Spies in the Revolution
How were spies used during the Revolution?“Washington also developed spy networks to help gather intelligence against the British. He planted false information to throw them off. One of his greatest feats was convincing the British command that the Continental army was larger than it really was. In the winter of 1777, misinformation passed to British spies convinced the British command that the American forces were well over 12,000 strong at a time when, in actuality, they dwindled to about 1,000. The Culper Ring, headed by spymaster Benjamin Tallmadge, would play a decisive role in keeping the British guessing to what the Americans were capable of for the remainder of the war.”
from https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/revolutionary-war-strategy |
The Culper Spy Ring
- Who was involved in the Culper Spy Ring, and what were their roles?
- How did they make sure they would not be caught?
- How did they deliver information to General Washington?
- What effect did the spy ring have on the American Revolution?
Find out here: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/culper-spy-ring/
Another famous spy started out as a slave...
James Armistead was a slave who became a Patriot spy and helped turn the tide of the war.
Find out here: https://www.history.com/news/battle-of-yorktown-slave-spy-james-armistead
- Who was James Armistead?
- How did he contribute to the Patriot cause?
- What happened to him after the war?
Find out here: https://www.history.com/news/battle-of-yorktown-slave-spy-james-armistead