The Mechanics

Genesis of Clandestine Warfare

The American War for Independence marked the end of over a decade of political unrest and dissatisfaction with British policies and the treatment (real and perceived) of the colonists. Although led by some of the brightest minds of the era, the movement was also a grassroots effort that gradually grew into a political cause — the ideas being discussed in taverns, coffee houses, homes, and farmsteads.

By the early 1770s, the movement sparked what became an insurgency of sorts. Insurgencies are naturally clandestine, requiring the development of secret activities and tradecraft—such as spies and secret writing—for success. As the political side of the patriot movement expanded, organizations like “The Sons of Liberty” also emerged, serving as its action arm.

Boston Ablaze

By the time rebellion broke out in 1775, the Americans had already established the necessary organizations for the covert side of the war, as these efforts were well underway. The British had their own countermeasures, but these activities often lagged behind and gradually were overshadowed by the Americans’ ability to control the ground, except in the few areas still held by the British Army and Royal Navy.

Boston's Fanueil Hall was the site of much
political agitation & intrigue

One of the earliest secret networks formed was, of course, in Boston. This was only natural since Boston was the hub of so much political and subversive talk during the pre-Revolutionary War era. Figures like Sam Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock were already legends. “Agitprop” proved to be a very effective tool, as crowds were stirred up for all sorts of causes. In a way, the British mistakes in trying to suppress this activity in Boston fueled the flames that eventually spewed into a full-blown conflict, scorching the eastern seaboard after April 1775.

Enter the Mechanics

The first patriot intelligence network was a secret group in Boston called the Mechanics. The Mechanics originated in Boston from “The Sons of Liberty,” who were famous for their opposition to the Stamp Act and other repressive measures. However, the Mechanics operated somewhat differently. They coordinated covert activities in resistance to British authority and gathered intelligence, which was vital to the resistance. It started as a group of about thirty “mechanics,” men who worked in hands-on trades in and around the city.

Observing counter-demonstrators helped
build situational awareness of British sympathizers

Paul Revere was among the first. According to his own words, they, “…formed ourselves into a Committee for the purpose of watching British soldiers and gaining every intelligence on the movements of the Tories.”

Paul Revere was one of the craftsmen-spies
who became known as the Mechanics

The key component is the latter. They realized the key to success was neutralizing British sympathizers early on. Revere further stated, “We frequently took turns, two and two, to watch the soldiers by patrolling the streets at night.” Operating under the cover of darkness became a crucial part of future clandestine activities lasting until today. Along with observing British soldiers and Tories, Revere and the mechanics acted as couriers, the vital link in any clandestine network. Communication is the Achilles' heel of secret work, so the couriers played a vital role. The Mechanics were essential in countering efforts to suppress the colonial insurgency.

Mechanic Paul Revere alerted General Sullivan of the British intention to seize
Fort William and Mary

One of Revere’s first missions as a courier took place in December 1774. He rode to the Oyster River in New Hampshire with a report that General Thomas Gage, the British commander and governor, planned to take Fort William and Mary. Alerted by the intelligence delivered by the Mechanics, Major John Sullivan led a colonial militia force of four hundred men in a preemptive raid on the fort. They seized one hundred barrels of gunpowder that were ultimately used by the patriots at Bunker Hill

Clandestine Communications

Things really heated up around Boston in early 1775. Both sides became more aggressive, and the stakes grew with each month. Through a number of intelligence sources, the Mechanics broke the cover established by General Gage for their quick strike on Lexington and Concord. The British counted on secrecy for success. Thanks to the intelligence and warning by the Mechanics, they failed.

The Mechanics' espionage activities
were a bane to British General Thomas Gage

Revere received orders from Dr. Joseph Warren, then head of the local Committee of Safety, directing him to warn the key patriot leaders in the region, John Hancock and Samuel Adams, of the British plan to take them in a secret raid on Lexington. Revere arranged for the signal lanterns at the Old North Church. Working with William Dawes, the two rebel leaders were warned. Riders were sent out to alert the militia, and then Revere, Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott went on to warn the militias at Concord of the second phase of the operation – seizing the weapons there.

In addition to Revere, Dawes, and Prescott, other secret riders
warned the villages of the approaching British

British capture Revere

A British patrol at Lincoln nearly ended things before they began. During the chase, Dawes was thrown from his horse while fleeing. But Prescott and Revere were captured. Prescott soon escaped British custody and made his way to Concord, but Revere remained a prisoner. However, the brave silversmith resisted interrogation and was soon released, heading to Lexington, where he and John Lowell were sent to retrieve a trunk full of incriminating patriot papers from a local tavern.

A Dearth of Knowledge

In a sense, the lack of recorded knowledge on the Mechanics is actually a good thing, not for historians but for the nation. Any records kept were likely very local and designed to be temporary—that is, destroyed once the operation was finished. Operational security came naturally to those fighting for survival in a secret war. However, mistakes happen and can be costly. The trunk Revere was sent to retrieve could have provided the British with valuable intelligence that might have extinguished the rebellion in New England, potentially ending the conflict altogether.

Mechanic reporting intelligence
on British activities

A curious example of bureaucratic snafu accidentally preventing failure also involves our celebrated Mechanic, Revere. The mechanics evidently received written orders and some sort of remuneration for their expenses. The orders may have been used to get through militia patrols.  For whatever reason, Revere only received his orders from Dr. Warren, leader of the local Committee of Correspondence,  two weeks after his clandestine ride. Had he had them with him, his role would have been exposed to the British when they searched him. History might have taken a distinctly different course again.

As the leader of the Boston Committee of Correspondence
Dr. Joseph Warren leveraged the mechanics to
collect and report intelligence on the British

And for those readers who have served in government bureaucracies or the military, his pay was reduced from five shillings per day to four.