Intelligence in the American Revolutionary War

In this episode, we uncover the hidden world of espionage during the American Revolutionary War, showing how intelligence work-far from being improvised-became a formal, indispensable part of both Continental and British strategy. Drawing on the article's detailed account, we explore the organizations the Americans created, from the Secret Committee to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, and contrast them with the British Army's comparatively limited intelligence structure. This episode also dives into the tradecraft of the era-codes, ciphers, invisible ink, covers, disguises, and deception-alongside the major counterintelligence coups and the political efforts involving France and Spain. Finally, we spotlight the remarkable individuals who served as spies, proving that covert operations were every bit as decisive as battles fought in the open.