Secret Messages & Stamps: The Power of Written Communication in the Revolution
Throughout history, communication has been the backbone of revolutions. In the modern world, sending a message takes only seconds—but in the 18th century, exchanging vital information meant relying on handwritten letters, couriers, and coded messages, often traveling across great distances with the fate of nations in the balance.
One Patriot understood this better than most: Hercules Mulligan, an Irish-American tailor and spy whose secret intelligence reports helped safeguard George Washington’s life. His methods reflected a simple truth—words, carefully concealed or boldly declared, could shape the course of history.
Why We Use Postage Stamps to Honor Revolutionary History
Postage stamps are more than just symbols of national identity and commemoration—they represent the power of written communication in history. The Hercules Mulligan Chapter incorporates patriotic stamp imagery as a tribute to the ways messages shaped the American Revolution, whether through wartime correspondence or covert intelligence.
Hercules Mulligan was not just a Patriot—he was a spy. His survival and success relied on secret messages, carefully disguised within ordinary conversations or passed along through trusted couriers. In a time when communication was slow, deliberate, and often dangerous, a single message could change the course of history.
Today, we send messages instantly—with emails, texts, and social media. But in the Revolutionary era, a letter carried by horseback or ship could take days or weeks to reach its destination, often sealed with the mark of a postage stamp. This imagery reminds us that words—whether shared openly or in secrecy—played a vital role in securing American independence
Espionage & Communication: How Hercules Mulligan Operated
Hercules Mulligan’s role as a Patriot spy depended on the discreet transfer of information. Working as a tailor in British-occupied New York, he gained the trust of enemy officers, overhearing military plans while taking their measurements for fine suits. Instead of letters sealed with postage stamps, Mulligan relied on:
Coded Messages – Intelligence embedded in everyday conversation, or disguised in written notes.
Secret Couriers – His enslaved associate, Cato, carried intelligence on horseback, ensuring it reached the Continental Army.
Intercepted Correspondence – Examining British messages, deciphering meaning, and relaying warnings.
Even in an era before postal systems were widely accessible, written communication was the lifeblood of espionage. Messages were not just exchanged; they saved lives and altered history.
From Hand-Delivered Notes to Postage Stamps
Centuries later, the symbolism of communication endures. Postage stamps—small, powerful artifacts—represent how words and ideas move across time and space. The Hercules Mulligan Chapter embraces stamp imagery in its design as a tribute to this legacy, reinforcing the idea that:
Every message mattered in the fight for independence.
Written communication shaped the Revolution, from intelligence reports to political calls for action.
Postage stamps today serve as reminders of history, commemorating the people and events that changed nations.
Featured Stamps & Their Significance
Postage stamps serve as powerful symbols of history, carrying messages across time and space. Their presence on the Hercules Mulligan Chapter’s website reflects the enduring importance of communication in shaping revolutions—whether through secret intelligence, handwritten letters, or commemorative tributes to Patriot contributions.
During the Revolutionary War, written communication wasn’t just essential—it was dangerous. Messages carried by horseback, ship, or hidden within coded notes held the fate of nations. Hercules Mulligan, a Patriot spy, relied on the covert exchange of intelligence to protect George Washington and advance the cause of independence.
Today, postage stamps continue to represent the legacy of those written exchanges. They honor the figures, events, and ideals that shaped history, reminding us that even the simplest message—whether public or secret—can change the world.
