Throughout the history of spying, of providing intelligence, especially during wartime, it was communication that was the vital ingredient in decision making; but how to communicate involved finding the best people and the best devices for the job and then applying new ways to gain an advantage.

The Culper spies had the best people, descendants of Long Islanders who had been fighting against rules which had consistently restricted the colonists’ exercise of self-rule since 1664. These men and women, principally from the Towns of Brookhaven and Oyster Bay, shared the conviction of taking responsibility for the life of their communities. They had learned to act together and they kept their identities hidden throughout the war to such an extent that finding what they did, how they did it, exactly where they conducted it, whom they employed and how they went about it is still being studied, researched, discussed and argued. What we know is that they organized, developed, carried on, altered and improved a spy organization that operated under the eyes and ears of the British for more than five years.

These spies used a formula for invisible ink that was superior to anything the British had, and they obtained it by way of John Jay, one of our founding fathers, who was a close associate of General Washington, an intelligence officer, a businessman, and a member and leader of the Continental Congress.

On April 9, 1780, Washington, from his headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey, wrote to James Jay who, through his brother, John, provided Washington and the Culper spy ring with the invisible ink and the “counterpart” used to make the invisible ink visible.

“Dear Sir, the liquid with which you were so obliging as to furnish me for the purpose of private correspondence is exhausted; and as I have found it very useful, I take the liberty to request you will favour me with a further supply. I have still a sufficiency of the materials for the counterpart on hand. Should you not have by you the necessary ingredients, if they are to be procured at any of the hospitals within your reach, I would wish you to apply for them in my name. I hope you will excuse the trouble I give you on this occasion. With great regard G. Washington P.S. If you shd not be able to prepare the liquid in time for the bearer to bring & will be so good as to commit it to the care of Colo. Hay he will forward it to me.”

Jay responded on April 13 from Fishkill, New York, providing what he referred to as “ the medicine you desire in a little box.” Jay went on to say, “This little however is all that remains of what I brought with me from Europe the principal ingredients for the composition by me, & the rest may be procured: but the misfortune is, that I have no place where a little apparatus may be erected for preparing it–the composition requires some assistance from Chemistry; & our house is so small, & so well inhabited if you shall think it worthwhile, & will only direct Col. Hay to furnish the workmen, & other requisites ” Jay requested “a log hut” and “a little brick furnace,” which would allow him to produce a sufficient supply.