General George Washington – Spymaster Agent 711

The Intelligence Battle during the American War of Independence

Norman Ridley

• Publisher: Frontline Books
• Year: 2026
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781036147785
• Subtopic: Military Biographies
• Index: History

"You'll get plenty of tales of clever ruses and dead drops— Washington was a fan of intel. This book explains how spying aided the American fight for independence." – Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

When the American War of Independence broke out, the American, British and French intelligence agencies were particularly well structured, but it soon became apparent to all involved that victory hinged on sound political and military intelligence. While Britain and France had a tradition of conducting espionage, the Americans struggled with an intelligence service that was almost always markedly inferior. Even so, despite this disadvantage, it was they who prevailed.

Right from the start, General George Washington had been keenly aware of the importance of the espionage and counterintelligence roles. Under his supervision, several networks of spies operated in both close-knit circles and far-reaching societies. The undercover agents were merchants, tailors, farmers, and other extraordinary patriots with ordinary day jobs. Benjamin Franklin took responsibility for covert action, while John Jay oversaw the counterintelligence work. All three men were all honoured by the CIA in 1997 as the Founding Fathers of the American intelligence services.

The British, in particular, required information about geography and terrain unfamiliar to their forces. The British, for example, conducted a campaign of trying to win over the American public and especially the enslaved people of African descent. They also relied in part on spies such as Benedict Arnold, whose name later became synonymous with treason and betrayal.

Discounting technology, there are few differences between modern espionage and the techniques and methods of 250 years ago. Double agents, secret writing, dead drops, clandestine meetings, code-making and breakings, sabotage, bribery deception, signals, propaganda, and partisan warfare were all very much in evidence during the revolution. Both sides also mounted disinformation campaigns to confuse and mislead.

In no small part, the outcome of a number of Civil War battles, such as Lexington, Concord and Yorktown, owed much to the use of intelligence and the work of America’s spymaster, Agent 711 – General George Washington.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Chapter 1 The Shot Heard’round the World
• Chapter 2 General George Washington Takes Command
• Chapter 3 General Sir Henry Clinton
• Chapter 4 Dr Benjamin Church
• Chapter 5 The Committee of Secret Correspondence
• Chapter 6 American Intelligence Before 1778
• Chapter 7 The Culper Spy Ring
• Chapter 8 British Intelligence
• Chapter 9 Later American Intelligence
• Chapter 10 Women Spies
• Chapter 11 Double Agents
• Chapter 12 Counterfeit Currency
• Chapter 13 Information Warfare
• Chapter 14 Yorktown
• Appendix 1 Benedict Arnold Letter to John André, 15 July 1780
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Other Books by Author
• Index
• Plates