My name is Benjamin Tallmadge. I am husband to Henrietta Wick, whom you have already met. She told me that she was composing a narrative, if you will, of our time together, starting at the moment we first met. I have read her first contribution and decided to contribute myself. 

At the point this story begins, I was a major in the Second Continental Light Dragoons. I had graduated from Yale in 1773, and had followed my brother, William, and my friend from school, Nathan Hale, into the Continental Army in 1776. Two years later, General Washington appointed me head of intelligence after my predecessor, Mr. Nathaniel Sackett, made no progress. In fall 1779, we were camped in Jockey Hollow, making ready for winter, the hardest winter our army would face through the entire war. 

Every morning, I rose from the blissful, carefree depths of what we call sleep to walk to General Washington's headquarters, where I worked as head of intelligence. Mrs. Ford and her family were all hospitable people, and extremely patient to allow the comings and goings of officers at all hours of the day and to house His Excellency and his Family. I found Washington's aides-de-camp all upstanding, intelligent, and hardworking men, but Alexander Hamilton outshone them all, and not least because he was favored by Washington.

His Excellency treasured Hamilton for his efficiency, writing, and fluency in French. His fellows enjoyed his presence for his humor and roguish bravery bordering on reckless insanity. Women adored him because of his looks and charms, and, I hear, his eyes. I more valued his honesty and integrity, for he always spoke his mind, even when common discretion would advise him to remain silent. 

That particular morning, I awoke from a poor night's rest. General Washington had been consistently badgering me for more intelligence, but Culper had not made contact. There was nothing I could do, and yet I had spent hours poring over all my papers, looking for anything at all I could give him. I found nothing. I had only facing Washington with no news to give him to look forward to. I dressed and breakfasted, and then began my walk to the Ford house.

I greeted every man I passed by rank, or by name if I knew them well. As I walked past the Wick house, as I did every morning, I saw something that I usually didn't see. I saw a woman, in a light pink dress, the neckline and cuffs edged in white lace, with a similar white lace ribbon around her neck. She had a white shawl around her shoulders, and she was sitting on a bench outside of the house. Her auburn hair was tied in a coil at the back of her head. She was reading, although I couldn't make out the title of her book. 

I greeted her as I passed, simply saying, "Miss," and nodding. 

"Major," she responded in kind, briefly raising her eyes from her book. 

Our eyes connected for a fleeting second, and I couldn't help but feel that the piercing quality in her blue eyes had read me, everything about me, in that single moment.

I shook the thought from my head and continued onward, taking notice of how beautiful the day was, despite the coming winter. In hindsight, the beauty and warmth of the day was ironic compared to the brutal, desolate, devastatingly cold winter about to set in. 

I gave the password to the guard at the gate, and upon reaching the door, Mrs. Ford's nine-year-old-son, Jacob, let me in. I thanked him and walked into the dining room where the aides-de-camp were working. Colonel Hamilton greeted me. 

"Tallmadge! You've finally arrived."

"It's no later than I arrive every morning, Hamilton. I need to speak with Washington. I presume he's in his office?"

"You presume correctly."

I entered the general's office, where he quickly rose from his desk and spoke to me.

"Major. Have you any new intelligence?"

I shifted uncomfortably. ""No, sir. There is no intelligence to report. Neither Culper Jr. nor Sr. has made contact, and I doubt there will be anything to report. The redcoats are hunkering down for winter, as are we. What good would intelligence do now? Fighting season is over, and it can give us no advantage."

"You are precisely correct. Fighting season is over, which is why we need intelligence even more. Because we cannot meet the enemy on the battlefield, we must not let up on our intelligence efforts! On the contrary, we must double down upon them, in the hope that we can gain some kind of advantage over the enemy! Find me something useful."

"But sir, it is a good sign that the Culpers have remained silent. As of now, the British plan is to remain where they are. We need to focus on preparing for winter, so that our own men do not freeze and starve!" 

"You will not let up on your intelligence efforts. Ensure that your men have been provided with sufficient shelter. I will have Colonel Hamilton make sure of rations. You are dismissed."

I left the room, frustrated because of his stubbornness. It seemed I was incapable of pleasing His Excellency, no matter what intelligence I procured or suggestions I made. Walking back through the dining room, I stooped next to Hamilton. 

I whispered to him, "Can I speak with you outside?" 

"Yes, of course, Major Tallmadge, I will see to the rations with you."

We walked outside the house and stood near the door. 

"Now, what did you want to speak to me about?"

"Well, the general does want you to check the rations-"

"What did you want to speak with me about?"

"You've stayed at the Wick house in the past, correct?"

"Aye." He looked at me with a half-smile and one eyebrow cocked. "Why?"

"The young woman who lives there, with red hair and freckles, what's her name?"

"Which one?"

"Excuse me?"

"Captain Wick has two daughters, both with red hair and freckles, still living in his house. Was her hair auburn, or brighter? Her eyes, were they blue or brown?"

"I suppose her hair was more auburn, and- ah, her eyes were blue."

A slow smile spread over his face, and I saw for a moment the man all the ladies swooned over. 

"That's Henrietta. She's a clever one, and she'll turn you away if she doesn't want you. I'd have tried my luck with her, if I'd thought I'd any."

"What do you mean?"

"Why, she's her father's favorite, and what respected gentleman would marry his favorite daughter to a new immigrant from the Caribbean, even one with General Washington's favor?"

"I suppose you're right."

"You're well established here, from a good family on Long Island. I doubt her father will be the problem for you. You've got a better chance than I did. And with eyes like yours, what woman wouldn't want you?"

"And I'm to believe she'd fall for my eyes if she wasn't swayed by yours?"

"Aye, but my chance with her has passed. Yours has just begun. Good luck with that Aphrodite, Benjamin." He clapped my shoulder and turned to go inside. "Oh, and I will see to those rations as the general asked."

"Of course. And I'll see to the blankets."

As I walked back to where the main army was camped, I passed the Wick house again. I couldn't help but think it remarkable that Henrietta had not fallen for Alexander Hamilton, but Hamilton believed she would fall for me.