George Washington's Secret Six Quotes

“Their humility stopped them from seeking fame or fortune because their love of country sparked their exploits.”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“all Washington could do was carry in his heart the gratitude he had for the sacrifices of his brave spies, which were no less meaningful for having been made in city streets and country back roads as on a battlefield.”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“Hale took a deep breath, then voiced a sentiment he had clearly been mulling for some time: “I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary to the public good becomes honorable by being necessary.”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“These subjects were also covered in classes, but this was the Age of Enlightenment and the pursuit of knowledge was all the rage—even among fun-loving young men. Benjamin”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“remained for more than forty years, until it was disinterred and returned to England to be buried with military honors at Westminster Abbey. BACK IN MANHATTAN News of Arnold’s betrayal, as well as André’s capture and execution, sent shock waves through all of the colonies, but nowhere was the impact more keenly felt than in New York City. Even Robert Townsend found himself deeply moved by the death of one of the very men on whom he had spied. “I never felt more sensibly for”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“knew, however, just quite what they were in the midst of in September 1780. The reports from the city, the strange behaviors, the activity with the ships—Tallmadge couldn’t put his finger on it, but his instincts told him something was not right. He felt as if he had nearly all the elements in front of him, almost all the clues gathered, but he was not sure what he was looking at or what the picture was that he needed to assemble. That he had letters on his desk from his merchant-spy in New York regarding an officer”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“submit reports written in invisible ink, which now fell almost exclusively on Tallmadge to reveal and decipher. The job had previously belonged to Washington’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton, while Tallmadge was in charge of making sense of the general intelligence and summary reports Woodhull, Roe, and Brewster compiled. But recently Tallmadge had been tasked with the white-ink letters—perhaps after Washington recognized the urgency of the”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“as an assistant.” It was worth noting, but hardly earthshaking news. Spies were everywhere, and both sides knew it. That this operative tried to convert Woodhull to his side while clearly unaware as to Woodhull’s true loyalties is both comical and a testimony to the convincing role Woodhull was playing as a man of profound apathy. His secret letters, however, reveal just how deep his passions truly ran.”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“August 3, 1780, Benedict Arnold found himself the most powerful man on the Hudson. He wasted no time in capitalizing on his new position. Almost immediately he began repairing the fort and stocking it with as many provisions as possible. If he was going to turn West Point over to the British, he might as well win points with his new commanders by outfitting it on the American dime first; he even consulted a French engineer fighting alongside the Americans, Major Chevalier de Villefranche. “Major Villefranche”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“The observation of Major George Beckwith bears repeating: “Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply outspied us!” In”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“The British were highly skilled counterfeiters, and one of their favorite ways to attack the Americans was by depreciating colonial currency.”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“There were plots afoot—plans of deceit, treason, and betrayal—and the only hope the Americans had to survive them was to be prepared. Washington knew that New York City was of the utmost strategic importance from a military perspective, but even he could not anticipate how crucial the intelligence collected there would be in saving the cause for liberty. And neither side, American nor British, could yet imagine just how deep the treachery reached within its own ranks.”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“Born on November 25, 1753, Robert was in many ways out of place in the Townsend family—as dark and lean as Solomon was blond and broad, and as shy and reserved as William (nicknamed the “flower of the family”) was gallant and flirtatious. His desire was not for adventure or prestige; of a much more bookish disposition than his father or brothers, he preferred to work quietly behind the scenes, managing the ledgers and accounts and inspecting incoming shipments—anything that kept him out of the limelight and the ribaldry that the other Townsend men shared with their sailors and clients. Not that Robert resented their quick wit and hearty laughter; in fact, he rather admired the spirit the rest of his family brought to life.”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“The greatest true spy story in American history. . . . The spies . . . seem to have stepped from the pages of Robert Ludlum rather than a history book. . . . Anyone who wants to know how a handful of dedicated American patriots managed to defeat the greatest empire on earth needs to read this book.” —Arthur”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“It is needless to be more explicit on this Subject; I am persuaded of your Excellencys Goodness. I receive the greatest Attention from his Excellency General Washington and from every person under”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“of which is to remove from your Breast any Suspicion that I could imagine that I was bound by your Excellencys”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“was bound by your Excellencys Orders to expose myself to what has happened. The Events of coming within an Enemys posts and of Changing my dress which led”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“had letters on his desk from his merchant-spy in New York regarding an officer from New York venturing toward West Point seemed wholly unconnected. Despite all the hints he received from 355, Woodhull, and Townsend, Tallmadge didn’t connect the dots until it was almost too late.”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“pride that incident had delivered may have prompted him to plan an aggressive response simply to prove he would not be made the fool. The increase of activity in mid-September was definitely new, though, after a relatively quiet August. Woodhull had written to Tallmadge on September 1: “In regard of the state of affairs in general he [Culper Junior] assured the express they remained as heretofore or as”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“execution of Nathan Hale on September 22, 1776, was the lowest point in a month of low points for General George Washington. First, the British had taken New York City and Long Island—the cornerstones of Washington’s strategy because of their valuable geographic”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“Arnold, forced to declare the meeting a failure, returned to West Point. André, it turns out, had been in the vicinity, but the vigilant gunboats had made crossing the river quite perilous in risking both his life and recognition by some of his own soldiers. He returned to New York to arrange a second attempt at meeting”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“wrote to Washington to propose just such a raid: “The enclosed Dispatches from Culper have this moment come to hand. . . . C. writes with great sollicitude for troops to be sent from this side to attack those lying at Setauket. I need not repeat to your Excellency how exceedingly happy I should be to assist in such an Expedition, should it be thot. advisable.” To Tallmadge’s disappointment, Washington did not approve”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“MERCHANTS’ SHIRTSLEEVES While his name was being bandied around New York’s most exclusive circles during his first weeks of command, Arnold was quite busy sending letters. Besides writing to Washington about his desire to increase the provisions and make improvements at the fort and composing letters about his need to learn the identity of spies, Arnold also found the time to send a letter to an American outpost, informing its members that a certain”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“Arnolds’ names should come up in conversation that summer. Benedict’s family was established just across the border in Connecticut, and the former Miss Shippen—whose own family was extremely well connected—had been acquainted with many of the officers now in New York. Benedict Arnold’s name might have even been something of a joke, at first, among the British. Here was an overly eager merchant–turned–major general who seemed”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“When the sparks of revolution became the full-fledged flames of war in 1775, however, Rivington’s shop was looted and burned by the Sons of Liberty, with some of his presses and typefaces being melted down for ammunition. He moved his family back to England for their own safety, then returned to New York in 1777, where he opened his businesses near Townsend’s shop. While”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“break with the Crown, even though he seemed to consider himself middle of the road on the issue. His stances and politicking gradually got the better of him and again landed him in hot water with the local authorities more”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“word slip while onshore, the whole deal would be ruined. André boarded the Vulture for the night and awaited a message from Arnold for their meeting the next day. None came. On Thursday, September 21, Arnold received a letter complaining that boats from West Point had fired upon a small vessel traveling to shore under the flag of truce, which was a violation of the terms of war. “Fortunately”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“day André set out northward with the goal of reaching HMS Vulture, a fourteen-gun sloop docked near Teller’s Point, by evening. Because it was a British ship, he arrived not as “John Anderson, Patriot merchant” but as himself, bearing letters from General Clinton that”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“his closest officers, special attention was paid to Major André, and it seems to actually have been something of an unofficial send-off for the young man, as he was about to embark upon a mission that, they hoped, would result in one of the greatest victories for the British since the war began. The”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

“BETRAYAL IN BOOTS On that same morning of September 23, three American militiamen, John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams, were guarding the road in a kind of no-man’s-land en route to the city.”
― Brian Kilmeade, George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution