Dangerous Patriots: Washington's Hidden Army during the American Revolution

Abstract

How did George Washington's intelligence networks during the American Revolution operate in a more open and proficient manner than their British counterparts? British and American forces developed competing understandings of intelligence gathering. Both used spies to obtain information. Washington, however, guided his intelligence officers to avoid monopolizing information and maintain their own tools of communication that did not require him to approve all the Rebels' covert operations or read through innumerable reports. Relying on his spies to develop their own roles of intelligencer far outside his direct command, Washington gave his spies more autonomy, while being able to overlap more sources. This allowed him to overcome the limitations of his forces. A close reading of the messages between Washington and his covert agents demonstrates that his intelligence system became an essential arm in molding the Americans partisan style asymmetrical strategy. This laid the groundwork for Washington to formulate intelligence gathering as an important tool in presidential power.