Spies in the American Revolution

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American
Intelligence
in the War for Independence
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There is nothing more necessary than good
intelligence to frustrate a designing enemy, and
nothing that requires greater pains to obtain.
George Washington
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Essential Question

• To what extent did espionage and intelligence aid
  the colonists in the American Revolution?

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Spies before the War
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The Mechanics
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The Mechanics

• 1st known intelligence network in the colonies
  (for the Patriot side)
• Also known as the Liberty Boys
• Sprung from the Sons of Liberty that had grown in
  opposition to the Stamp Act
• Surveyed British troop movements and known Tories
• Stole British supplies and sabotaged their
  fortifications

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Famous Mechanics

• Paul Revere in civilian life, a silversmith and
  engraver
• As a Mechanic, acted in gathering information and
  as a courier
• Dr. Joseph Warren a physician and later a major
  general for the Continental Army
• Was set to observe British troop movements
• Dr. Benjamin Church physician, active member of
  Sons of Liberty
• Turned out to be treasonous and jeopardized
  nearly all of the activities of the spy ring

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The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

• Becoming suspicious about British troop activity,
  Revere designed a system to warn the patriots
  about an impending attack
• A single lantern would be lit in the belfry of
  the Old North Church if the troops decided to
  attack Concord by land
• Two would be lit if the attack would come across
  the Charles River

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Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

• Revere was told around 10 P.M. that British
  troops were preparing for the crossing of the
  Charles
• William Dawes was sent along land to warn John
  Hancock and John Adams of the incoming troops
• Revere went up the Charles in an effort to
  distance himself from Dawes
• He reached Hancock and Adams and was able to warn
  them, but was later arrested

Paul Reveres Route
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Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

• Having been arrested, Revere fed the British
  false information and provided them with
  information greatly exaggerating the strength of
  the patriot troops
• Fearing for their safety, the British let Revere
  go
• Revere joined Hancock and Adams in the
  countryside, but frantically returned to
  Lexington in order to recover documents that
  Hancock had left there
• He safely recovered them, thus warning the
  populace (he never made it to Concord, but his
  accomplice, Joseph Prescott did), saving two
  important leaders, and preserving confidential
  documents

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How effective were the Mechanics?

• Paul Reveres Ride was most well known and
  effective task
• Group was rendered ineffective for several
  reasons
• Poor security group always met at Green Dragon
  Tavern, revealed the names of group members
• Dr. Benjamin Church, one of the most highly
  regarded members, was a double agent for the
  British, thus compromising all of the activities
  of the group

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The Treachery of Benjamin Church
A coded letter from Dr. Church to Maurice Cane, a
British contact
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The Treachery of Benjamin Church
Letter to Major Cane Decoded

• To Major Cane in Boston,
• The people of Connecticut are raving in the
  cause of liberty. A number from this colony, from
  the town of Stanford Stamford, robbed the
  King's stores at New York with some small
  assistance the New Yorkers lent them. These were
  growing turbulent. I counted 280 pieces of cannon
  from 24 to 3 pounders at Kingsbridge which the
  committee had secured for the use of the
  colonies.

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The Treachery of Benjamin Church
Letter to Major Cane Decoded, cont.

• The Jersies are not a whit behind Connecticut in
  zeal. The Philadelphians exceed them both. I saw
  2200 men in review there by General Lee,
  consisting of Quakers other inhabitants in
  uniform, with 1000 rifle men and 40 horse who
  together made a most warlike appearance. I
  mingled freely frequently with the members of
  the Continental Congress. They were united,
  determined in opposition, and appeared assured of
  success.

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Contribution of the Mechanics to War for
Independence

• Paul Reveres ride
• Warned prominent leaders of impending danger
• Saved confidential documents
• Laid groundwork for intelligence network more
  effective rings would appear later
• Awakened the Americans to the importance of
  espionage

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The Spymaster
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George Washington

• Not only the father of our country, Washington
  proved to be the father of our countrys spy
  system
• Washington deployed numerous spies throughout
  the colonies during the war, valuing the
  information that they could provide him
• He oversaw the vast network that was created,
  thus establishing himself as the spymaster

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George Washington

• Learned the value of good intelligence during the
  French and Indian War
• He and General Braddock were ambushed along the
  Monongahela River
• The French had been tipped off that they were
  coming and the British had been caught unawares
• Would not be put in the same position again

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The Value of Intelligence to Washington

• General Beckworth, head of British Intelligence,
  later stated
• Washington did not really outfight the
  British, he simply outspied us!
• 10 of the Continental Armys military funding
  was put towards espionage
• Two weeks after taking control of the army, he
  paid a man 333 to go down to Boston and begin
  recruiting a network of spies, the start of
  Washingtons intelligence community

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The Spies of the War
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John Honeyman
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John Honeyman and the Battle of Trenton

• Was a spy recruited for specific purpose to
  provide information on the British winter
  quarters at Trenton
• In fall of 1776, moves to New Brunswick, NJ and
  begins life as a cattle farmer
• Sells meat to British troops, so he is publicly
  viewed as a British supporter

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Honeyman and Trenton, cont.

• December 22nd, 1776 Washington arrests
  Honeyman
• While being detained, he reveals to Washington
  that the British had returned to New York City
  leaving only the Hessians
• He also provided maps of the incomplete and
  weakly defended fortifications

British map and description of the winter
quarters at Trenton
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Honeyman and Trenton, cont.

• Honeyman escaped from Washington and quickly
  reported back to the Hessians
• He informed them that Washingtons army was in no
  way prepared to fight lulled them into a sense
  of security
• With the aid of Honeymans information and his
  counter-intelligence,Washington crossed the
  Delaware River and attacked Trenton on
  Christmas Day

Emmanuel Leutze's Washington Crossing the Delaware
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Contribution of Honeyman to the War for
Independence

• Effective use of intelligence and
  counterintelligence
• He both supplied Washington with information and
  deceived the Hessians with false facts
• The Battle of Trenton
• Washingtons forces had the element of total
  surprise, leading them to a victory with very few
  casualties
• Morale was boosted until then, the Continental
  Congress was losing faith in Washington and his
  enlistments were running out
• The battle, though not pivotal by military
  standards, was essential to the American psyche
  and to helping to unite the colonies behind the
  revolution

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The Culper Ring
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The Culper Ring

• Great success and influence on modern espionage
• Very secretive
• Even Washington did not know all their true
  identities
• Created when Washington sent a letter to Benjamin
  Tallmadge in 1778, asking him to create a spy
  network in British held New York City
• In it, he urges Culper Jr. (Robert Townsend) to
  remain in the employ of a newspaper and dry goods
  store

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Letter from George Washington to Benjamin
Tallmadge
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Letter from George Washington to Behjamin
Tallmadge

• It is not my opinion, that Culper junior should
  be advised to give up his present employment. I
  would imagine that with a little industry, he
  will be able to carry on his intelligence with
  greater security to himself and greater
  advantages to us, under cover of his usual
  business, than if he were to dedicate himself
  wholly to the giving of information.

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Letter from George Washington to Behjamin
Tallmadge

• It may afford him opportunities of collecting
  intelligence, that he could not derive so well in
  any other manner. It prevents also those
  suspicions which would become natural should he
  throw himself out of the line in his present
  employment. He may rest assured of every proper
  attention being paid to his services.

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The Culper Ring

• Known members Robert Townsend, Aaron Woodhull,
  Austin Roe, Anna Strong, Caleb Brewster, Benjamin
  Tallmadge
• Known collectively as Samuel Culper
• Most profitable member Townsend
• Worked as a Newspaper reporter and owned a dry
  goods store
• Both helped him befriend various contacts

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The Culper Ring Compromised

• Very intricate scheme to pass along information
• Sometimes too complex June 27th, 1779 a letter
  from Washington never reached Tallmadge
• Tried to warn him about incoming British troops
• Luckily, the letter was in code so no members
  were revealed
• However, the name George Higday appeared
• He was to be a new member of the ring, but after
  this incident, George Washington refused to use
  him, fearing compromising the entire ring

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Letter from George Washington to Benjamin
Tallmadge- June 27th, 1779
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Letter from George Washington to Benjamin
Tallmadge- June 27th, 1779

• Sir,  Your letter of yesterday came safe to my
  hand, and by the Dragoon who was the bearer of it
  I send you Ten guineas for C---r. His successor
  (whose name I have no desire to be informed of
  provided his intelligence is good, seasonably
  transmitted) should endeavor to his upon some
  certain mode of conveying his information
  quickly, for it is of little avail to be told of
  things after they have become matter of public
  notoriety, and known to every body. This new
  agent should communicate his signature and the
  private marks by which genuine papers are to be
  distinguished from counterfeits.

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Letter from George Washington to Benjamin
Tallmadge- June 27th, 1779

• There is a man on York Island living on or near
  the North River, of the name of George Higday who
  I am told hath given signal proofs of his
  attachment to us, at the same time stands well
  with the enemy. -- If upon inquiry this is found
  to be the case (and much caution should be used
  in investigating the matter, as well as on his
  own account as on that of Higday) he will be a
  fit instrument to convey intelligence to me while
  I am on the west side of the North River, as he
  is enterprising and connected with people in
  Bergen County who will assist in forming a chain
  to me, in any manner they shall agree on.

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The Culper Ring and John Andre

• Most famous treachery against Americans Benedict
  Arnold
• Betrayed information aboutWest Point to the
  British
• Major John Andre was his
• contact
• After meeting with Arnold,Andre was detained by
  anAmerican officer and sentto speak to the
  commandingofficer Benedict Arnold

John Andre
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The Culper Ring and John Andre

• Tallmadge, upon hearing the news, urged the
  deployment of an armed force to catch Andre
  before he met with Arnold
• This was successful, as Andre was caught and hung
  by the Continental Army
• The details surrounding these events are very
  fuzzy, as Tallmadge himself wrote that he
  deliberately concluded never to disclose the
  circumstances which relate to that interesting
  event.

The Capturing of Major John Andre
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Letter from Andre to Arnold
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Letter from Andre to Arnold
Sir, Although I think we understood each other
clearly this morning and nothing was omitted
which I could have to say on the Subject it is,
or may be, of too much importance not to take
further pains that all may be perfectly well
comprehended-- On our part we meet ArnGen
(crossed out) Monk's overtures with full reliance
on his honourable Intentions and disclose to him
with the strongest assurances of our Sincerity,
that no thought is entertained of abandoning the
point we have in view. That on the Contrary
powerful means are expected for accomplishing our
end.
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Contributions of the Culper Ring to the War for
Independence

• Was the first modern ring in America
• Used codes, invisible ink and dead drops for
  security
• So secretive that Culper Jr. (Townsend) was not
  revealed until the 20th century
• Deployed spies with specific purposes
• Involved route for delivery of information
• Lead to the capture of Major Andre and the
  exposure of Benedict Arnold
• Was an intelligence stronghold in British-held
  New York City
• Through Townsends newspaper business and dry
  goods store, the group had access to British
  contacts

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James Armistead
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James Armistead

• Armistead was an escaped Virginia slave
• With the permission of his master, he joined the
  forces of Marquis de Lafayette
• He was so enamored of Lafayette, that he later
  adopted the Frenchmans name as his own last name
• Pretending to escape from the Americans, he
  joined General Cornwallis army

Lafayette and Armistead
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James Amistead

• Amistead convinced Cornwallis that he had escaped
  and was ready to be a British agent
• He provided him with information about a fake
  troop of soldiers, after soiling the paper so
  that he could pretend he found it on the road
• He was thus able to gain entry to the British
  command, and provide Lafayette with plans
• The Virginia state legislature later voted to
  grant him his freedom as thanks for his services

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Testimonial by Lafayette
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Testimonial by Lafayette

• This is to certify that the bearer by the name of
  James has done essential services to me while I
  had the honour to command in this state.  His
  intelligences from the enemys camp were
  industriously collected and faithfully delivered.
  He perfectly acquitted himself with some
  important commissions  I gave him and appears to
  me entitled to every reward his situation can
  admit of.  Done under my hand,
  Richmond, November 21st, 1784.                  
  -- Lafayette

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Contributions of James Armistead to the War for
Independence

• Provided Lafayette with invaluable information as
  to British troop movements
• Armistead was so effective that Cornwallis did
  not discover the treachery until after the Battle
  of Yorktown
• Continued spying throughout the Battle of
  Yorktown, sending information to Lafayette
  important to the cause of victory
• Was a victory for slaves, asserting their
  intelligence
• This did not cause any wide sweeping changes, but
  it did open peoples eyes

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The End