This article is about the female spy for the Continentals during the American War of Independence. For the comic book character, see Agent 355 (Y: The Last Man).
355 (died after 1780) was the supposed code name of a female spy during the American Revolution who was part of the Culper Ring spy network. She was one of the first spies for the United States, but her real identity is unknown.[1] The number 355 could be decrypted from the system the Culper Ring used to mean "lady."[2] Her story is considered part of national myth, as there is very little evidence that 355 even existed,[3] although many continue to assert that she was a real historical figure.[4][5]
The only direct reference to 355 in any of the Culper Ring's missives (1778–1780)[6] appears in a letter from Abraham Woodhull ("Samuel Culper Sr.") to GeneralGeorge Washington,[7] where Woodhull describes her as "one who hath been ever serviceable to this correspondence."[8]
Agent 355's contributions to the Culper Spy Ring were instrumental to its success. Operating within British-controlled territory, she gathered valuable intelligence on troop movements, supply routes, and strategic military plans. Women spies were often more successful as military men were looser-lipped with women rather than men.[9] Utilizing her discretion and resourcefulness, Agent 355 transmitted vital information to her handlers, enabling General George Washington to make informed decisions that often proved decisive on the battlefield. Although barred from military service, women actively contributed to the war efforts through espionage. When British soldiers lodged in colonial homes, some women seized the opportunity to gather intelligence, capitalizing on loose lips. Often, these female spies proved more adept at concealing their activities and achieving success than their male counterparts.[10]
While the true identity of 355 remains unknown, some facts about her seem clear. She worked with the American Patriots during the Revolutionary War as a spy, and was likely recruited by Woodhull into the spy ring.[1] The way the code is constructed indicates that she may have had "some degree of social prominence."[2] She was likely living in New York City at the time,[11] and at some point had contact with MajorJohn André and Benedict Arnold.[12][13] One person who has been named as the possible identity of Agent 355 was Anna Strong, Woodhull's neighbor.[11] Strong allegedly helped the Culper Ring by signaling to its members the location of Caleb Brewster, who raided British shipments in his whaleboat around Long Island Sound after he was given a secure location by Strong.[6]Strong's method of communication was ingenious: she used her laundry as a signaling system. Hanging a black petticoat indicated that a message was ready for pickup, while the number of handkerchiefs corresponded to a secret pickup location. Caleb Brewster, another Culper Ring operative, monitored her signals from Long Island Sound, ensuring a clear passage for the couriers and indicating the message's retrieval point. [14]
Another theory is that 355 may have been Robert Townsend's common-law wife.[1] Stories about Townsend state that he was in love with 355.[15] John Burke and Andrea Meyer have made a different case for 355's involvement in the spy ring, using circumstantial evidence that she may have been close to Major John André and also to Benjamin Tallmadge, thereby protecting Woodhull from accusations of being a spy.[16] Other possible candidates for 355 include Sarah Horton Townsend and Elizabeth Burgin.[17]
It is also occasionally believed that there was no Agent 355 at all, but rather that the code indicated a woman who had useful information but was not "formally connected to the ring."[18] The code itself may have referred to "a woman", not an agent who was a woman.[7]
355 is thought to have played a major role in exposing Arnold as a defector and in the arrest of André, who was hanged in Tappan, New York.[1] She may have been a member of a prominent Loyalist family, which would have put her within easy reach of British commanders.[1][8]
The then pregnant 355 was arrested in 1780 when Benedict Arnold defected to the Loyalists.[8] She was imprisoned on HMSJersey, a prison ship, where she may have given birth to a boy named Robert Townsend Jr.[1] She later died on the prison ship.[1][12] However, Alexander Rose disagrees with this narrative, stating that "females were not kept aboard prison ships," and that "there's no record whatsoever of a birth."[13] Strengthening the idea that Agent 355 may have been Anna Strong is the fact that Anna's husband, Selah Strong, was imprisoned on Jersey and she was supposedly allowed to bring him food. Her presence on the ship may have led to the legend that Agent 355 was herself imprisoned there.[7]
he harsh nature of espionage demanded courage and resilience, qualities that Agent 355 excelled in. Despite the constant threat of discovery and capture by British authorities, she remained steadfast in her commitment to the cause of American independence. Through daring acts, Agent 355 navigated the dangerous landscape of espionage, earning the respect of her fellow operatives.
Depiction of Agent 355
While the specific deeds of Agent 355 may be obscured by the passage of time, her legacy remains as a testament to the vital role played by female spies in shaping the course of history. Her courage, resourcefulness, and dedication to the cause of liberty serve as an inspiration to future generations. Although her true identity may never be revealed, Agent 355's contributions to the American Revolution remain etched in history, a reminder of the often-overlooked role of women in the fight for freedom.
In the shadows of the American Revolutionary War, Agent 355 emerged as a figure of myth and mystery. Her name may be lost to history, but her acts exist as a testament to the courage and sacrifice of those who risked everything for their country. As we reflect on the era of our nation's founding, let us not forget the unsung heroes like Agent 355, whose contributions helped shape a nation.
In popular culture
Agent 355 has become a part of popular fiction.
One of the main characters in Y: The Last Man from Vertigo Comics is a modern spy that goes by Agent 355.[19] She is part of a fictionalized Culper Ring that has remained active into modern times.
Idara Victor plays fictional Agent 355 in the television series Turn: Washington's Spies. In the show, Agent 355 is the code name of a former slave named Abigail.[20] She had been owned by Anna Strong until the British army seized Selah's property upon his imprisonment. Though technically free, she is coerced into working for John André. Abigail collects information overheard in André's home and hides it in gifts sent to her son, left in Anna's care.
In Season 4, Episode 6 (Identity Crisis) of the US TV show White Collar, the show's main characters investigate a Culper Ring conspiracy theory based on letters owned by a descendant of 355.
Rebel Spy by Veronica Rossi, a young adult novel reimagining the story behind Agent 355, was published in 2020.
The 355 is a female-led spy film released by Universal Pictures on January 7, 2022. A group of women from different international spy agencies create a faction code-named 355 in honor of Agent 355.[21]
↑ Bleyer, Bill (March 21, 2022). "The Myth of Agent 355, the Woman Spy Who Supposedly Helped Win the Revolutionary War". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-14. No proof of 355's adventures in espionage actually exists. The sole mention of her in the historical record simply states that she was a lady—not necessarily a spy—who could help the Patriots "outwit them all." Unfortunately, this lack of evidence hasn't stopped authors and television and movie producers from inventing tales of her exploits.
↑ Bleyer, Bill. "The Myth of Agent 355, the Woman Spy Who Supposedly Helped Win the Revolutionary War". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-14. Other writers picked up the story and further embellished it. Chief among them is Fox News co-host Brian Kilmeade, who lives on Long Island. In George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved The American Revolution, the 2013 bestseller he wrote with Don Yaeger, he names 355 as one of six members of the spy ring. (Kilmeade offers no explanation for his exclusion of widely accepted members like Brewster.)
Without documentation—Secret Six is not footnoted but does include a list of selected sources—Kilmeade places 355 in the social circle of British spymaster and legendary party-thrower John André. "One agent remains unidentified," the book states. "Though her name cannot be verified, and many details about her life are unclear, her presence and her courage undoubtedly made a difference."
1 2 3 Phelps, Mark Anthony (2013). "Agent 355". In Frank, Lisa Tendrich (ed.). An Encyclopedia of American Women at War: From the Home Front to the Battlefields. Vol.1. ABC-CLIO. p.529. ISBN9781598844436.
1 2 3 "Personalities". CIA. United States Government. 15 March 2007. Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
↑ Burke, John A.; Meyer, Andrea (2009). "Spies of the Revolution". New York Archives. 9 (2). Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
↑ Mafe, Diana Adesola (2015). "'We Don't Need Another Hero': Agent 355 as an Original Black Female Hero in Y: The Last Man". African American Review. 48 (1): 33. doi:10.1353/afa.2015.0009. S2CID161247862.
During the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Army and British Army conducted espionage operations against one another to collect military intelligence to inform military operations. In addition, both sides conducted political action, covert action, counterintelligence, deception, and propaganda operations as part of their overall strategies.
Brian Kilmeade is an American television and radio presenter and political commentator for Fox News. On weekdays he co-hosts the morning show, Fox & Friends, and he hosts the Fox News Radio program The Brian Kilmeade Show. On weekends, he hosts One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, which premiered January 29, 2022. He has authored or co-authored non-fiction and fiction books.
Shadow Patriots is 2005 historical novel by Lucia St. Clair Robson. It tells of the Culper Ring, a group of George Washington's spies operating out of New York City during the Revolution. The story includes familiar names—Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Benedict Arnold, Peggy Shippen—and one unfamiliar number, the mysterious Spy 355. 355 was the Culpers' code for "lady," and after 225 years she remains a nameless heroine who, many historians believe, died for her country.
Benjamin Tallmadge was an American military officer, spymaster, and politician. He is best known for his service as an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He acted as leader of the Culper Ring during the war, a celebrated network of spies in New York where major British forces were based. He also led a successful raid across Long Island that culminated in the Battle of Fort St. George. After the war, Tallmadge was elected to the US House of Representatives as a member of the Federalist Party.
The Culper Ring was a network of spies active during the American Revolutionary War, organized by Major Benjamin Tallmadge and General George Washington in 1778 during the British occupation of New York City. The name "Culper" was suggested by George Washington and taken from Culpeper County, Virginia. The leaders of the spy ring were Abraham Woodhull and Robert Townsend, using the aliases of "Samuel Culper Sr." and "Samuel Culper Jr.", respectively; Tallmadge was referred to as "John Bolton".
Ann Bates was a loyalist spy during the American Revolution. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bates was known for her awareness, her intelligence, and her ability to remain calm under pressure. She was commonly referred to as "Mrs. Barnes" by affiliates in her spy networks. She was known to carry an unknown unique token that would eventually identify her as a British spy. She would go on to become a part of British General Clinton's espionage network, and would help the British combat American forces on several fronts. She reportedly took part in various clandestine spy missions between 1778 and 1780. Bates was most well known for her missions completed at George Washington's base camp in White Plains, New York, and during the Rhode Island campaign or the Battle of Rhode Island.
James Rivington was an English-born American journalist who published a Loyalist newspaper in the American colonies called Rivington's Gazette. He was driven out of New York by the Sons of Liberty, but was very likely a member of the American Culper Spy Ring, which provided the Continental Army with military intelligence from British-occupied New York.
Abraham Woodhull was a leading member of the Culper Spy Ring in New York City and Setauket, New York, during the American Revolutionary War. He used the alias "Samuel Culper", which was a play on Culpeper County, Virginia, and was suggested by George Washington.
Raynham Hall is in Oyster Bay, New York. Home of the Townsend family, one of the founding families of Oyster Bay, on Long Island, New York, and a member of George Washington's Culper Ring of spies, the house was renamed Raynham Hall after the Townsend seat in Norfolk, England, in 1850 by a grandson of the original owner. The house is now owned by the Town of Oyster Bay and operated as a public museum by the Friends of Raynham Hall Museum, Inc. Raynham Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a Town of Oyster Bay Landmark, and is a featured site on the Oyster Bay History Walk audio walking tour. It is located at 20 West Main Street, in the heart of Oyster Bay. The new Visitors' Center, located next to the historic house at 30 West Main Street, is where guests can purchase tour tickets and see the museum shop.
Robert Townsend was a member of the Culper Ring during the American Revolution. He operated in New York City with the aliases "Samuel Culper, Jr." and "723" and gathered information as a service to General George Washington. He is one of the least-known operatives in the spy ring and once demanded Abraham Woodhull never to tell his name to anyone, even to Washington.
Caleb Brewster was a member of the Culper spy ring during the American Revolutionary War, reporting to General George Washington through Major Benjamin Tallmadge. He carried messages across Long Island Sound between Major Tallmadge and the ring's main spies on Long Island, New York, and in New York City. He also made direct reports to Washington concerning naval activities in the New York City area.
Elizabeth Burgin was an American patriot during the American Revolutionary War who helped over 200 prisoners of war escape British prison ships.
Turn: Washington's Spies is an American period drama television series based on Alexander Rose's book Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring (2007), a history of the Culper Ring. The series originally aired on the AMC network for four seasons, from April 6, 2014, to August 12, 2017.
Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring (2006) is a history book by Alexander Rose, based on the stories of four real-life childhood friends who formed the Culper spy ring that affected the course of the Revolutionary War. In an interview with the National Review, Rose stated he used the website of the Library of Congress to research the letters by George Washington and those in the Culper Ring, as well as newspapers from the time period and various writings left by those involved.
Anna Smith Strong of Setauket, New York was an American Patriot, and she may have been one of the only female members of the Culper Spy Ring during the American Revolution. Her perceived main contribution in the ring was to relay signals to a courier who ran smuggling and military missions for General George Washington. No information has been found concerning Anna's activities after the war other than that she and her husband, Selah Strong, lived quietly in Setauket for the rest of their lives. She died on August 12, 1812.
Jonas Hawkins was an American Patriot and a member of the Culper Spy Ring during the American Revolution.
Cato Howe was an enslaved African American Black Patriot spy and courier during the American Revolution. Cato's enslaver, Hercules Mulligan, gathered intelligence through his connections as well as clients at his New York City tailoring shop. Cato carried the information on horseback to Continental Army officers and other revolutionaries, including Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, and often through British-held territory. Cato's messages are credited with saving Washington's life on two occasions. Besides his intelligence activities with Mulligan, little definite information about Cato is available, though an excavation of his home after the war provides historians with more information about his life.
Austin Roe was a member of the Culper Ring, a successful spy network during the American War of Independence that was organized in 1778 by George Washington.
Sarah "Sally" Townsend (c.1760–1842) was thought to be an informant for George Washington's Culper Ring, a spy ring founded in the summer of 1778. Townsend lived in Oyster Bay and passed information to her brother, Robert Townsend, a main member of the ring. She died in December 1842 and is buried at the Townsend Cemetery.
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