Students and enthusiasts of American history are familiar with the Revolutionary War spies Nathan Hale and Benedict Arnold, but few studies have closely examined the wider intelligence efforts that enabled the colonies to gain their independence. Spies, Patriots, and Traitors provides readers with a fascinating, well-documented, and highly readable account of American intelligence activities during the era of the Revolutionary War, from 1765 to 1783, while describing the intelligence sources and methods used and how our Founding Fathers learned and practiced their intelligence role.
The author, a retired CIA officer, provides insights into these events from an intelligence professional’s perspective, highlighting the tradecraft of intelligence collection, counterintelligence, and covert actions and relating how many of the principles of the era’s intelligence practice are still relevant today. Kenneth A. Daigler reveals the intelligence activities of famous personalities such as Samuel Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Nathan Hale, John Jay, and Benedict Arnold, as well as many less well-known figures. He examines the important role of intelligence in key theaters of military operations, such as Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and in General Nathanael Greene’s campaign in South Carolina; the role of African Americans in the era’s intelligence activities; undertakings of networks such as the Culper Ring; and intelligence efforts and paramilitary actions conducted abroad.
Spies, Patriots, and Traitors adds a new dimension to our understanding of the American Revolution. The book’s scrutiny of the tradecraft and management of Revolutionary War intelligence activities will be of interest to students, scholars, intelligence professionals, and anyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating era of American history.
Table of Contents
Preface
1. George Washington Learns the Intelligence Trade
2. The United Front Campaign That Led to the American Revolution
3. The Intelligence War Begins
4. Covert Action in Europe Leading to the French Alliance
5. Nathan Hale and the British Occupation of New York City
6. John Jay’s Efforts at Counterintelligence
7. Washington Establishes His Intelligence Capabilities
8. Benedict Arnold: Hero Turned Traitor
9. American Intelligence Activities Reach Maturity
10. Nathanael Greene and Intelligence in the Southern Campaign
11. Yorktown and the Endgame
12. The African American Role in American Intelligence Activities
13. Conclusion
Appendix: Timeline of Revolution Era Events
Notes
Glossary of Tradecraft Terms
Bibliography
Index
Reviews
"An interesting history and useful textbook. As a history, it is impressive in both scholarship and readability."—Naval Intelligence Professionals
"Even those familiar with the broad outlines of his story will find professional insights beyond the knowledge of academic historians . . . perhaps the best you are going to find on the birth of American intelligence."—The Washington Times
"Provides a good review of intelligence in the Revolutionary War as viewed by a professional."—Hayden Peake, Studies in Intelligence
"The most accessible and authoritative examination so far of the history of American Revolution intelligence."—Studies in Intelligence
"Impressively and meticulously weaves together information from over 170 sources, including works by John Bakeless, Carl Van Doren, John Nagy, and other eminent historians, to create an exceptionally broad, inclusive, and thoroughly-researched volume on American intelligence . . . . With hard-hitting conclusions, the book is always interesting and often gripping – there is no shortage of exciting spy stories here. Not only did I learn from the book, I enjoyed reading it."—Journal of the American Revolution
"Lively, engaging narrative covers intelligence gathering in practically every theater of the conflict."—Choice
"There have been a few books on this subject in recent decades but none have the breadth and scope of this one. And none are as well documented and written. Daigler reaches across the panoply of espionage activity and paints the big picture while diving deep in areas that are bound to fascinate the reader. . . . One of the many things that sets this work apart from others like it is the author's personal experience in the trade of espionage. He draws from that to analyze many of the cases and he explains the aspects of espionage that have remained eternal: planning, security and communications."—Yankee Doodle Spies
"Mr. Daigler has pulled together much information from many sources, and illustrates why their actual stories are better than the vague memories most of us have carried away from primary school . . . this well-written book makes learning about this important part of our history a pleasure."—American Diplomacy
"We are just beginning to appreciate how patterns of digital data can be mined to yield a great deal of intelligence about our enemies—and about us, too. We accordingly should seek to uncover what lessons we can from historical precedent about how best to navigate this brave new world of intelligence, and Kenneth Daigler's Spies, Patriots, and Traitors allows us to begin at our nation's start, when the desire for independence pulled us headlong into the game of spies."—New England Law Review on Remand
"A great read on the American Revolution, particularly if, like me, you are not well versed in its details, as well as its geographic and political sweep. And for those of us in CI, it serves as a source of object lessons in how to do things well, and what mistakes to avoid."—Proactive Intelligence
"Provides insights . . . from an intelligence professional's perspective, highlighting the tradecraft of intelligence collection, counterintelligence, and covert actions and relating how many of the principles of the era's intelligence practice are still relevant today."—The Intelligencer
"A wonderful read from two perspectives: first, as a look at American intelligence in our own Revolution, and second, as a compressed walk through the history of that Revolution."—International Association for Intelligence Education Newsletter
"A highly readable account of American intelligence activities during the Revolutionary War, from 1765 to 1783, describing the intelligence sources and methods used and how our Founding Fathers learned and practiced their intelligence role. The author, a retired CIA officer, provides insights into these events from an intelligence professional’s perspective."—Perspectives on Politics
"A fascinating, well-documented, and highly readable account of American intelligence activities during the era of the Revolutionary War . . . Of interest to students, scholars, intelligence professionals, and anyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating era of American history."—2015 University Press Books for Public and Secondary Schools
"Ken Daigler's well documented and researched study demonstrates how integral the panoply of intelligence disciplines—obtaining secrets from spies, covert action, and counterintelligence—was to the conflict that won American independence. From his unique perspective as a professional intelligence officer, he provides new insights into well known stories of the Revolution and also sheds light on the role of intelligence in rarely treated events. The book is an essential read for anyone interested in the Revolutionary War and in the origins and development of intelligence in US history."—Michael Sulick, retired CIA intelligence operations officer, former director of the CIA’s National Clandestine Service, and author of Spying in America and American Spies.
"Spies, Patriots, and Traitors is the most comprehensive book yet on American intelligence activities in the War of Independence. Kenneth Daigler's fascinating work of synthesis and original research makes a valuable contribution to the study of the American Revolution."—Steven Siry, professor of history, Baldwin Wallace University
About the Author
Kenneth A. Daigler is a retired career CIA operations officer. He has a BA in history from Centre College of Kentucky and an MA in history from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and has served in the US Marine Corps. He has written articles about intelligence for the CIA Historical Division’s journal Studies in Intelligence, the Association of Former Intelligence Officers’ Intelligencer, and other publications.
