Welcome to Novel PASTtimes! Today we are visiting with Miss Betty Floyd from the
novel To Outwit Them All, which is based on the true story of the only female member in
George Washington’s group of spies during the American Revolution, known as the
Culper Ring.
Miss Floyd, are you willing to answer a few questions about your role as a spy for General Washington?
I beg your pardon, but I’m afraid I have no idea …. A spy? For their general? I’m terribly sorry, but I’m a supporter of the king. You must have mistaken me for someone else. Good day!
Of course, of course …. Forgive me, Miss Floyd. I assure you, we are among friends here and your secrets are safe with us. Allow me to rephrase my question: If you were a spy for Washington, would you please explain how you became a member of the Culper Ring?
If I was, and I’m not admitting to anything of the sort, I would say that when my family and I had to leave our Long Island farm and move to New York City, I only
wished to ignore the war. I enjoyed attending the balls and parties given for His Majesty’s officers stationed here in the city, and I assisted my mother on her visits to one of the prisons for Patriot … ahem, rebel soldiers. How they manage to survive in such deplorable conditions …. I became acquainted with one such prisoner and nursed him through dysentery until he thought he might be paroled
or exchanged. Instead, he and other prisoners were shot and killed by their captors. And what could be done? The British had occupied New York and they were the law. I could ignore the war no longer. I wanted revenge. In desperation, I went to my cousin, Robert Townsend, to pour out my anguish and seek his advice. He and his family had suffered greatly at the hands of the British on Long Island, yet he seemed to tolerate them and remain oblivious as they frequented his store near the wharf. Not long afterward, he contacted me to explain that he is working to gather information and sending it to General Washington via a secret group of spies called the Culper Ring.
And because I happen to socialize with the officers, he implored me to become apart of it. I was shocked at first, however, I had already met the British Director of Intelligence, Major John André, and I still wanted revenge. Therefore, I
reconsidered. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. Although, please remember that this is all strictly hypothetical.
Yes, of course, and thank you for humoring us. Now, if you were a spy, is
there anything in your background that would make you qualified?
I suppose I have an ability to engage the officers in conversation and gain their trust. I would not call it flirting, yet I can be persuasive if the occasion presents itself. And I do possess a good memory, which could be helpful. Otherwise, I’m
probably the least qualified of anyone. For one thing, I am much too impulsive to be a proper spy.
What would you say is the most difficult part of being a Culper spy, hypothetically of course?
The most difficult part is … hypothetically … taking orders from Robert Townsend. He can be so infuriating, so bent on following the rules! No writing notes of any sort, no using the Culper code, no circumventing his authority. I have one rule—Do Not Get Caught. There is one other difficult part that I will reveal— ‘tis becoming too attached to the very man whose main objective is to catch Washington’s spies in New York. To catch me. I am speaking of Major André. That is all I will say in that regard, however.
What do you enjoy the most about your role, that is, if you were a spy?
The satisfaction of knowing that my work makes a difference. I’ve seen it on occasion—a bit of intelligence I managed to glean and pass on in a timely manner has benefited the fight for freedom. Perhaps it will affect the outcome of the war. Ah, yet again, that is only if I truly were in the Culper Ring.
When you aren’t acting in your role as the Culper’s “lady,” can you describe your typical day?
If, as you say, I did play that role, on other days I tend to household chores and tutor my younger brother. Yet ‘tis impossible to simply be Betty Floyd without constantly thinking through my latest actions and words with the major or other officers and loyalists I’ve met. Did I ask too much? Did I say enough? Am I safe? How can I learn more of their plans? What is next for the Ring? And another thing … I bake a great deal of bread as of late, and during the process of mixing and kneading, I attempt to sort out my constant conflicting feelings for the major versus my duty to my country. There is a great battle inside me that never seems to end. Again, this is all conjecture, of course.
If you could do anything in the world, Miss Floyd, what would it be?
All I can tell you is that I would like to do something good and be remembered for it, yet, what that might be is as far off as the shores of England. When I was a child, my father said some things to me that I don’t care to repeat. I have struggled all my life, believing what he said. Recently, someone else has told me that he believes I am extraordinary. ‘Tis about time for me to believe it, and to act on it. Perhaps then I shall do something truly good. And that is not the
least bit hypothetical!
Peggy Wirgau loves true stories and writes through the eyes of history’s ordinary women who faced extraordinary challenges. Her award-winning debut novel, The Stars In April, is based on the true story of a twelve-year-old Titanic survivor. Her newest novel, To Outwit Them All, will release on October 14, 2025. Peggy and her husband reside in Colorado near their three small book-addicted grandchildren. https://www.peggywirgau.com
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