Ciphers Belonging to the Various American Peace Commissioners
ca. 1781
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Messages in secret code traveled across the Atlantic between the peace commissioners and Congress throughout the Revolutionary War. Ciphers like this were used to decode the messages. American peace commissioner Henry Laurens was imprisoned when he was caught en route to Paris with instructions, and the Americans learned the hard way that “treasonous” correspondence could land them in the Tower of London.
Transcript
144Adams H!l Laurens Franklin Palfrey
1 c r - . 1 y o - - - - 1- c o r - - - 1- u. n. l
2 d s . - - 2 z p - - - - 2- c r o 2- n. t. n
3 e. t. - - - - 3 t q 3- o c r 3- n u t
4 f u - - - . 4 a r 4- o r c 4- n t u
5 g v . . . . 5 b s 5 - r c o 5- t u n
6 h w - - - 6 c t 6 - r o c 6 - t n u
7 i x . . . 7 d u
8 j y . . . . 8 e v
9 k z . . . 9 f w 1 c o r 1 b y Jay
10 l v . . . . 10 g x 2 d p s 2 c z
11 m a . . . 11 h y 3 e q t 3 d t
12 n b . . . 12 i z 4 f r u 4 e a
13 o x . . . 13 j t 5 g s v 5 f b
14 p d .... 14 k a 6 h t w 6 g c
15 q e ... 15 l b 7 i u x 7 h d
16 r f . . 16 m c 8 j v y 8 i c
17 s g . . . 17 n d 9 k w z 9 j f
18 t h . . 18 o e 10 l x v 10 k g
19 u i . . . 19 p f 11 m y a 11 l h.
20 v j . . . 20 q g 12 n z b 12 m i.
21 w k . . 21 v h 13 o v c 13 n j
22 x l . 22 s i 14 p a d 14 o k
23 y m - 23 t j 15 q b l 15 p l
24 z n - 24 u k 16 v c f 16 q m
25 v a - 25 v l 17 s d g 17 r n
26 a p - 26 w m 18 t e h 18 s o
27 b q - 27 x n 19 u f i 19 t r
28 28 20 v g j 20 u q
29 29 21 w h k 21 v r
30 30 22 x i l 22 w s
23 y j m 23 x t
24 ? k n 24 y u
25 V l o 25 z v
26 a m p 26 t w
27 b n q 27 a x
28 28
29 29
30
Cyphers
Adams
H Laurens
Franklin
Palfrey
Jay.
146
This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.
National Archives Identifier: 2450021
Full Citation: Ciphers Belonging to the Various American Peace Commissioners ; ca. 1781; Miscellaneous Papers; Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774 - 1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/ciphers-belonging-to-the-various-american-peace-commissioners, July 8, 2025]Activities that use this document
- Benjamin Franklin: Politician and Diplomat
Created by the National Archives Education Team
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