George Washington's Role In The Revolutionary War

1365 Words6 Pages

The Revolutionary War was a pivotal and telling war for the young and inexperienced colonies of America. This was war was one of the most important wars in the history of our country. It established the United States as its own independent country and created many of the guidelines and rights that we still follow to this day. The Revolutionary war would start the immense feeling of Patriotism and freedom found in every American's heart. But, none of this would have been possible without George Washington and his many spy rings that he ran and used to collect essential intel on the British and their strategies and plans. Washington’s superior espionage ability and masterful spies are the main reason the America was able to win the Revolutionary …show more content…

The American spies were able to shift the advantage to the American side in the war in two major events. First the Americans spies were able to gain intel on a potentially invasion of the White Marshs. When Washington heard of this he planned one of his fake messages that he often sent to the British. He wrote in the letter that he had 12,000 men about to attack New York. Washington then gave that message to one of his spies disguised as a farmer who then gave it to the British. When the British heard of this news they immediately retreated to New York and prepared for the invasion. The invasion never came and the Americans were able to avoid an inevitable defeat at the White Marshes and they were able to push that British back closer to the coast. Another example of American spies expertise in espionage was shown in Britain’s potential invasion of the French in Canada. Britain had just sent a fresh fleet of men over from Europe. An American spy inside the British camp in America was able to gain intel on the plans of this new fleet. He learned that they planned to land in Rhode Island and push up to the French and surprise them. Washington was able to notify the French and send reinforcement troops to help. With these preparations the French were able to avoid defeat from this fleet. Spies had begun to play an even larger role in wars and espionage combat between opposing sides. In fact, spying determined the first battle and where it would take place. A British spy by the name of John Howes had been investigating the activities in the town of Concord. While talking to locals, Howes learned that the town had begun stockpiling weapons and training a militia to fight the British. Howes was barely able to get this information to Gage, but he got to Gage’s head quarters and informed him of the news. This caused Gage and the other generals to abandon their