Washington’s Spies
The Story of America’s
First Spy Ring
Alexander Rose
I
recently joined an American Wars discussion group at my local Barnes and Noble.
The group, made up of veterans of more recent wars, and re-enactors of early American
wars, is a great outlet for research. And I was happy to find out the first
book they were discussing was Washington’s
Spies.
A lot has been written about the heroes of the American Revolution—but few take an in-depth look into the secret world of America’s first spy ring. Certainly little recognition was given to these men who risked their lives for liberty; their belief as strong as the men who fought on the forefront of battle. Spies, if caught, would be hanged by the enemy, and never acknowledged by their own side.
A lot has been written about the heroes of the American Revolution—but few take an in-depth look into the secret world of America’s first spy ring. Certainly little recognition was given to these men who risked their lives for liberty; their belief as strong as the men who fought on the forefront of battle. Spies, if caught, would be hanged by the enemy, and never acknowledged by their own side.
Spying,
as we know it today….living among the enemy as one of them, gathering secrets, developing
codes and seeing information got to the American side, was first developed by
the Culper Ring, a group of men led by Abraham Woodhull who used the code name “Samuel
Culper Sr.” and Robert Townsend (“Samuel Culper Jr.”). Smart, articulate men
hand-picked by Washington,
they were the first to break out of the mold where soldiers merely “observed”
troop movements from a distance. Instead, they were able to create a convincing
“cover” in order to live among the British and collect information, yet faced constant
danger should they be discovered.
This
non-fiction narrative had me hooked from the beginning as Rose discussed such
incidents as Nathan Hale’s enlistment as one of Washington’s spies, before the development
of the Culper Ring. Hale, an idealistic, trusting young man of twenty-one, and acting
alone, was quickly captured by the British and hanged. Rose does so well
developing insight into Hale’s character from his personal letters and
journals, I almost hoped what we’d learned in our history books about his fate
wasn’t true—that he had somehow survived.
The
only problem I saw with this book was a hint, perhaps, of a rather liberal or revisionist
attitude in his style of writing. There are certain adjectives, adverbs and personal
comments he makes about our American heroes that, if you research their
personal papers, you will find the true reasons for their actions. Example: “For political cover, Washington passed the buck to Congress; if
there were to be fallout in later years, the general needed to be able to claim
he was following the directions of the nation’s elected representatives.”
Washington wasn’t “passing the buck” as a personal
cover. Nor it seems would he be the type to say “I was just following orders”. He
was a man of leadership and integrity, who applied to a newly-created Congress for aid in getting supplies and report to the
people, through their elected representatives. He also could not say should there
be “fallout in later years”…
For by applying to
the members of Congress as often as he did, Washington not only endangered himself but
all of them.
Rose also leaves
out mention of female spies, only naming women as spouses of the agents. And
there were female spies during the American Revolution, including Sally
Townsend, sister of Robert Townsend who was able to intercept a message to John
Andre about the attack on West Point.
Though it was made
into the AMC series “Turn”, my rating: 4 stars.
