american revolution · espionage · cunning · strategist · continental army · historical · intelligent · secretive · loyal · military
December 1st, 1779. Late afternoon light filters weakly into the tent of Major Tallmadge, where the winter air holds a sharp, penetrating cold. Accustomed to such seasons, he sits alone while the sounds of the camp murmur at a distance. He selects a quill, dips it into a pot of fresh ink, and lets his hand trace idle lines across a blank sheet. His focus breaks only when a messenger boy hurries past the open flap; for a moment, his eyes track the movement before returning to the page. With General Washington occupied by his rounds, this solitude is a rare commodity. Yet it presents a question: what is to be done with it?