Washington's
Magnificent
Spooks
By Norman Hill
T
his superlative historical text, George
Washington’s Secret Six, by Brian
Kilmeade and Don Yaeger describes
a hitherto little known, but vital feature in
American history—George Washington’s
Secret Six spy ring, that played a very heroic
and positive role in the American Revolution.
In the Central Intelligence Agency, its archivist
said that his organization uses strategy and
design of a particular program for training
today’s new recruits. Are we talking about
the script from Argo? Are we talking about
material from the hunt for Bin Laden?
No, indeed, we are talking about George
Washington’s program for his network of
spies that played a pivotal role in the American
Revolution. Taken from the 1770’s, over
150 years ago, this is the program for George
Washington’s Secret Six, the courageous
group of spies, also known as the Culper
Ring, who gained critical information from
British forces to aid rebelling colonists.
Book cover image courtesy of Sentinel HC
men survived the Revolution without their
identities revealed. It is possible that 355
may have been arrested and imprisoned in
Manhattan, although nothing is certain to date.
Accomplishments of Washington’s
network include:
i. Letting the British think that his army had
retired for the winter, thus allowing the
patriot counterattack and moral victory at
Trenton.
ii. Warning Washington just in time about
Benedict Arnold’s treachery and intended
handover of West Point to the British.
Washington’s initial attempt to use a spy ended To accompany this, the British commander
asked for release of Major Andre, a captured
tragically with the hanging of Nathan Hale in
1776. At that point, fortunes for the colonists officer sent to aid Arnold in his transfer. But
seemed quite dim. But he firmed up his strategy, Washington invoked the precedent of Nathan
Hale and said that Andre would be treated
which included:
(and hung) in a consistent military manner.
Absolute secrecy among the network,
iii. From a notebook left in a Manhattan tavern,
so that operatives did not know each other.
providing the French fleet in Newport all the
Use of a newly invented type of disappearing
British naval codes and signals. This soon
ink, a new wrinkle on a long-established
proved invaluable in allowing the French at
technique for spies.
Yorktown to outmaneuver the British fleet in
its attempt to rescue the besieged Cornwallis.
Six spies were recruited, five men and one
young woman. Initially, only Washington knew
iv. Leaving false signals to the British
their names and these weren’t revealed until
commander in Manhattan that Washington
well into the 19th century. In fact, to this day,
the single female is known only as 355. The five was planning an attack on this installation.
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This ploy prevented the British from sending
a full force south to try to rescue Cornwallis
by land.
After the Revolution, British authorities gave
due tribute to Washington’s strategy, by
acknowledging that the colonists didn’t
outfight the British, they “out-spied” them.
It is hard to believe that Washington concocted
this program so long ago and its principles have
held up so well over time. This confirms that,
especially when we contrast the hordes of
mediocrities and worse currently ruling the
world, Washington shines more than ever as—
first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts
of his countrymen.