Courtesy Story | U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence | 10.01.2025
On Oct. 4, 1777, American forces under General George Washington fought a sharp contest northwest of Philadelphia. Washington had hoped to achieve a Trenton-like victory by attacking a portion of Maj. Gen. William Howe’s British army at Germantown. Intelligence in the first days of October gave him his opportunity....
Courtesy Story | U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence | 09.19.2025
On Sep. 22, 1776, the British executed 21-year-old Nathan Hale as a spy in New York City. Although Hale’s mission failed and ended in his death, he serves as an example of selfless sacrifice in the service of his country....
Story by Lori Stewart | U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence | 09.12.2025
On Sep. 18, 1778, Lt. Lewis J. Costigin of the 1st New Jersey Regiment was released by the British in New York City. Held as a prisoner of war for the previous two years, Costigin remained in the city after his release to carry out an audacious spying operation for General George Washington....
Story by Lori Stewart | U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence | 09.08.2025
On Sep. 11, 1777, General George Washington’s Continental Army suffered a devastating two-prong attack by the British army under General William Howe on the bank of Brandywine Creek. Conflicting reports on the enemy’s locations made it difficult for Washington to properly position his forces to repel the British advances....
Courtesy Story | U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence | 09.08.2025
On Sep. 5, 1776, Gen. George Washington wrote to Maj. Gen. William Heath, commanding two Continental brigades at Kingsbridge, just north of Manhattan. Written a week after the disastrous defeat on Long Island, Washington used the short letter to make one of his most emphatic statements on the importance of intelligence....
Courtesy Story | U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence | 09.08.2025
On Sep. 7, 1779, General George Washington penned a letter to John Jay, who was both the president of the Continental Congress and a respected friend and colleague. In the letter, the American general offered his thoughts on the strategic outlook for the British. Moreover, he provided insight into conditions that make an intelligence agent effective....
Courtesy Story | U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence | 08.26.2025
On Aug. 25, 1778, Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge of the 2d Continental Light Dragoons met with Gen. George Washington. During the afternoon meeting, the dragoon officer discussed the character and suitably of Abraham Woodhull as an intelligence agent....
Story by Lori Stewart | U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence | 08.08.2025
On Aug. 13, 1781, Sgt. Daniel Bissell, a soldier in the 2d Connecticut Regiment, faked desertion of his unit to fulfill an espionage mission in New York City for General George Washington....
