General George Washington’s Espionage Networks General George Washington, America’s initial chief of intelligence, was a capable military intelligence overseer during the Revolutionary War. Not only did he recruit loyal Tory and Patriot sources, he also interrogated prisoners and travelers, used deception and propaganda, practiced sound tradecraft, and established espionage networks. He recognized the need for multiple sources so reports could be crosschecked, and so the compromise of one asset would not cut off intelligence from an important area (“A Look Back,” 2008) Washington’s Intelligence General Washington was more deeply involved in intelligence operations than any American general-in-chief until Dwight Eisenhower during World War II. His skills helped secure key victories, hastened the end of hostilities, and significantly contributed to the United States' winning its independence from Great Britain. (“A Look Back,” 2008) During the revolutionary war, Washington spent more than 10 percent of military funding on intelligence-related activities including: managing individual spies, running spy rings, and establishing special units for the collection of military intelligence. Washington personally supervised the recruitment, training, and running of intelligence agents in the early years of the Revolutionary War (“More Than …show more content…
This elite group, or Knowlton’s Rangers, was charged with conducting reconnaissance, carrying out raids against British facilities and other dangerous covert missions. Washington chose Knowlton as the unit’s commander because of his experience as a scout in the French and Indian Wars and adept leadership at the battles of Breed's Hill and Long Island (“Knowlton’s Rangers,”