Washington’s Spymasters
George Washington had long prized the value of intelligence. In 1753, Washington was a 21-year-old major in the Virginia militia, sent off on a diplomatic mission to inform French officials that forts in the Ohio Valley (now western Pennsylvania) had been built within British territory and must be relinquished. Beyond delivering that demand, Washington was also to play the part of a spy, and gather intelligence on the French defenses as well as their intentions in the region. The French ultimately refused to budge, but Washington returned far from empty handed, providing considerable details to his superiors about the fortifications and likely French objectives.
That mission, as well as his front-line experience in the French and Indian War, shaped Washington for later command of the Continental Army, and his appreciation for wartime espionage operations.
The early war experiences of the Continental Army’s first reconnaissance unit – Knowlton’s Rangers – and the capture and execution of one of its wayward spies, convinced Washington he needed to create a formal and lasting intelligence operation to support his forces. In early 1777, Washington selected Nathaniel Sackett, a member of John Jay’s Committee for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies, as his first chief of intelligence. Major Benjamin Tallmadge of the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons was then appointed as Sackett’s liaison with the Continental Army.
Sackett’s tenure was brief as Washington was underwhelmed with his performance. He was replaced by Major John Clark, a practiced spy who was experienced in infiltrating enemy lines and had managed espionage networks in the Philadelphia area during the British occupation. Washington used Clark and his networks not only to collect intelligence, but also to leak false information to the British about American strategy and planning. Clark proved an effective spy chief, but his command was also cut short when he was unable to sufficiently recover from a severe shoulder wound.
Washington chose as Clark’s successor Brigadier General Charles Scott, a veteran of the French and Indian War and several Revolutionary War campaigns. Benjamin Tallmadge was called on again to assist the new spy chief as his deputy. One of Scott’s first taskings from Washington was to develop intelligence networks in British-occupied Long Island and New York City – networks that eventually evolved into the renowned Culper Spy Ring. In October 1778, Washington replaced Scott, elevating Tallmadge to be the Continental Army’s new spy chief. He was just twenty-four years old.