In the American Revolution, General George Washington served as commander in chief of the Continental Army, as well as the country’s chief spymaster. Desperate for intelligence about the enemy, Washington personally oversaw and monitored the development of spy networks, including one that became the most successful spy ring in America’s history. Below are thirty things about that and other lesser-known facts about American generals.
30. The Country’s Chief General Was Chiefly Interested in the Enemy’s Activities in This City
In America’s War of Independence, George Washington served not only as the nascent country’s chief general, but also as its chief spymaster. Washington was well aware that the deck was stacked against the Patriots in their confrontation with the mighty British Empire. So he tried all he could to improve the odds, and the key to that was access to intelligence about the British. Good information about his enemy’s strengths, weaknesses, and intentions, was vital if Washington was to play his otherwise weak hand as well as possible. He was especially interested in British activities in New York City and its environs.
Boston takes center stage in people’s minds when they think of the American Revolution. However, after the first few months of fighting, the British departed and Boston became a military backwater. The action then shifted to New York, which took center stage for the rest of the conflict. In the summer of 1776, ala The Empire Strikes Back, the British descended upon NYC and won the war’s biggest battle in Long Island on August 27th, 1776. Washington and the Continental Army had to hole up in Brooklyn, and it took a near-miracle for them to escape. New York became the main British base, and as seen below, Washington was desperate to find out as much as possible about what they were up to.