The Long Island History Project Episode 211: To Outwit Them All: Agent 355 and Peggy Wirgau
Where history fails to provide, authors of historical fiction can fill the gap. In her new novel To Outwit Them All, author Peggy Wirgau delves into the Revolutionary War history of the Culper Spy Ring. More specifically, she tells the story of the unknown woman referred to in Abraham Woodhull's correspondence – only once – as "a lady of my acquaintance." Woodhull supplies her only a number, 355 (Culper code for "lady"). Wirgau provides a name, a family, and a budding romance with British Major John Andre.
Wirgau's 355 is modeled after the historical Betty Floyd, relative of William Floyd, and she includes multiple layers of period detail about British-occupied New York City. On this episode you'll hear more about how she pursued her research and how she brought Betty to life along with other members of the Culper Ring.
Further Research
- To Outwit Them All by Peggy Wirgau
- "The Myth of Agent 355, the Woman Spy Who Supposedly Helped Win the Revolutionary War"
- HMS Jersey
- Historical Novel Society
- Cover image:
- Intro Music: https://homegrownstringband.com/
- Outro music: Capering by Blue Dot Sessions CC BY-NC 4.0