Astonishingly Accurate British Intelligence in the American War of Independence

General George Washington’s spycraft and intelligence-gathering prowess are well-known. For example, the Rebel commander-in-chief launched the daring 1776 attack on the Hessians in Trenton knowing that the garrison had not erected defensive fortifications and were isolated from other widely dispersed British units.

What is less known is that the Crown forces had impressive intelligence capabilities later in the war. For example, the British gathered remarkably timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence on the Continental Army force composition and leadership structure in advance of the 1777 summer campaigning season.

I recently discovered this astonishing and previously unreported intelligence in the University of Michigan W. L. Clements Library archives. For an assessment of the information’s origin, accuracy, and usefulness see the link below to my article in the British Journal of Military History.

https://journals.gold.ac.uk/index.php/bjmh/article/view/1877/1985

Key features of the intelligence are quirky nicknames assigned to the five Continental Army Major Generals by British officers.

The British Journal of Military History is an open-access, peer-reviewed scholarly semiannual publication.