Posted on 01/29/2005 9:46:14 PM PST by snippy_about_it
Had we been blessed with another son, his name would have been Patrick Henry. Instead of our salute went to Abigail Adams.
Lived with it long enough now to know where to improve things?
I am JEALOUS!!!! I want one of those!!!
Howdy everyone! I'm just flitting around, spreading my cheer (?) everywhere I go.
Now, *grumble grumble grumble* back to paying the bills I go! Have an AWESOME Monday!!!
We had a beautiful day today also. I wonder who got our rain?
Always room for improvement, plus we like to keep our customers guessing. :-)
Hey, it could ebe worse, you could be paying bills on a Monday. ;-)
Smarty pants! You're right.
I think.
WHAT did you just say? LOL!!!
"There is nothing more necessary than good intelligence to frustrate a designing enemy, & nothing requires greater pains to obtain." --George Washington
George Washington's role as the first American intelligence chief has received far less attention than his numerous exploits as a military and political leader. Yet, without his skillful management of American intelligence activities, the course of the Revolutionary War could have been quite different.
Washington's first experience in intelligence collection came in 1753, when he was 21 years old. The British colonial government sent him to the Ohio Territory to gather information about French military capabilities. He was instructed to observe French forts, determine troop strengths, and try to ascertain French intentions and plans for responding to the expansion of British colonization into the region. During this mission, Washington showed himself to be a skillful elicitor. One of the things he did particularly well was to exploit the social environment of drinking sessions and meals with French officers to acquire useful intelligence.
In 1755, at the battle of Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), Washington learned a harsh lesson. His British commander, General Edward Braddock, did not bother to have his men collect intelligence on the enemy. As a result, Braddock's forces stumbled into aFrenchambush along the Monongahela River. They fought for more than three hours trying to extricate themselves from the trap, suffering a major military defeat. No doubt with this experience in mind, Washington wrote, "There is nothing more necessary than good intelligence to frustrate a designing enemy, & nothing that requires greater pains to obtain."1
During the Revolutionary War, Washington spent more than 10 percent of his military funds on intelligence activities. Two weeks after taking command of the Continental Army on 2 July 1775, he recorded his first expenditure for intelligence collection--$333 to an unidentified officer to travel to Boston and establish a network of agents to gather intelligence on enemy movements and intentions.
A year later, Washington established a unit known as Knowlton's Rangers, under the command of Lt. Col. Thomas Knowlton, to carry out reconnaissance and raids against British facilities. This unit was the first American military intelligence organization; the US Army has characterized it as a historical parent of the modern-day Army Rangers, Special Forces, and Delta Force. The ill-fated American spy Nathan Hale was recruited from this early Ranger force.
But it was Washington's adroitness as a manager of agents and his skillful use of their reporting that best commend him as the Founding Father of American collection of foreign intelligence. In addition to managing countless spies around British forces' locations, he ran numerous agent networks inside British-controlled New York City and Philadelphia. His operatives provided daily reporting on British troop movements and often were able to report on the plans and intentions of enemy commanders.
After the British seized control of New York City in autumn 1776, Washington directed the activities of numerous spies there. Of particular note was the Culper spy ring, which comprised about 20 people. This network, established in the summer of 1778, was managed by Major Benjamin Tallmadge of the 2nd Connecticut Light Dragoons, who operated from an outpost on the Hudson River above the city. The Culper ring was the most professional of Washington's agent networks. It used code names, secret writing, enciphered communications, couriers, dead drops, signal sites, and specific collection requirements.
The most important piece of intelligence obtained through the Culper ring came in July 1780. A network member known to this day only as "Lady" reported that British General Sir Henry Clinton had decided to send British troops by sea from New York City to Newport, Rhode Island, to attack newly arrived French forces under General Rochambeau. The French troops had been at sea for two months, and Clinton wanted to attack them before they recovered from the trip.
Washington received this intelligence on the afternoon of 21 July and immediately drew up plans for a fictitious attack on New York City. He then had the "plans" delivered to a British outpost by a local farmer, who claimed to have found them on a nearby road. In the meantime, Washington also marched his army toward New York City to provide further "evidence" that he was preparing to launch an attack there. Faced with what he thought were Washington's attack plans--which were even signed by the American leader--and the readily discernible American Army movement, Clinton concluded that an attack was imminent and recalled troops then at sea to strengthen the city's defenses. "Lady's" intelligence and Washington's deception scheme thus saved the ailing French troops from probable defeat and enabled them subsequently to join with the understrength American Army.
In addition to the Culper ring, Washington had numerous other agents reporting on enemy activities in New York City. Among them were James Rivington, a prominent Tory newspaper publisher; Joshua Mersereau, his son John, and another relative; Hercules Mulligan and his brother Hugh; Army Captains (and brothers) John and Baker Hendricks; and two former counterintelligence agents--Nathaniel Sackett and retired Army Capt. Elijah Hunter. The latter became close to both General Clinton and Royal Governor William Tryon.
Another American spy, 1st Lt. Lewis J. Castigin, operated in a manner that was similar in some ways to the modus operandi of modern-day defense attaches. The British captured Castigan in January 1777 and subsequently paroled him. He then went to New York City, where he was permitted to move around freely. Castigan reported to Washington and other American military leaders on what he observed concerning British military strength and positions. Through social activities with British officers, he was able to glean advance information on their campaign plans. Washington spoke highly of Castigin's reporting.
Washington also ran several agent networks in British-occupied Philadelphia. Major John Clark managed these networks, which used such names such as "old lady" and "farmer" to describe individual agents. Lydia Darragh, acting as a lone agent, had members of her family carry information to Washington. Her social position gave her access to senior British officers, and her elicitation skills resulted in reliable advance notice of British troop movements. An entry in Washington's official expense account, dated 18 June 1778, listed $6,170 spent for secret services in Philadelphia.
In addition, Washington utilized individuals as spies for single, specific missions. One such agent, John Honeyman, was personally recruited by Washington to report on enemy capabilities at Trenton, New Jersey. Honeyman, an Irish immigrant and a weaver by trade, had previously informed the American leader that he was willing to assist the Revolutionary cause. In autumn 1776, Washington asked Honeyman to move to New Brunswick, New Jersey. Honeyman did so, entered the cattle business there, and supplied meat to British forces in the area. Washington arranged for him to be publicly denounced as a British sympathizer.
In mid-November, Washington tasked Honeyman to report on British activities around Trenton. Through his business dealings with the British and the Hessians (British-employed mercenary soldiers from the Hesse region in what is now Germany), and by underscoring his service on the British side in the French and Indian War, Honeyman was able to develop close relationships with--and elicit intelligence information from--British officers in Trenton, including their commander.
In mid-December 1776, Washington directed American forces to seize Honeyman; the order was implemented on 22 December. The "arrest" enabled Washington to debrief Honeyman on enemy activities and intentions in the Trenton area without compromising the fact that he was an American agent. He was also given false information to pass to the British after his "escape" from the Americans.
Honeyman reported that British troops had been sent to New York City for the winter, leaving only Hessian forces in Trenton. He also noted that the Hessian commander, Col. Rall, was an arrogant individual, contemptuous of American forces. The commander was lax about defensive preparations, had not ordered his men to build fortifications, and had a serious drinking problem. Honeyman also provided a map showing all enemy locations around Trenton.
After his "escape", Honeyman told the Hessians that he had seen the American winter quarters and found no signs of any troop movements. Washington, acting on Honeyman's intelligence and having sown the seeds of deception through Honeyman's remarks to the Hessians about American inaction, moved his forces across the Delaware River on Christmas night and launched a surprise attack the next morning. The Hessians were hung over from their Christmas partying, had no time to organize, and were quickly forced to surrender. While a minor triumph in military terms, the victory at Trenton came at a critical time for the American side and was a strategic victory in political and morale terms--thanks in large part to excellent intelligence work.
An exceptionally good slide show:
Louis Rukeyser was getting the boot from PBS and I emailed Roger Ailes to pick him up--and drop Geraldo Rivera.
Ailes replied via blackberry: "Lou's good, but Geraldo costs less and has better ratings."
After watching Fox News Channel's coverage of the Iraqi elections I was impressed by Geraldo Rivera's unstinting enthusiasm and buoyant optimism.
Juxtapose that with Ted Kennedy's and John Kerry's sour-note bleating on their rusty kazoos--history blasts past them on the Podunk platform.
History Channel tonight claims Stalin feared flying, flew only once, to one of those conferences where the West betrayed millions.
Fewer viewers frequent the sewer media; more and more Americans deeply appreciate the fearless service in defense of freedom by Poland.
And now Georgia doubles up its bet on the right side.
Plenty of room for assistance in Iraq by France, Germany, Russia, and China.
[crickets]
Jean Faux Kerry's appearance on Tim Russert's Meet the Press included (as Drudge illustrated) Kerry answering no and yes to the same question asked twice.
Had he ears to hear, Kerry would be a formidable politician.
Still giving aid and comfort to our enemies, he should be sentenced to a trip off the Chappaquiddick River bridge riding shotgun in the Ted Kennedy Straight Drinking Express.
My proof reading leaves a lot to be desired.
THAT'S not what I meant! I'd NEVER do that to someone...unless of course, in my one moment of uncontrolled teasing....
The bills are paid for the week. The diningroom table is a mess...I need to unload the dishwasher and get in bed.
And. What do I do? Sit here ...... :)
OK. Common sense overcame me and off to clean up I go.
Have fun tomorrow!!!
Thanks for the excellent read on Washington and Intelligence. The part about Trenton is a story you never hear about.
Let's hope that the Iraqi's can build and maintain a Democracy. If they can keep the religious fanatics under control they may have a chance.
Kerry? Is he someone important? Can't imagine why Russert would be talking to him. ;-)
That seems to happen to a lot of people. Maybe this is more fun than all that other "stuff".
BTTT!!!!!!
Good morning, sir...MUD
!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!
free dixie, bf
Someday, I'm gonna get proficient with one.
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