Hogan’s Heroes
Fans of TV Land probably remember the hit comedy from the 1960s, Hogan’s Heroes. The story centered on a team of spies who were shot down over Nazi Germany to set up a spy network operating from a prison camp (Luft Stalag 13) deep inside Germany. From there, Colonel Hogan and his diverse group kept radio contact with “London” while planning various activities, from espionage to sabotage. Much of the show revolved around jokes at the expense of their clumsy captors, Colonel Klink and Sergeant Schultz, but they often sneaked out of the prison camp to nearby Hammelberg for secret missions. Yet, unlike other POWs—they would slip back in.
Winter War
Something like this happened during the height of the American War for Independence when General Washington needed intelligence after his victory at Trenton. Word had arrived that General Charles Cornwallis was leading an army south to seek revenge for the embarrassment. Washington ordered that someone be sent to Brunswick to evaluate the size of the British forces, especially the troops guarding the recently captured General Charles Lee. The status of British supply trains was also of interest because Washington considered marching north to seize their baggage and supplies for his under-supplied army.
Daring Mission
Lieutenant Lewis Costigan of the 1st New Jersey Continental Line Regiment volunteered for the task. He was well-suited for the mission since he had been a merchant in the area and knew it well. Costigan’s mission is similar to Lieutenant Jeremiah Creed’s spying in my novel, The Cavalier Spy. He traveled north over icy roads during a bitterly cold winter that chilled the soul. He evaded British patrols, sentries, and Loyalist informers, successfully avoiding detection. Costigan gathered the intelligence needed by Washington until British light dragoons swept in and captured him. The brave officer was in uniform, so his captors did not treat him as a spy.
Prisoner on Parole
The British sent their new prisoner to New York City, where he was soon granted parole—a common practice that allowed officers to move freely. Less fortunate prisoners, usually enlisted men, were sent to the Sugar House or, worse, to prison hulks (ships) to wither away and die. However, officers, who had pledged certain restrictions as gentlemen, fared better. Paroled officers were not allowed to engage in military activities, communicate with colleagues, or criticize the British war effort. They agreed to report back to the British if instructed. Costigan led a dull life as a parolee, idling in the garrison city, visiting taverns, and mingling with locals. He was formally released as part of an exchange for a British officer in September 1778.
Learning about this, Washington wrote to his Commissary General for Prisoners, Colonel John Beatty, who was responsible for handling prisoner affairs, including exchanges. Washington urged him to free Gostigan quickly but to avoid appearing too eager to the British. His Excellency had plans for his past and future spy. General William Alexander, who called himself Lord Stirling, was to pressure Costigan to re-enter the fray once more.
Costigan took a boat to New Brunswick, where he received a new mission from one of Stirling’s subordinates, Colonel Ogden, who urged the exchanged parolee to return to New York for a few more months and spy for the Continental Army! Washington must have been desperate for intelligence at the time, as the mission was highly unorthodox and fraught with significant risk. For his part, Costigan must have had a lot of guts and nerves of steel to agree.
Agent Z
What disguise would Costigan use to slip past the British and sneak around a garrison filled with enemy troops, Loyalists, and the rogue Provost William Cunningham’s thugs? Actually, none. His handlers were betting that the British prison bureaucracy wouldn't realize he had come back, nor would they alert the garrison regiments, Loyalist units, and Cunningham’s provosts when they exchanged prisoners. Stirling and Ogden were counting on the communication channels not connecting, and they were risking Costigan’s life. Costigan was given the code name Agent Z for this unusual mission.
Prisoner Spy
Costigan made his way back and adopted the disguise of hiding in plain sight—living as the prisoner on parole he had been. Since he was legally exchanged, his previous parole restrictions no longer applied. Interestingly, no one seemed to pay much attention to Costigan as he wandered the city, observing troop movements, living conditions, supply issues, and more. Word of his exchange clearly hadn't spread among the dockside dives or the city’s many taverns and coffee houses. To everyone, he was just another parolee out in the town. Using his code name, Agent Z, the volunteer prisoner sent his intelligence reports to Washington through Colonel Ogden and Lord Stirling.
Intelligence
Agent Z successfully sent out three reports before leaving New York. The first was dated December 7, 1778. It included intelligence on troop and ship movements, the location of the British commander, General Sir Henry Clinton, the supply situation (low on bread), the names of captured prize vessels, and the origins of British provisions from sympathizers and profiteers in New Jersey. His correspondence mentioned several other reports concerning troop strength, but it remains unclear whether these ever made it through.
A second report to Washington, dated December 13, 1778, provided more details on British activity that amounted to "indications and warning” of British forces sailing south for Georgia. Lord Sackville (George Germain), the British Secretary for the Colonies, had implemented his Southern Strategy, which would start with the capture of Savannah on December 29. He mentioned the notorious former Royal Governor William Tryon and reported on the movements and promotions of other senior officers.
Costigan’s final report from December 19 outlined British officers who had deserted in Florida, as well as the status and size of “the Jamaica fleet,” which he estimated to be about 40 or 50 vessels.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
Agent Z clearly had a talent for observation and elicitation. There is no record of how he sent out his reports. Did he co-opt legal travelers? Send correspondence under a false name? Whatever method he used must have encountered a problem, because he left New York in mid-January 1779, presumably posing as an exchanged parolee. In March of 1779, General Washington inquired of Lord Stirling about his reporting (or lack thereof). Stirling replied tersely that Agent Z was no longer active and believed to be “out” (presumably of the city and the intel game) and thought to be residing in Brunswick.
Lieutenant Lewis Costigan’s activities demonstrate how Washington used multiple channels of intelligence, as he was not connected to the Culper Ring organized by Major Benjamin Tallmadge but reported through Colonel Ogden to Lord Stirling. His exploits provide a unique glimpse into espionage during the American Revolution. As Agent Z, he took on the role originally meant for the unfortunate Nathan Hale, although his clever use of a “non-cover” added an elegant twist. Hiding in plain sight seems to have been all the tradecraft he needed.
Just after WW2 my family moved to a house in Woodside, Queens. They used newspapers from the war as packing material. One from 1942 or 3 had an article by a newspaper reporter who dressed in a Nazi uniform and wondered about NYC unnoticed by native New Yorkers. Sixty five years later and nothing changed. I wish I had kept the article. I’m guessing I found it in the late 40s because I had to be old enough to read.
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