Freaky Friday Files: Agent 355

ashey9111
Jun 6
3 min read

Hi friends! Happy Friday! I hope it's been a fantastic week for you so far. For this edition of Freaky Friday Files, I thought we could take a look at Agent 355 - did she even exist? Who knows, but it's fun to talk about. Enjoy!!

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Agent 355

According to Wikipedia, Agent 355 was the "supposed code name" for a spy (likely thought to be a woman) during the American Revolution (1765 - 1783). Agent 355 was said to be part of the Culper Ring - a network of spies active during the Revolution organised by Major Benjamin Tallmadge & General George Washington in 1778, during the British occupation of New York City. During this time, women were not considered threats, and this meant that women might get recruited to spy on other soldiers while doing cooking and cleaning duties (it was the 18th century; there were bound to be very misogynistic/traditional gender roles). And of course, women weren't allowed to be "soldiers" at the time.

Agent 355 is said to be one of the first spies of the United States of America, yet we don't know who she was (identity unknown), and we cannot prove that she existed either. It's a very interesting case! She allegedly helped win the American Revolution (well, bring an end to it).

Some people claim that 355 is a code that just refers to "lady" and not a spy. Sidenote - I think women make great spies, hehe - anyway. There is only one direct reference to Agent 355 in the Culper Ring's letters, and this is in a letter from Abraham Woodhull (leading member of the Culper Ring) to General George Washington. Woodhull describes 355 as "one who hath been ever serviceable to this correspondence." It is believed that the success of the Culper Spy Ring was largely due to Agent 355. She gathered intelligence on military strategies, supply routes, and troop movements.

If Agent 355 did exist, these things about her would make sense

355 worked with the American Patriots and was likely recruited as a spy by Abraham Woodhull
She had some sort of social prominence/was well respected in her community and by members of the British Army
She lived in New York City
She had contact with Major John Andre and Benedict Arnold (British Army Officers) at some stage. It is believed that she gave intelligence that led to the capture of Benedict Arnold (Arnold betrayed the Americans by giving information to the British)

Who could Agent 355 be?

Anna Strong - an American Patriot who relayed signals to a courier who would then take those to George Washington (one woman spy on the Culper Ring that WAS named). Anna would hang a black petticoat on her clothesline and add a certain number of handkerchiefs to the line for which cove she would meet the courier with his boat at
Robert Townsend's common-law wife - he was a member of the Culper Ring - I can't seem to find her name anywhere though
Sarah Townsend (Robert's sister)
Elizabeth Burgin - an American Patriot who helped over 200 prisoners of war (POW) escape British prison ships
A code that just referred to a woman who was helping
No one at all and 355 didn't actually exist