BOOK REVIEW: Spies, Patriots and Traitors by Kenneth Daigler

To paraphrase the most interesting man in the world... I don't often do book reviews on the Yankee Doodle Spies blog. Still, when I do, it's on a great book with importance on the course of the American Revolution from a military intelligence perspective.  This new book made the cut in spades.


Kenneth Daigler spent a career as a CIA officer, where he learned the craft of espionage firsthand. In his latest book, Spies, Patriots and Traitors, he reveals some of the nation's darkest espionage secrets. But they are secrets that have perplexed historians for over 200 years: Secrets of the American Revolution. 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. He begins in the beginning - demonstrating that even the political agitation that preceded armed rebellion had an intelligence component to it. In a sense, he paints the picture of a nation born of secrecy and secret activities.

A Case Officer's Perspective on the Two Big Cases

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. He demonstrates that the lack of these three elements resulted in two failures - one for us and one for the British. Coincidentally, these are the most celebrated espionage cases of the war: Nathan Hale and Benedict Arnold. In the case of the former, the entire operational cycle was about as feckless as could be imagined. The author points out that Hale was intrinsically unqualified for the mission, which itself was ill-defined. Not surprisingly, it failed in all aspects and ended in disaster.  Daigler points out, however, that in Arnold's case, despite some operational shortfalls, it might have succeeded. But Arnold's personal characteristics (ego, greed, arrogance) caused him to pressure his erstwhile handler, the inexperienced Major John Andre, into making a series of missteps that ultimately cost the British the operation and Andre his life.

Benedict Arnold

Lesser-Known Spies

 Daigler covers lesser-known cases with equal fervor: the establishment (or not) of counterintelligence under John Jay; Nathaniel Greene's masterful use of intelligence to win the southern campaign; the "secret war" in Europe; and Washington's efforts to use intelligence, counterintelligence, and deception to make a surprise move on Yorktown. The author also discusses the Culper Ring with a perspective lacking in other accounts. And he reminds us the ring was just one of many used by Washington throughout the war - albeit a vital one. Daigler covers the activities of Benjamin Tallmadge - and not just his Culper Ring, but in other roles he played for Washington. The author recounts the exploits of little-known John Honeyman, who spied on the Hessians during the nation's darkest hours just before the surprise attack on Trenton. Another nugget in the book is his discussion of the plot against Washington and the British plot to destabilize the American economy by counterfeiting Continental dollars.

Benjamin Tallmadge

Other Pluses

James Armistead

The book is full of nice illustrations of many of the well-known and lesser-known persons in the intelligence war. The author has also crafted a timeline of espionage in the American Revolution and, most usefully (for the layman), a Glossary of Tradecraft Terms. He provides a poignant look at the plight of African Americans, many slaves, who were used by both sides. In the end, neither treated them very well for their services, although there are some noted exceptions. The role of the African slaves is best illustrated by the case of James Armistead, owned by a Virginia planter, who crossed over to British lines during the Yorktown campaign. His courage and resourcefulness yielded critical intelligence gleaned under the noses of the British. He discusses the role of counterintelligence, the British approach to intelligence, and, of course, the role of George Washington as the Case Officer in Chief (my words).

Did intelligence win the war for American independence?

The author ends with a discussion of that topic. One must draw the conclusion that intelligence played a highly significant role in America's survival in the early years of the war and its triumph in the end. This is not to say that British intelligence was bad. They had excellent global coverage of American interests, and their Loyalist allies provided ready-made pools of agents, some already organized into cells. However, their leadership failed to take advantage of the situation. In contrast, George Washington clearly developed, over the course of an eight-year-long war, the ability to use intelligence and counterintelligence more wisely than the British high command. And that made all the difference.

George Washington, the Spymaster

I wish I had this book when I started writing the Yankee Doodle Spies novels several years back. Now that it is out, it provides an excellent non-fiction companion book for those reading the series. You'll find many of the events and persons through the fictional persons and actions in the Yankee Doodle Spies series and, of course, many historical persons and events as well.


I give this very excellent work, Four Tricorne Hats!

Happy Birthday!

This week marks the 239th birthday of the U.S. Army. Around the world, Army units and many other DoD components will celebrate this day, which also coincides with Flag Day. The U.S. Army was founded on June 14, 1775, when Congress adopted "the American continental army.” The Congressional resolution also absorbed the existing 10,000 New England troops and forces besieging Boston, and it requested an additional 5,000 be raised from New York and Connecticut men to defend New York City. Two million dollars was approved to fund the new army. The Continental Army quickly expanded, and by July, the authorized strength of the new army was nearly double that envisioned on June 14. 

Continental Soldiers

What was the first unit?

The American Rifleman

The first contingent of the new Army was composed of ten companies of riflemen – infantry. Congress’s resolution outlined their terms of enlistment and appointed a committee to establish rules and regulations. It seems that even at its inception, the Army had its red tape! The riflemen authorized on 14 June were the first units raised directly as Continentals, rather than state troops. Congress accomplished this by assigning six of the companies to Pennsylvania, two to Maryland, and two to Virginia. This may represent the beginning of the grand American tradition of using military authorizations to achieve a political end. But in this instance, it wasn't about pork (although that would soon come). It aimed to create a national (my word) army under the banner of “Continental.”

How were they recruited?

Recruitment authority was granted to local county committees in those frontier areas known for skilled marksmen. The response in Pennsylvania's western and northern frontier counties was so substantial that on June 22, the colony's quota was increased from six to eight companies, organized as a regiment. A month later, a ninth company from Pennsylvania was formed in Lancaster County. In Virginia, Captain Daniel Morgan raised a company in Frederick County, while Hugh Stephenson formed another in Berkeley County. In Maryland, the companies of Michael Cresap and Thomas Price both came from Frederick County. Readers of The Patriot Spy know that Lieutenant Jeremiah Creed’s light infantry company was also organized in Frederick County as part of the First Maryland Line. All thirteen rifle companies were sent immediately to Boston to join the siege. These riflemen were recruited solely for their marksmanship and toughness, not their adherence to military protocol. One of General George Washington’s first leadership challenges was managing their frontier attitudes and the resulting disciplinary issues.

Dan Morgan

How were they organized? 

Each rifle company was composed of a captain, three lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, a drummer (or horn player), and sixty-eight privates. The enlistment period was set at one year, the same as for militias. The companies were organized into a regiment, but until Congress could appoint field-grade officers (such as adjutant, quartermaster, and commissary), the company grades were filled in. Later, these rifle companies were brigaded under Daniel Morgan (now a colonel) into a Rifle Corps. As Continental Line regiments began forming that summer, they typically consisted of about eight companies, each with around forty privates, plus officers, sergeants, corporals, and drummers. However, organizations varied widely, especially at the beginning.

Who would lead the new Army?

Who else but Colonel George Washington! On June 15, Congress unanimously chose the Virginia planter and renowned hero of the French and Indian War. Washington had been active in the military planning committees of Congress, and by late May, he had begun wearing his old uniform. His colleagues believed that his modesty and competence qualified him to lead the challenging New England troops. Washington was given the rank of Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief. The day after Washington's appointment, Congress authorized other senior officers for the new army. Positions for five major staff officers were established: an Adjutant General, a Commissary of Musters, a Paymaster General, a Commissary General, and a Quartermaster General.

On June 20, the new commander-in-chief received orders to proceed to Massachusetts, take charge of the army there, and capture or destroy the British army occupying Boston. Congress directed him to prepare a report on the strength of the army. In the broader context of army command, his instructions were somewhat vague. His only other real mandate was that he must consult a council of war prior to any major strategic or tactical decisions. Washington had the authority to determine how many men to retain and had the power to temporarily fill any vacancies below the rank of colonel. Permanent promotions and appointments were reserved for the colonial governments. However, Congress appointed general officers. In the future, this led to a range of repercussions, not the least of which was Benedict Arnold's treason.

       General Washington assumes

           command of the new army

Who were his Lieutenants?

It is not surprising that the selection of Washington’s subordinate generals and senior staff officers led to political maneuvering as delegates sought appointments for their favorite sons. On June 17, Congress elected Artemas Ward and Charles Lee as the first and second major generals, respectively, and Horatio Gates as the Adjutant General. A few days later, two more major generals were appointed: Philip Schuyler, a New York delegate with close ties to Washington, and Israel Putnam, another hero of the French and Indian War. The brigadier generals followed. Congress appointed them in proportion to the number of men contributed by each colony, adhering to the recommendations of the colony's delegates for the actual selection. However, Congress created problems by ignoring seniority and status.

 Artemas Ward

Why are the Army Birthday and Flag Day celebrated on June 14th?

By pure coincidence, the Stars and Stripes originated from a resolution adopted by the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on June 14, 1777. The resolution read: "Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.” The first celebration of the U.S. flag's birthday was held in 1877 on the 100th anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777.

Betsy Ross Pattern Flag

Francis Hopkinson Pattrn Flag