30. Working for Washington
George Washington personally spelled out Robert Townsend’s tasks. In a letter with detailed instructions, the Continental Army’s commander in chief ordered Townsend to work out of New York City and: “… collect all the useful information he can – to do this he should mix as much as possible among the officers and refugees, visit the coffee houses, and all public places. He is to pay particular attention to the movements by land and water in and about the city especially“.
Washington went on to add that Townsend was to report on the number of troops operating in New York and its environs; identify their units; the defensive fortifications; the security measures in place to protect transports; the state of supplies and provisions; and the morale of the military and civilians.
