In the Navy!

 The Naval Advantage in 1776

This past week marked the anniversary of the British landing on Long Island and the battle that shares its name. As most readers of this blog know, the invasion and the events that followed set the background for my novel, The Patriot Spy. I thought I’d use this blog to discuss the role of naval power in the campaign. The American Army under General George Washington essentially had no information about British plans after General William Howe withdrew his besieged forces from Boston. However, it wasn’t hard to see that the main British advantage in the war was the Royal Navy.

1776: British fleet at Staten Island 

Early Success, Defeat, and Triumphs

Destruction of the Spanish Armada

In some ways, the story of Britain is tied to its navy. During the time of the Yankee Doodle Spies, Britain had the greatest navy in the world and, more importantly, had over a century of knowledge and experience in using that advantage effectively. Many are familiar with the victories of the 16th-century English navy under Elizabeth I against the Spanish. However, during the 17th century, England and its navy went through a period of upheaval. 

The English Civil War, three wars with the Dutch (who had surpassed Spain as the world's leading mercantile and naval power), and the "Glorious Revolution" all affected the navy's development, both positively and negatively. During that period, the English and Scottish fleets merged but, on paper, remained separate. The Dutch Wars initially favored the Dutch, who achieved remarkable naval victories. 

Still, Britain gained the key Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (1664), and it learned how to develop its navy through the experience of defeat. By 1692, the British boasted the finest fleet in the world. The political alliance with the Dutch, which recognized their ruler William of Orange as William III of England, strengthened both navies. 

In a curious partnership, the Dutch fleet operated under British admirals in the subsequent wars with France and Spain that dominated the late 17th and most of the 18th century. The British were able to expand their global operations, and through a series of wars, they captured colonial possessions both large and small to support their naval and commercial needs.

Dutch burn the British fleet at Chatham

 Britannia rules the waves!

Royal Navy in Action

The Royal Navy of 1776 had a confidence rooted in achievement. Part of that success included what would later be called "combined arms" operations—using Royal Marines for small sea-land actions and collaborating with the Royal Army for major campaigns, mainly moving forces and guarding supply routes. This approach was developed during the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War) in North America. 

As the rebellion began, the Royal Navy became Britain's greatest advantage over the poorly connected coastal colonies, which were linked by a few poor roads. America depended on the sea, and controlling it was central to any plan to suppress the colonies. Trade could be blocked, starving the colonies that relied heavily on Britain for many finished goods. 

Ironically, this policy was among the grievances that sparked the rebellion. Britain's dominance at sea swayed some Loyalists' sympathies or at least their hostility toward the rebellion. To many, it seemed reckless to challenge the world’s strongest naval power—what was then the greatest global naval force ever. These concerns proved valid for most of the war. America had no real navy and was hurriedly building a small one, mostly to boost national pride rather than for strategic advantage. 

In reality, America’s naval strength came from privateers—many from merchant ships converted due to British control of the seas—another irony. Effective naval use allowed Howe to escape a tactical trap in Boston. It enabled him to execute a successful sea envelopment and move into New York Harbor, shifting the war’s focus and pace in Britain's favor.

Invasion, they're coming!

British landing at Gravesend on Long Island
(near the site of Brooklyn's Verazano Bridge)

The Royal Navy isolated New York from the sea and made its port useless. The port gave the city its strategic importance, as New York in the 18th century was not the largest city in America. The Royal Navy provided reconnaissance, naval gunfire, and transport for a series of landings at Staten Island, Gravesend, Kips Bay, and Westchester (Throgs Neck, Pelham, etc.). 

British naval movements confused the Americans and threatened nearby areas. General Howe had no plans to attack. More importantly, it limited General Washington's ability to move troops and forced him to defend a larger area than he could cover with his soldiers and guns. Surprise, maneuver, and firepower are key multipliers in any conflict, but they are even more effective when you also have overwhelming forces! 

As discussed in The Patriot Spy, only extremely unfavorable winds and tides kept the other Howe (Admiral Sir Richard, William's brother, and naval force commander) from surrounding Washington's forces on Long Island, who were tucked into a desperate defensive position on Brooklyn Heights. 

If conditions had been right, Howe's fleet could have bombarded Washington from behind and, combined with the army besieging Washington's front, forced surrender in the summer of 1776. Would losing George Washington and a large part of the Continental Army have ended the war then and there in Britain's favor? Well, that's the subject of another blog.

The Lady was a... Spy?

The  General... 

Thomas Gage

Many British officers who served in the American Revolution had previously been active in North America during the French and Indian War. Some, like Horatio Gates and Charles Lee, moved to the New World, settled in America, and fought for the Patriots during the Revolutionary War. Others took American wives, continuing the tradition of war brides that still exists today. 

One such officer was General Thomas Gage. Gage was born in Firle, England, as the second son of a Viscount. He attended the prestigious Westminster School and, upon graduation, joined the British Army as an ensign. He rose through the ranks and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in March 1751. His regiment was sent to America in 1755. In fact, his career included many important military events as the British Empire expanded during the mid-18th century. But that is another story.

The Lady...

Margaret Kemble Gage in 1771

In America, Gage proved to be a successful and innovative officer, rising to high command and eventually governing Canada after the French surrendered. However, in December 1757, the war and life in America took on special significance for the accomplished officer, now a brigadier general. He spent the winter in New Jersey, where he was tasked with recruiting colonists for the British army. He was stationed near Brunswick, a small town not far from New York City. 

There, he met Margaret Kemble, a well-known beauty with notable standing in the area. Margaret was the great-granddaughter of Stephanus Van Cortlandt, the former Mayor of New York City, who came from one of the wealthiest families in the city. 

Her father was Peter Kemble, a prosperous businessman and politician from New Jersey. On December 8, 1758, Gage married the beautiful and well-connected Jersey girl. For many years, the Gages played a prominent role in New York society. By all accounts, they were happily married, and most attested that they were an ideal couple. Their marriage was further exemplified by the births of five daughters and six sons.

The Governor...

Thomas Gage eventually became in charge of all British troops in North America. After the war with France ended, he observed a shift in political tensions in the colonies toward resistance. Unfortunately, he would soon be part of the effort that led to open rebellion. The colony of Massachusetts was the most defiant. 

In May 1774, King George III appointed Gage to Boston, appointing him military governor of Massachusetts in an effort to restore order in the stubborn colony and enforce the hated Parliamentary acts. His wife, Margaret, arrived in Boston in late 1774. Although Gage initially earned the respect of the colonists, they also viewed him with some suspicion. Margaret was upset about the conflict in the colonies and struggled with her divided loyalties. She hoped her husband would not take actions that could lead to the loss of her fellow countrymen’s lives.

Action...

Margaret's brother, Stephen Kemble, was her husband's Intelligence Officer. His main asset was the prominent Dr. Benjamin Church, a member of the Massachusetts Congress and its Committee of Safety. It seems the doctor had an expensive mistress and turned to spying for the British to support her. While the Patriot Congress met in Concord (October 1774 and March through April 1775), sworn to secrecy, Dr. Church regularly provided summaries of the proceedings to Gage. 

Benjamin Church

Church was later exposed (no pun intended), but that’s another story. General Gage learned that the Massachusetts militia was storing arms and ammunition in Concord, about 20 miles northwest of Boston. He also heard that Samuel Adams and John Hancock were in Lexington. Gage made plans to capture them along with the munitions. 

However, the rebels led by Dr. Joseph Warren had their own spy network. Warren learned of the upcoming British troop movements on April 18 and confirmed it through a confidential informant connected to the British high command. This prompted the famous "midnight ride" of Paul Revere and others to warn the rebels. The "shot heard round the world" resulted. But just who was the informant? Unfortunately, Warren was killed at Bunker Hill, so the identity of the informant remains a topic of speculation.

Intrigue...

And as we all know, speculation is fun. The warning was issued before the redcoats marched toward Lexington and Concord, so the informant was not a low-ranking soldier or officer. Gage himself was questioned because he admitted telling only one person of his plans before informing his top commanders. 

However, there is major speculation that Gage had been betrayed by his American-born wife, Margaret. Could the long-term spouse of the top British officer really have been an American agent? Would she betray her husband and her king? And if so, how? Did her brother play a role? Stephen was reduced to the rank of captain after the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Why? 

Doctor Joseph Warren

But let's focus on his sister. According to reports, Margaret allegedly warned Warren of her husband's plans on April 18th. A clergyman from Roxbury named Rev. William Gordon later noted that Warren's spy was "a daughter of liberty unequally yoked in the point of politics." 

Many have suggested she was sympathetic to the colonial cause. There is evidence that she held her own political sentiments and that the now-burning dispute between Britain and America filled her with sadness. Margaret once admitted to an acquaintance that she hoped her husband would not be the instrument of killing her countrymen. But many Loyal Britons shared similar views. 

Overall, there is no proof of her espionage. Many discussions have taken place about communication. How could Warren communicate with the wife of the British governor? How could he trust an intermediary with such a sensitive mission? How could he risk a personal meeting? These challenges confront every intelligence operation, especially those with high potential for gain, such as assets like the wife of the British governor. 

But perhaps the strongest "indicator" of Margaret Kemble Gage's possible espionage is that her husband soon after sent her to England. This blog considers her a very likely source, if not a full-fledged spy. The reduction in her brother's rank around the same time suggests a connection. Maybe Gage's other confidant in his plans was his intelligence chief. Perhaps she got her information from Stephen. In 1775, the stakes were high enough to risk passing information to the American side.

End of the Affair...

Gage remained in America for another year but returned to England feeling somewhat disappointed with his record in Boston. Over the following years, their marriage deteriorated and was marked by estrangement. Jersey girl Margaret Gage spent the latter half of her life in England, never going back to her birthplace. She died at age 90 in 1824, outliving her husband by nearly 37 years.