spy

George Higday was arrested for espionage before he even had the opportunity to work with the Patriots.

However, the error inspired Washington to create a cipher, encoding all secret communications for the Culper Spy Ring.

George Higday

George Higday was a simple laborer outside New York City when the Revolutionary War broke out.

Like many citizens at the time, Higday did not actively participate in the war. Instead, he kept his head down and continued going about his life.

In this situation, George was in good standing with the British but secretly harbored Patriot sympathies.

Assisting Fugitives

In the Spring of 1779, several Patriot officers were escaping from British captivity.

Higday assisted these men in crossing the river to freedom.

Word quickly got back to General Washington about George’s situation.

Washington wrote to Benjamin Tallmadge, who was in the process of forming the Culper Spy Ring, and informed him that Higday might be helpful.

Mishap

Unfortunately, just after receiving the General’s update, Tallmadge’s camp was attacked by the British who seem to have known that he was involved with Patriot espionage.

Although he survived the skirmish, the Redcoats made off with Tallmadge’s horse.

In his saddle was the letter from Washington which mentioned George Higday by name (along with money and information for the rest of the Spy Ring).

Imprisoned

Shortly thereafter, Higday was arrested in his home by the British.

He quickly wrote a confession (which may or may not have been coerced) stating that he was just trying to make some money to invest in his farm, but turned down Washington’s small offer of payment. Though he mentioned that he met Washington personally, there is no evidence of this and it is highly unlikely.

Afterwards, George Higday disappears from the record.

Historian Alexander Rose finds it unlikely that he was executed due to his low intelligence and British General Clinton’s history of using spies as double agents.

Fallout

The most important part of Higday’s story is its effect on the Culper Spy Ring.

Both Washington and Tallmadge realized how easily their secret information could get out.

As a result, they came up with the now-famous cipher for passing instructions covertly.

Who was in the Culper Ring?

Here are some other members:

Austin Roe - Washington’s Spy on Horseback

Caleb Brewster Row Row Rows His Boat

Want to read more about the Culper Spy Ring?

‘Washington’s Spies’ is by Alexander Rose (who I mentioned above) and is one of my favorite Rev War books. The TV series TURN was based on it.

If you’d like a copy you can get one through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).