An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 29 ish attack on Rochambeau's French force in 1780, allowing the revolutionaries to avoid the potentially deadly assault. (The tipoff was mentioned in one of Wash- ington's letters to the Marquis de Lafayette in 1780.) On another occasion, Mulligan probably saved Washington's life. A British of- ficer came into his shop and Mulligan pressed him about the abrupt visit so late at night at which point the officer said he was setting out on a mission very early, and telling Mulligan: "We will have the rebel general in our hands tomorrow." Mulligan immediately sent his slave Cato (who he referred to as "a willing accom- plice") with a dispatch and Washington escaped capture. Mulligan's own life was in great danger throughout these years, particularly when the infamous traitor Benedict Arnold arrived in New York and was highly suspicious of Mulligan as a possible patriot informant. Arnold placed Mulligan under surveillance and following the execution of Brit- ish spymaster, Major John Andre, by the Continental Army, he was one of scores of people who were arrested and accused of treason by Arnold. In addition to mounting a spirited defence it was perhaps Mulligan's familial connection to Admiral Sanders that kept him safe. When the war was over, on Evacuation Day 1783, Washington's first action in New York after leading a triumphal parade to the Battery was to visit Hercules Mulligan on Queen Street for breakfast. Few people were aware of the role he had played throughout the war and as collaborators were being singled out for punishment Washington wanted to publicly demonstrate his appreciation to Mulligan for his service and dispel any doubts of his loyalty. After independence was achieved Mulligan turned his attention to another struggle, becoming a member of the Society for the Manumission of Slaves of the City of New York. This shows Mulligan's progressive ideas, coupled with his action-oriented attitude. Additionally, Mulligan also became a chartered member of the Tammany Society, with his close friend William Mooney, the society's founder. The Tammany Society became the power behind the New York Democratic Party and was a mover and shaker well into the late 1800s, most notably under the leadership of Boss Tweed. Hercules Mulligan died at the age of 85 in 1825. He was laid to rest in Trinity Church on Wall Street, just steps away from his long-time friend Hamilton. Barely mentioned in his- tory, no monuments were erected to his memory and no likeness of him exists. Yet Hercules Mulligan un- doubtedly left his mark on US history. He was a man of action, endurance and personal courage, and his quiet contributions to the creation of his adopted homeland serve as his monument. Mr. H. Mulligan, New york Philad. March 19th 1792. Sir, Agreeably to my letter of Friday last I now en- close you forty dollars in bank notes of the Bank of the United States. This is one dollar and ⅓ of a dollar more than the 7 ½ yards of mole skin will come to at 5 ¼ doll. per yd. but it was the nearest I could make the sum in Bank notes – you may therefore add as much to the quantity of mole skin as will make up for this surplus. George Washington Mulligan's Grave at Trinity Church, NYC Washington's Letter to Mulligan HMS Asia in Halifax Harbour 1797

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