![]() By June of that year, Clinton’s troops had taken control of New York City, with Washington’s troops making their stand in nearby New Jersey and Connecticut. In 1778, Washington’s main opponent was British General Sir Henry Clinton, commander of all British military forces in the colonies. His successors in the White House, especially Thomas Jefferson, would use this “contingent fund” to carry out secret operations. Later, when he became president, he had Congress pass a law called “the contingent fund of foreign intercourse,” or secret fund, with $40,000 allocated to that purpose. Washington knew that money was the backbone of any successful intelligence operation. But the use of spies did not come cheap and it is estimated that Washington asked Congress for $20,000 for intelligence schemes, a whopping 11 percent of the military budget-and it was eventually supplied. He realized that not only could American secret agents gather vital information on the disposition of the superior British forces, but they could give the enemy false information as well.Ī Massive 11% of the Military Budget Allotted to Intelligence Opsĭuring the Revolution, Washington used both civilians and soldiers for intelligence gathering. He deceived the British on numerous occasions and ran one of the largest espionage operations in American history up to the 20th century.īadly outnumbered by the well-trained British Army-one of the most efficient fighting forces in the world-Washington decided to use every means available to counteract his formidable foe. Washington was America’s first grand spymaster, using all the tricks of covert warfare he had learned while serving as a commander in the French and Indian War. The fact is that he told plenty of them in furthering the American cause against Britain. Legend has it that George Washington never told a lie. Without the splendid espionage network begun by Washington, the tide of battle and the future shape of the United States might have been different. ![]() Washington’s idea that with good intelligence a smaller force could defeat a larger one was a notion that was subsequently proven on the battlefield. General George Washington’s use of deception, covert activities, secret inks, and informers was a model for future spymasters. The American Revolution was a proving ground for American spy operations.
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