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George Washington's Secret Spy War: The Making of America's First Spymaster
George Washington was America’s first spymaster, and his skill as such won the war for independence.
George Washington’s Secret Spy War is the untold story of how George Washington took a disorderly, ill-equipped rabble and defeated the best trained and best equipped army of its day in the Revolutionary War. Author John A. Nagy has become the nation’s leading expert on the subject, discovering hundreds of spies who went behind enemy lines to gather intelligence during the American Revolution, many of whom are completely unknown to most historians.
Using George Washington’s diary as the primary source, Nagy tells the story of Washington’s experiences during the French and Indian War and his first steps in the field of espionage. Despite what many believe, Washington did not come to the American Revolution completely unskilled in this area of warfare. Espionage was a skill he honed during the French and Indian war and upon which he heavily depended during the Revolutionary War. He used espionage to level the playing field and then exploited it on to final victory.
Filled with thrilling and never-before-told stories from the battlefield and behind enemy lines, this is the story of how Washington out-spied the British. For the first time, readers will discover how espionage played a major part in the American Revolution and why Washington was a master at orchestrating it.
George Washington’s Secret Spy War is the untold story of how George Washington took a disorderly, ill-equipped rabble and defeated the best trained and best equipped army of its day in the Revolutionary War. Author John A. Nagy has become the nation’s leading expert on the subject, discovering hundreds of spies who went behind enemy lines to gather intelligence during the American Revolution, many of whom are completely unknown to most historians.
Using George Washington’s diary as the primary source, Nagy tells the story of Washington’s experiences during the French and Indian War and his first steps in the field of espionage. Despite what many believe, Washington did not come to the American Revolution completely unskilled in this area of warfare. Espionage was a skill he honed during the French and Indian war and upon which he heavily depended during the Revolutionary War. He used espionage to level the playing field and then exploited it on to final victory.
Filled with thrilling and never-before-told stories from the battlefield and behind enemy lines, this is the story of how Washington out-spied the British. For the first time, readers will discover how espionage played a major part in the American Revolution and why Washington was a master at orchestrating it.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 20, 2016
71 people are currently reading
2329 people want to read
About the author
John A. Nagy
7 books40 followersJohn A. Nagy was born in Perth Amboy, NJ. He is an expert in antique documents, a consultant for the William L. Clements Library of the University of Michigan on espionage, and a Scholar in Residence at Saint Francis University, Loretto, Pennsylvania. He is President of the American Revolution Round Table of Philadelphia and has appeared on the History Channel, C-Span, local educational TV, and the Pennsylvania Cable Network. He graduated from Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA (BA) and Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ (MMS).
His book "Rebellion in the Ranks Mutinities of the American Revolution won the American Revolution Round Table of Philadelphia's Thomas Fleming Book Award for the best book on the American Revolution Era published in 2007."
His book "Rebellion in the Ranks Mutinities of the American Revolution won the American Revolution Round Table of Philadelphia's Thomas Fleming Book Award for the best book on the American Revolution Era published in 2007."
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September 23, 2016One of the ways you can tell someone deeply immersed in a given period from someone fairly new to it, all other things like writing style and length being equal, is the number of telling little details the author provides. It’s clear that Nagy knows the Revolutionary War period really well. When I was done with this book, and pulled up the Goodreads data on the author, it was no surprise to discover he’s written several books about people and events of this period.
Here, he’s written an immensely readable history of George Washington’s espionage efforts, beginning with a close look at Washington’s early experiences in the French and Indian War. He makes it plain that many historians overlook Washington’s early experiences and how they shaped both his tactical development and his deep need for the inside line of communication, which meant espionage.
Nagy makes it clear that the British had more spies than the colonists—they had the gold to pay them—but Washington was better at applying the intelligence the spies brought him. Not an easy task, as Nagy engagingly details how so many of these colorful figures switched sides back and forth at will, to the extent that historians today cannot pinpoint which side certain notorious double agents were really on.
How to pay your spies when you are constantly short of money? Permit them to become smugglers, and sell their goods, gossiping with costumers as they sold, of course. How do you know if the intelligence is sound—what if they are British spies carrying disinformation? Use several spies and correlate what each tells you.
It becomes clear that not only did Washington have no trouble lying when it came to providing misinformation, he positively rejoiced in it. If Nagy is correct, the reason Washington was able to corner Cornwallis at Yorktown was the result of a complicated Deception Battle Plan along the lines of the Allies at the Normandy Invasion, providing a massive amount of disinformation and false clues, such as bricks ordered for bake ovens that would never be used, artillery emplacements for cannon that were never coming, and forage for horses that were actually crossing a couple hundred miles to the south so that Clinton was completely taken in and set to defend Staten Island instead of coming to Cornwallis’s aid.
Invisible ink versus sympathetic ink, codes and ciphers, and secret agents who unsealed, read, and sometimes substituted enemy mail, and the handling (and hanging) of spies also gets attention. The espionage world back then was as shady as it is in our high tech present day, and the results of getting caught just as grim.
A bonus is Nagy’s view of Washington’s strategy vis-à-vis his intelligence gathering: how he decided when a retreat was as good as a win, how he tried to never let himself and his army get caught between the British and the ocean, and the four stages of the war. It’s a book full of fascinating data, scrupulously footnoted, and rewards a slow, close read. Many of the colorful figures of the day come briefly into light, demonstrating how individual actions and decisions shaped the course of the war, even when motivations were very mixed.
Copy provided by NetGalley
Here, he’s written an immensely readable history of George Washington’s espionage efforts, beginning with a close look at Washington’s early experiences in the French and Indian War. He makes it plain that many historians overlook Washington’s early experiences and how they shaped both his tactical development and his deep need for the inside line of communication, which meant espionage.
Nagy makes it clear that the British had more spies than the colonists—they had the gold to pay them—but Washington was better at applying the intelligence the spies brought him. Not an easy task, as Nagy engagingly details how so many of these colorful figures switched sides back and forth at will, to the extent that historians today cannot pinpoint which side certain notorious double agents were really on.
How to pay your spies when you are constantly short of money? Permit them to become smugglers, and sell their goods, gossiping with costumers as they sold, of course. How do you know if the intelligence is sound—what if they are British spies carrying disinformation? Use several spies and correlate what each tells you.
It becomes clear that not only did Washington have no trouble lying when it came to providing misinformation, he positively rejoiced in it. If Nagy is correct, the reason Washington was able to corner Cornwallis at Yorktown was the result of a complicated Deception Battle Plan along the lines of the Allies at the Normandy Invasion, providing a massive amount of disinformation and false clues, such as bricks ordered for bake ovens that would never be used, artillery emplacements for cannon that were never coming, and forage for horses that were actually crossing a couple hundred miles to the south so that Clinton was completely taken in and set to defend Staten Island instead of coming to Cornwallis’s aid.
Invisible ink versus sympathetic ink, codes and ciphers, and secret agents who unsealed, read, and sometimes substituted enemy mail, and the handling (and hanging) of spies also gets attention. The espionage world back then was as shady as it is in our high tech present day, and the results of getting caught just as grim.
A bonus is Nagy’s view of Washington’s strategy vis-à-vis his intelligence gathering: how he decided when a retreat was as good as a win, how he tried to never let himself and his army get caught between the British and the ocean, and the four stages of the war. It’s a book full of fascinating data, scrupulously footnoted, and rewards a slow, close read. Many of the colorful figures of the day come briefly into light, demonstrating how individual actions and decisions shaped the course of the war, even when motivations were very mixed.
Copy provided by NetGalley
September 12, 2016
I really wanted to love this. I mean, I love history, I'm a fan of the AMC show Turn about the Culper Ring, I just finished the very good Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution. And there is a lot of interesting material in this book. It's not just about the Culper Ring, but about how Washington's experiences in the French and Indian War showed him the need for spycraft, and how he enlisted various people in not just the collection of information from the British, but also in disseminating disinformation. Some of the latter is surprisingly entertaining, such as the merchant who claimed to be a deserter from the British; Washington instructed his adjutant general Joseph Reed to prepare false papers showing the army consisted of 12,000 men, more than double the actual number, and leave them in pigeonholes in a desk in his office, where the merchant was left on his own under pretext of Reed being called away by Washington. The subterfuge worked, as the merchant copied the papers, made his excuses, and left to bring this "intelligence" to British General Howe.
Nagy is clearly a historian. Unfortunately, Nagy is not a writer. The organization, explanation, and framing of the historical record he uses is as dry as my PhD thesis. There's fascinating material in here, but it's told in the dullest style possible, with lots of extracts from letters and footnoted facts, but very little analysis or synthesis. As a research paper for colleagues in his field, I'm sure this is a valuable contribution to the literature, but as a book for tyros like me, it is a slog.
I received this book as an e-ARC from NetGalley for review purposes.
Nagy is clearly a historian. Unfortunately, Nagy is not a writer. The organization, explanation, and framing of the historical record he uses is as dry as my PhD thesis. There's fascinating material in here, but it's told in the dullest style possible, with lots of extracts from letters and footnoted facts, but very little analysis or synthesis. As a research paper for colleagues in his field, I'm sure this is a valuable contribution to the literature, but as a book for tyros like me, it is a slog.
I received this book as an e-ARC from NetGalley for review purposes.
November 21, 2020
Starting during the French and Indian war and ending roughly around the time of the Charlestown, Nagy chronicles Washington’s use of espionage in all of his military maneuvers. He combines information about numerous spies, spy rings, handlers, and Washington’s involvement with them with details about the military movements they helped inform or shield. While he focuses on the espionage aspect of the war, he doesn’t overemphasize its importance or Washington’s involvement with the spies. I appreciated that balanced approach. He presents a much more complete picture than what I found in other popular books about the same subject.
I can see why some people struggle to read it though. The first chapter was a struggle to get through, and the first few pages even harder. In that section, he tends to work backward from an event, which I found very confusing. The rest is just very choppy. It felt more like you were reading his notes or outline than a finished book. The rest of the book has a more finished feeling but is still not an easy or pleasant read. Very frequently, he will tell you what someone wrote in a letter and then include the actual quote. He also likes to repeat himself when it comes to certain practices Washington used when dealing with spies such as verifying their information, deceiving the British with false intelligence, and that he repeatedly lied to do all that. The majority of the book is not as fragmented as the beginning chapter, but it never fully loses that choppy feel. The last few chapters seemed to lose their focus a bit with the inclusion of battle details from WW2 and Desert Storm as parallel illustrations of a particular strategy.
If I hadn’t really wanted to know the facts about Washington and his spies, I would never have persevered through it. But as an information source, I would highly recommend it.
I can see why some people struggle to read it though. The first chapter was a struggle to get through, and the first few pages even harder. In that section, he tends to work backward from an event, which I found very confusing. The rest is just very choppy. It felt more like you were reading his notes or outline than a finished book. The rest of the book has a more finished feeling but is still not an easy or pleasant read. Very frequently, he will tell you what someone wrote in a letter and then include the actual quote. He also likes to repeat himself when it comes to certain practices Washington used when dealing with spies such as verifying their information, deceiving the British with false intelligence, and that he repeatedly lied to do all that. The majority of the book is not as fragmented as the beginning chapter, but it never fully loses that choppy feel. The last few chapters seemed to lose their focus a bit with the inclusion of battle details from WW2 and Desert Storm as parallel illustrations of a particular strategy.
If I hadn’t really wanted to know the facts about Washington and his spies, I would never have persevered through it. But as an information source, I would highly recommend it.
June 13, 2020
The author tells a different tale of George Washington than the one traditionally accepted. The man who supposedly never told a lie shines in the Revolutionary struggle as a man of deception and deceit. Washington's legacy emerges from this book perhaps a bit tarnished, but in my own opinion, this portrayal of our first president is far more believable than the conventional one of him as infallible. The book covers Washington's wartime career, although I was a bit disappointed that it didn't extend into his even greater post-war struggles, including the Whiskey Rebellion. Overall a very enjoyable read.
April 6, 2017
Received an ARC via NetGalley
This was an OK book about how Washington used his spies during the Revolutionary War mostly and some mention of the French and Indian Wars. There is some mention of later wars that used similar tactics to Washington’s. There is an extensive amount of notes and a large bibliography. There is supposed to be an appendix that has the cipher of General Edward Braddock, but it was not available in the ARC. There was not mention of a map, but it really needs to have it for reference. The author does mention where the location is near in current times, but I need visuals. There are parts of the book that don’t have anything to do with spies, but usually it is an interesting tidbit that leads up to spy usage or why Washington does something a certain way. There is some definition of terms for the person who doesn’t know much of the time period. The one thing that got on my nerves was the multiple mentions that Washington needed information from more than one source to believe it and that he used deception. Of course he used deception in war to give himself an advantage. I think a couple mentions of these ideas would have been sufficient. Another thing that made it harder to read was his going back and forth on the dates. He would be writing an event from Washington’s younger years and then jump forward many years because something was similar. I had a hard time keeping track and so it would have been easier to have him go straight though the timeline. It would prevent him grouping things that are similar subjects, but would have been clearer for me. I think that if you have some knowledge of the Revolutionary War era you would be less confused because you know the major players already. People that are new to that era could gain some information because he does offer some definitions and explanations that experienced historians wouldn’t need.
This was an OK book about how Washington used his spies during the Revolutionary War mostly and some mention of the French and Indian Wars. There is some mention of later wars that used similar tactics to Washington’s. There is an extensive amount of notes and a large bibliography. There is supposed to be an appendix that has the cipher of General Edward Braddock, but it was not available in the ARC. There was not mention of a map, but it really needs to have it for reference. The author does mention where the location is near in current times, but I need visuals. There are parts of the book that don’t have anything to do with spies, but usually it is an interesting tidbit that leads up to spy usage or why Washington does something a certain way. There is some definition of terms for the person who doesn’t know much of the time period. The one thing that got on my nerves was the multiple mentions that Washington needed information from more than one source to believe it and that he used deception. Of course he used deception in war to give himself an advantage. I think a couple mentions of these ideas would have been sufficient. Another thing that made it harder to read was his going back and forth on the dates. He would be writing an event from Washington’s younger years and then jump forward many years because something was similar. I had a hard time keeping track and so it would have been easier to have him go straight though the timeline. It would prevent him grouping things that are similar subjects, but would have been clearer for me. I think that if you have some knowledge of the Revolutionary War era you would be less confused because you know the major players already. People that are new to that era could gain some information because he does offer some definitions and explanations that experienced historians wouldn’t need.
October 19, 2017
I wanted to like this book. I really did. The subject matter should be absolutely fascinating and engrossing. And I'm sure that it could have been. I got to page 29 before I gave up, because the writing was just that bad. I kept wanting to edit it... As someone who has read dense, pedantic, academic books for years, I can say that the problem with this book isn't that it's dense, pedantic, or overly-academically written. The prose is simply terrible. It reads like a sophomore-level college paper. And I've graded enough of those not to want to read one for fun. Especially not one that's the length of an entire book.
September 20, 2016
Nagy does a more than serviceable job in documenting Washington’s intelligence methods. Thank you for the DRC, which I received free in exchange for an honest review from Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press. This title is for sale today.
Washington first learned spy craft when he was fighting for the British Crown during the French and Indian war, a nasty conflict that puts the American Revolution in the shade in terms of lives lost and financial expense. Later he would take the education he had gained as a member of His Majesty’s forces and use it to lead the American colonists to victory as citizens of an independent nation.
Nagy conscientiously documents his case that it was this knowledge of spy craft that won the Revolution. He cites everything, and he uses primary documents that you and I would never ferret out in order to do so. Students of the American Revolution, the French and Indian War, or the history of American intelligence-gathering should consider this book an indispensible addition to your research material.
In the tradition that continues to this day, Washington found there were only two possible outcomes once a spy was apprehended. The first and most usual thing to do was hang them. Once in awhile one could turn them. And he had absolutely no scruples about torturing them first and hanging them later.
As a popular read, I rate this title three stars, and it’s really not due to any shortcoming of the author’s. He quotes extensively from primary documents such as Washington’s diary, and he didn’t use the same expressions and syntax that are used now, nearly two and a half centuries later. The accepted speech mannerisms for that time are unwieldy to us, and make for some difficult, hyper-literate reading that is not always enjoyable.
But for those that need the information, there are not a lot of places to go, and I think you need this one. As research material this is easily a four star book, and depending upon one’s area of study, it might even be more.
Recommended to researchers and students in this realm.
Washington first learned spy craft when he was fighting for the British Crown during the French and Indian war, a nasty conflict that puts the American Revolution in the shade in terms of lives lost and financial expense. Later he would take the education he had gained as a member of His Majesty’s forces and use it to lead the American colonists to victory as citizens of an independent nation.
Nagy conscientiously documents his case that it was this knowledge of spy craft that won the Revolution. He cites everything, and he uses primary documents that you and I would never ferret out in order to do so. Students of the American Revolution, the French and Indian War, or the history of American intelligence-gathering should consider this book an indispensible addition to your research material.
In the tradition that continues to this day, Washington found there were only two possible outcomes once a spy was apprehended. The first and most usual thing to do was hang them. Once in awhile one could turn them. And he had absolutely no scruples about torturing them first and hanging them later.
As a popular read, I rate this title three stars, and it’s really not due to any shortcoming of the author’s. He quotes extensively from primary documents such as Washington’s diary, and he didn’t use the same expressions and syntax that are used now, nearly two and a half centuries later. The accepted speech mannerisms for that time are unwieldy to us, and make for some difficult, hyper-literate reading that is not always enjoyable.
But for those that need the information, there are not a lot of places to go, and I think you need this one. As research material this is easily a four star book, and depending upon one’s area of study, it might even be more.
Recommended to researchers and students in this realm.
October 30, 2024
This was a much harder book to read than it should have been. Partly, to be sure, I was thoroughly scouring Nagy's text for every bit of useful information on Washington as our first spymaster, his spy rings and the men who manned them. Partly, however, the book simply needed a good editor. The narrative was often uneven and choppy. This, I think was due to Nagy's untimely death as the book was being published.
Nevertheless, this is a great source of information on Washington as a user and director of intelligence. With several books on the subject under his belt, Nagy knows his material and made excellent use of his extensuve knowledge of American intelligence efforts during the American Revolution to tell Washington's successes.
Nevertheless, this is a great source of information on Washington as a user and director of intelligence. With several books on the subject under his belt, Nagy knows his material and made excellent use of his extensuve knowledge of American intelligence efforts during the American Revolution to tell Washington's successes.
Read
July 4, 2019 George Washington was America’s first spymaster, and his skill as a spymaster won the war for independence.
George Washington’s Secret Spy War is the untold story of how George Washington took a disorderly, ill-equipped rabble and defeated the best trained and best equipped army of its day. Author John A. Nagy has become the nation’s leading expert on the subject, discovering hundreds of spies who went behind enemy lines to gather intelligence during the American Revolution, many of whom are completely unknown to most historians.
Using George Washington’s diary as the primary source, Nagy tells the story of Washington’s experiences during the French and Indian War and his first steps in the field of espionage. Despite what many believe, Washington did not come to the American Revolution completely unskilled in this area of warfare. Espionage was a skill he honed during the French and Indian war and upon which he heavily depended during the Revolutionary War. He used espionage to level the playing field and then exploited it on to final victory.
Filled with thrilling and never-before-told stories from the battlefield and behind enemy lines, this is the story of how Washington out-spied the British. For the first time, readers will discover how espionage played a major part in the American Revolution and why Washington was a master at orchestrating it.
My thoughts
Rating :4
there is a lot of interesting material in this book. ,about how Washington's experiences in the French and Indian War showed him the need for spycraft, and how he enlisted various people in not just the collection of inform, but also what the soldiers went though if they where caught or thought to spies ,
And how the French used spies as well , it did bring the history to life but it was a bit dry though out the book .If you love reading historical nonfiction then you might want to check one out
George Washington’s Secret Spy War is the untold story of how George Washington took a disorderly, ill-equipped rabble and defeated the best trained and best equipped army of its day. Author John A. Nagy has become the nation’s leading expert on the subject, discovering hundreds of spies who went behind enemy lines to gather intelligence during the American Revolution, many of whom are completely unknown to most historians.
Using George Washington’s diary as the primary source, Nagy tells the story of Washington’s experiences during the French and Indian War and his first steps in the field of espionage. Despite what many believe, Washington did not come to the American Revolution completely unskilled in this area of warfare. Espionage was a skill he honed during the French and Indian war and upon which he heavily depended during the Revolutionary War. He used espionage to level the playing field and then exploited it on to final victory.
Filled with thrilling and never-before-told stories from the battlefield and behind enemy lines, this is the story of how Washington out-spied the British. For the first time, readers will discover how espionage played a major part in the American Revolution and why Washington was a master at orchestrating it.
My thoughts
Rating :4
there is a lot of interesting material in this book. ,about how Washington's experiences in the French and Indian War showed him the need for spycraft, and how he enlisted various people in not just the collection of inform, but also what the soldiers went though if they where caught or thought to spies ,
And how the French used spies as well , it did bring the history to life but it was a bit dry though out the book .If you love reading historical nonfiction then you might want to check one out
September 10, 2018
I gave this book two stars in lieu of one because it includes quotes from primary sources. The last couple of "history" books I read quoted only secondary sources. It's like research in the modern world consists of scanning wikipedia and critiquing the work of earlier researchers. I prefer traditional history, i.e. the kind like this book, that reflects research into primary sources.
So why only 2 stars and not 5? I agree with the numerous other readers who gave the book low ratings because of the writing style. Mr Nagy does not make this an easy story to follow. The inclusion of facts is great but the lack of narrative is terrible.
IMHO this work reads like the work of a first year college student. There's a ton information but it is not presented well. The information should be interesting, and it's not. Narrative is doled out in such convoluted paragraphs that what just happened is hard to follow. At other times sentences seem thrown in for good measure that repeat the obvious without driving the narrative forward. For example? For example more than 2 chapters in, dear reader is still being schooled in the importance of accurate intelligence, how important spies were to Washington. Really? That is something we figured out from the cover of the book. Do we need to be reminded chapter after chapter? I think not.
The first chapter tells the story of a young Washington's first forays into reconnaissance missions. A shame such a fascinating episode is presented so poorly. The author takes no chances speculating on what people motives people, we are largely outside of their heads. I loaned the book to a history buff who is quite knowledgable about this era to see if that is what it takes to enjoy the book. I noticed many high star reviews. I wonder if these are from people with more background. As for myself, I learned a little bit, but it was a slog to learn and not half what I expected from the promising cover.
So why only 2 stars and not 5? I agree with the numerous other readers who gave the book low ratings because of the writing style. Mr Nagy does not make this an easy story to follow. The inclusion of facts is great but the lack of narrative is terrible.
IMHO this work reads like the work of a first year college student. There's a ton information but it is not presented well. The information should be interesting, and it's not. Narrative is doled out in such convoluted paragraphs that what just happened is hard to follow. At other times sentences seem thrown in for good measure that repeat the obvious without driving the narrative forward. For example? For example more than 2 chapters in, dear reader is still being schooled in the importance of accurate intelligence, how important spies were to Washington. Really? That is something we figured out from the cover of the book. Do we need to be reminded chapter after chapter? I think not.
The first chapter tells the story of a young Washington's first forays into reconnaissance missions. A shame such a fascinating episode is presented so poorly. The author takes no chances speculating on what people motives people, we are largely outside of their heads. I loaned the book to a history buff who is quite knowledgable about this era to see if that is what it takes to enjoy the book. I noticed many high star reviews. I wonder if these are from people with more background. As for myself, I learned a little bit, but it was a slog to learn and not half what I expected from the promising cover.
May 9, 2022
Let me first say that I am an avid reader of historical books, both fiction and non-fiction. I loved the volumes I've read recently about T. E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell. However, I did not find much to like about this tome. Mr. Nagy may have six books published, but he does not know how to present his material in a good, concise, and interesting way. He certainly knows his facts, but the book is just plain tedious. His habit of inserting (sic) after all the oddly spelled words in letters to and from General Washington and his correspondents was plain irritating. He ignored all but one woman who served the rebellion as a spy. His repetition of certain facts such as battle maneuvers several chapters after the first statements about them was confusing. And his suddenly bringing in details from World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and Desert Storm as explanation were completely unnecessary and thoroughly irritating. After much consideration, I find that his information resembles nothing more closely than three long lectures thrown into book form without benefit of a good editor. I will read nothing more by this author. What could have been a lively, intriguing book with good details splinters into a thudding 274 pages. Thank goodness the last hundred pages are notes regarding the book's details, and a very thorough index, which I did not read.
August 29, 2016
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and St. Martins Press, the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google Plus pages.
I requested this book because I am interested in American history. It is the first book by John Nagy that I have read.
I found the qoute from David McCullough on the cover of the book about the author interesting in that it complimented the individual, but not the book itself. While interesting, Nagy does not have McCullough's ability to weave history to read like a novel versus a recitation of the facts.
The book is well researched and does present a few facts not in evidence in other books about the same time period that I have read. It also credits Washington with being a much craftier general than several other books. The book itself is a light read as it does not delve too deeply into any one instance where Washington used spies.
I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in American history who is not looking for an indepth, detailed account of the subject matter.
I requested this book because I am interested in American history. It is the first book by John Nagy that I have read.
I found the qoute from David McCullough on the cover of the book about the author interesting in that it complimented the individual, but not the book itself. While interesting, Nagy does not have McCullough's ability to weave history to read like a novel versus a recitation of the facts.
The book is well researched and does present a few facts not in evidence in other books about the same time period that I have read. It also credits Washington with being a much craftier general than several other books. The book itself is a light read as it does not delve too deeply into any one instance where Washington used spies.
I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in American history who is not looking for an indepth, detailed account of the subject matter.
December 3, 2018
First book I can remember in years that I could not stand long enough to finish.
Extremely pedantic., horribly redundant. ex: once you explain that Charles Town (2 words, as opposed to Charlestown) is now Charleston, SC, there is no need to say that every time it is mentioned.
Likewise, once the abbreviations commonly used at the time are detailed, such as Col(onel), there's no need to do that every time.
FAR too detailed regarding names, titles, etc.
It almost felt like a series of somewhat related essays strung together in an attempt to make a book.
Disjointed timelines.
Editor (if there even WAS one, should be fired.
Extremely pedantic., horribly redundant. ex: once you explain that Charles Town (2 words, as opposed to Charlestown) is now Charleston, SC, there is no need to say that every time it is mentioned.
Likewise, once the abbreviations commonly used at the time are detailed, such as Col(onel), there's no need to do that every time.
FAR too detailed regarding names, titles, etc.
It almost felt like a series of somewhat related essays strung together in an attempt to make a book.
Disjointed timelines.
Editor (if there even WAS one, should be fired.
Read
September 20, 2016(Note - The cover illustration pictured is pending approval and may not match final copy)
Published By St. Martin's Press September 20, 2016
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
_________________________________________________________
Publisher's Description
George Washington was America’s first spymaster, and his skill as a spymaster won the war for independence.
George Washington’s Secret Spy War is the untold story of how George Washington took a disorderly, ill-equipped rabble and defeated the best trained and best equipped army of its day. Author John A. Nagy has become the nation’s leading expert on the subject, discovering hundreds of spies who went behind enemy lines to gather intelligence during the American Revolution, many of whom are completely unknown to most historians.
Using George Washington’s diary as the primary source, Nagy tells the story of Washington’s experiences during the French and Indian War and his first steps in the field of espionage. Despite what many believe, Washington did not come to the American Revolution completely unskilled in this area of warfare. Espionage was a skill he honed during the French and Indian war and upon which he heavily depended during the Revolutionary War. He used espionage to level the playing field and then exploited it on to final victory.
Filled with thrilling and never-before-told stories from the battlefield and behind enemy lines, this is the story of how Washington out-spied the British. For the first time, readers will discover how espionage played a major part in the American Revolution and why Washington was a master at orchestrating it.
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Story Notes
John A. Nagy's newly released historical book on George Washington competes well with modern spy novels and his accuracy when it comes to facts is what lends this book truth in its thrilling absoluteness.
There have been many books written on the subjects of the Revolutionary War and, indeed of George Washington himself, but this is the first I have read that truly described George Washington's cunning and determination to win the War for his fellow countrymen. Mr. Nagy begins at an appropriate place, describing how Washington became the brilliant strategist he was - Washington was first employed as a surveyor under a professional hired by his brother Lawrence. This trade taught him how to be observant and would serve him well when on reconnaissance for Governor Dinwiddie during the French and Indian War and as commander during the Revolutionary War. Mr. Nagy also included Washington's failures in his early military career as he was outsmarted by the Indians and the French who had employed deception for many years to stay out of sight of the British. That Mr. Nagy did not gloss over these failures was very helpful in allowing me to see how Washington was not perfect in his military career and learned continually throughout his time as a commander. Washington would soon learn to best the French and Indians at their game and use it to his advantage throughout the rest of his military campaign. Mr. Nagy made a good point in saying that although there is a legend surrounding Washington that says that "he couldn't tell a lie", Washington became one of the best commanders to employ deception and diversionary tactics that have also been used in more recent years by American soldiers in World War II and Desert Storm. The Revolutionary War is one of my favorite periods of history to study and Mr. Nagy's book gave me better insight into the hard work and dedication Washington put into making victory over the British a reality. It was interesting to learn further that although Washington encourage smuggling of British contraband, he was very tough on those who would try to take advantage of the colonists who were in need of food and other materials. He was also extremely tough on those who were double spy agents, agents for the British alone, or militia deserters. He had no sympathy or patience for those who would seek to hurt others in exchange for fiscal compensation. And further, I found it even more interesting to read about how Washington and his fellow commanders hid messages with "sympathetic ink" and successfully employed fishermen to ensure messages and spies made it through enemy lines. Mr. Nagy has written an excellent book full of danger, secrets and intrigue - enough to keep even the most avid spy fan engaged.
There were only two small issues I had with this book - the formatting of the writing and inclusion of more modern topics. As to the formatting, for one who enjoys history books the multitudinous details included would be fine, however, I did notice that the sheer volume of dates and details would be somewhat overwhelming for a casual reader. I found myself re-reading passages to make sure I had everything straight and would have liked to have had all the details spread out a little more to make the story more easily readable. I realize this e-book is an advanced copy and will contain errors, but I do believe much of the data needed to be spread out a little more for more readers to enjoy fully. The inclusion of more modern topics was also a little distracting when reading. I realize that they were included to give the reader a sense of how Washington's spy strategies have been used in more recent years, but the segue-way into these inclusions was a little abrupt and distracting. Perhaps the formatting will be smoother in the actual printed book but if not some readers will find these sharp turns to be a bit off-putting.
I truly enjoyed this journey into the life and war-strategies of George Washington despite those two small issues. I would also like to see further works by Mr. Nagy whenever they are published and will certainly recommend this book to others who are history-minded.
I received this e-book free of charge from St. Martins Press and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.
Published By St. Martin's Press September 20, 2016
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Publisher's Description
George Washington was America’s first spymaster, and his skill as a spymaster won the war for independence.
George Washington’s Secret Spy War is the untold story of how George Washington took a disorderly, ill-equipped rabble and defeated the best trained and best equipped army of its day. Author John A. Nagy has become the nation’s leading expert on the subject, discovering hundreds of spies who went behind enemy lines to gather intelligence during the American Revolution, many of whom are completely unknown to most historians.
Using George Washington’s diary as the primary source, Nagy tells the story of Washington’s experiences during the French and Indian War and his first steps in the field of espionage. Despite what many believe, Washington did not come to the American Revolution completely unskilled in this area of warfare. Espionage was a skill he honed during the French and Indian war and upon which he heavily depended during the Revolutionary War. He used espionage to level the playing field and then exploited it on to final victory.
Filled with thrilling and never-before-told stories from the battlefield and behind enemy lines, this is the story of how Washington out-spied the British. For the first time, readers will discover how espionage played a major part in the American Revolution and why Washington was a master at orchestrating it.
__________________________________________________________
Story Notes
John A. Nagy's newly released historical book on George Washington competes well with modern spy novels and his accuracy when it comes to facts is what lends this book truth in its thrilling absoluteness.
There have been many books written on the subjects of the Revolutionary War and, indeed of George Washington himself, but this is the first I have read that truly described George Washington's cunning and determination to win the War for his fellow countrymen. Mr. Nagy begins at an appropriate place, describing how Washington became the brilliant strategist he was - Washington was first employed as a surveyor under a professional hired by his brother Lawrence. This trade taught him how to be observant and would serve him well when on reconnaissance for Governor Dinwiddie during the French and Indian War and as commander during the Revolutionary War. Mr. Nagy also included Washington's failures in his early military career as he was outsmarted by the Indians and the French who had employed deception for many years to stay out of sight of the British. That Mr. Nagy did not gloss over these failures was very helpful in allowing me to see how Washington was not perfect in his military career and learned continually throughout his time as a commander. Washington would soon learn to best the French and Indians at their game and use it to his advantage throughout the rest of his military campaign. Mr. Nagy made a good point in saying that although there is a legend surrounding Washington that says that "he couldn't tell a lie", Washington became one of the best commanders to employ deception and diversionary tactics that have also been used in more recent years by American soldiers in World War II and Desert Storm. The Revolutionary War is one of my favorite periods of history to study and Mr. Nagy's book gave me better insight into the hard work and dedication Washington put into making victory over the British a reality. It was interesting to learn further that although Washington encourage smuggling of British contraband, he was very tough on those who would try to take advantage of the colonists who were in need of food and other materials. He was also extremely tough on those who were double spy agents, agents for the British alone, or militia deserters. He had no sympathy or patience for those who would seek to hurt others in exchange for fiscal compensation. And further, I found it even more interesting to read about how Washington and his fellow commanders hid messages with "sympathetic ink" and successfully employed fishermen to ensure messages and spies made it through enemy lines. Mr. Nagy has written an excellent book full of danger, secrets and intrigue - enough to keep even the most avid spy fan engaged.
There were only two small issues I had with this book - the formatting of the writing and inclusion of more modern topics. As to the formatting, for one who enjoys history books the multitudinous details included would be fine, however, I did notice that the sheer volume of dates and details would be somewhat overwhelming for a casual reader. I found myself re-reading passages to make sure I had everything straight and would have liked to have had all the details spread out a little more to make the story more easily readable. I realize this e-book is an advanced copy and will contain errors, but I do believe much of the data needed to be spread out a little more for more readers to enjoy fully. The inclusion of more modern topics was also a little distracting when reading. I realize that they were included to give the reader a sense of how Washington's spy strategies have been used in more recent years, but the segue-way into these inclusions was a little abrupt and distracting. Perhaps the formatting will be smoother in the actual printed book but if not some readers will find these sharp turns to be a bit off-putting.
I truly enjoyed this journey into the life and war-strategies of George Washington despite those two small issues. I would also like to see further works by Mr. Nagy whenever they are published and will certainly recommend this book to others who are history-minded.
I received this e-book free of charge from St. Martins Press and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.
January 5, 2018
I won a copy of this book for review purposes. Are you aware of how many years the American Revolution required? I needed the reminder that it was eight years. This book covers an area of history I didn't know much about. I enjoy reading history. I had not thought about the need for spies in the Revolutionary War. The invisible ink that you may have played with as a kid was important but in a more complicated manner. One of the deception procedures George Washington used has been used a couple times in the twentieth century. We learn that Washington was skilled at adapting to changing situations. He made use of his knowledge as a surveyor. We are reminded of the cost that was involved in founding this country.
November 24, 2025
This book was filled with lots of interesting tidbits, but I'd be hard pressed to call it well written. Lots of seeming non-sequiturs, some information was repeated (sometimes only a page or two after it had just been mentioned), quite a few loose ends that were never tied up, and just overall no real narrative flow. And occasional references to other wars (like WWII and Desert Storm) that I guess were attempts to draw historical parallels, but mostly just ended up feeling a bit jarring. Could have also used some better editing, as I found multiple typos and misspellings. Probably not great for a casual reader, but for somebody who wants to really do a deep dive into this topic, it may still be worth a read if you can get through these drawbacks.
September 26, 2017
The title of this book tells it all. This is a fascinating look at how George Washington used spies and deception before and during the revolutionary war to obtain vital information about the British. He had many spies working for the revolution and also was able to deceive the enemy with false information, which helped win the war. The author has meticulously researched this book and it is a fascinating read. The only thing I found which slowed me down a bit was that the material is a bit disorganized. As the author mentions a couple of times, this work puts to bed the idea that George Washington never told a lie. Highly recommended.
October 4, 2023
274 pages, published 2016.
Very interesting.
My particular interest is gleaning additional information about General Braddock’s 1755 Expedition and General Forbes 1758 Expedition (with Colonel Bouquet) to Fort Duquesne, became Fort Pitt, is now Pittsburg.
* Kentucky Frontiersman Daniel Boone was a wagoner in both expeditions.
* William Patterson b, 1784 Westmoreland County, raised by different YDNA Patterson family. Why/how was his unknown Patterson father in Westmoreland in 1784?
* Father of Hugh Patterson 1800-1880 was in Pittsburg (Pitt Township?) Allegheny County, PA from 1790 onward—son William b. 1790, daughter Margrett Elizabeth b. 1791.
How/why was he in this location?
Very interesting.
My particular interest is gleaning additional information about General Braddock’s 1755 Expedition and General Forbes 1758 Expedition (with Colonel Bouquet) to Fort Duquesne, became Fort Pitt, is now Pittsburg.
* Kentucky Frontiersman Daniel Boone was a wagoner in both expeditions.
* William Patterson b, 1784 Westmoreland County, raised by different YDNA Patterson family. Why/how was his unknown Patterson father in Westmoreland in 1784?
* Father of Hugh Patterson 1800-1880 was in Pittsburg (Pitt Township?) Allegheny County, PA from 1790 onward—son William b. 1790, daughter Margrett Elizabeth b. 1791.
How/why was he in this location?
June 16, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be page turning, finished in 2 days which is not my usual MO with nonfiction books, as I do not hyper focus outside of fiction. But this was engrossing. I am not a scholar, and have only lately developed an interest in the AR after reading Johnny Tremain.
I know other reviewers have mentioned their irritation at the lack of chronological order. It didn't seem to bother me, I felt like it was more organized by subject if that makes sense? I am intrigued and may look for other works by Mr. Nagy.
I know other reviewers have mentioned their irritation at the lack of chronological order. It didn't seem to bother me, I felt like it was more organized by subject if that makes sense? I am intrigued and may look for other works by Mr. Nagy.
July 6, 2018
The book contained a great deal of fascinating information that was completely new to me. I would have enjoyed it greatly, had it not been for the fact that it was somewhat difficult to read. It was very poorly written, being choppy and hard to follow. The author would consistently drop in random pieces of information without any background or reasons why the information was important. He was constantly going back and forth between different topics without any transitioning links, all within the space of a single paragraph.
February 19, 2019
The book isn't very well written. It seems there was a very basic outline that wasn't flushed out so there's no flow to the book. It's almost like the Dug, the dog from the movie Up wrote it in that it would go along and very much seem like Squirrel! and the topic would change. There was little transition and the years would jump and be hard to follow. I kept reading it because I wanted to know about the subject.
December 31, 2021
I really enjoyed this very well written biographical history about George Washington's spy tactics used in the revolutionary war. Some parts were slow, lots of info is given, and it's easy to get bogged down with names. There were so many people involved in the war naturally. But it was clever and funny too. I learned so much more about George Washington. I'm so glad I read it. It's not just a history book.
May 27, 2017
As a tool of history & scholarship, I have nothing but praise for this book. However, the dense minutiae of every last moment of espionage in the events described can make one's eyes glaze over when trying to read this book from cover to cover. Valuable & useful, but not exactly relaxing...so we'll split the difference on the rating.
May 28, 2017
An okay book about the spy methods used during the Revolutionary War. It shows how Washington first used the art of spying during the French and Indian War and how he evolved those methods during the Revolution. Many of the deceptions, false flags and spies used by Washington are described in the book.
September 23, 2017
I always admired Washington, but now I admire him even more. This book was filled with fascinating information. Washington was a brilliant strategist. I'm very glad I read this book.
The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars, was the writing style was kind of like a text book - just presenting facts. A more engaging writing style would have helped.
The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars, was the writing style was kind of like a text book - just presenting facts. A more engaging writing style would have helped.
January 22, 2018
This was a very informative and interesting read. The author obviously knows his stuff about the time period and has a lot of detail written in the narrative of the book. I would have liked to give the book a higher rating but I found some of the information repetitive and the writing style was dry. But informative all the same.
January 26, 2018
John A. Nagy is an esteemed historian and scholar, and rightfully so. As for this particular book, which I read for research purposes, the disjointed timeline and abrupt switching of topics/people/stories made it a challenging read. Nagy is clearly an expert on the topic, but the way in which he presents it is vexing.
November 25, 2019
The book is very well researched but I found the writing confusing and uninteresting. Lots of names and dates are given but the narrative skips around a lot and rarely is there a clear explanation of the military value of the intelligence provided by the spies and their rings. I was very disappointed.
October 12, 2024
Although I was sometimes inundated with too many facts that I'll never remember, the author provides proof that George Washington was, indeed, a master spy for his time. Extensive research supports the author's thesis. Many of the stories, some of which were humorous, show how important spies were to winning the Revolutionary War.
October 23, 2024
What I thought would be a fascinating book on a little known phase of Washington’s life turned into a text book with too many battles and irrelevant names. There were interesting facts and stories but they were few. Nagy May have been an authority on Washington and his life, but he really needs a good editor to make this more readable.
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