The Worst Counterintelligence Mistakes during the Revolutionary War During the Revolutionary War, both sides were using intelligence against each other, but they were also using counter intelligence. Both the Patriots and the British made mistakes involving their counter intelligence operations. The Patriots group called the Mechanics did not use good security methods to keep the British out. The British decided to send a detailed map of the Boston Harbor all of their positions to Washington.
The most serious counterintelligence mistake made by the Patriots was The Mechanics not checking to see if there were any British spies that had snuck into the group. They were too focused on their beliefs and their cause rather than security. “However, their security procedures were based on their belief in the honorableness of their cause than sound operational security. Their vetting procedure to ensure secrecy at their meetings apparently consisted of all present swearing on the Bible to keep secret their activities. As Boston was a small town, and many members of the Mechanics had known each other throughout the past ten-plus years of political conflict, little thought was given to the possibility that the British had penetrated the group. They had. One of its senior members was paid spy for General Gabe.”(Daigler 47). Without the …show more content…
“Washington may have also have been to use a particularly valuable open-source publication in his analysis of British strength and positions in the city a detailed map of Boston Harbor published in London on August 5, 1775.” (Daigler 59). Gaining possession of this map gave a major advantage to the Patriots. It gave them all the positions of the British they needed. With this the Patriots can use the detailed map to get around British fortified defenses and try to take the Boston
The most serious counterintelligence mistake made by the Patriots was The Mechanics not checking to see if there were any British spies that had snuck into the group. They were too focused on their beliefs and their cause rather than security. “However, their security procedures were based on their belief in the honorableness of their cause than sound operational security. Their vetting procedure to ensure secrecy at their meetings apparently consisted of all present swearing on the Bible to keep secret their activities. As Boston was a small town, and many members of the Mechanics had known each other throughout the past ten-plus years of political conflict, little thought was given to the possibility that the British had penetrated the group. They had. One of its senior members was paid spy for General Gabe.”(Daigler 47). Without the …show more content…
“Washington may have also have been to use a particularly valuable open-source publication in his analysis of British strength and positions in the city a detailed map of Boston Harbor published in London on August 5, 1775.” (Daigler 59). Gaining possession of this map gave a major advantage to the Patriots. It gave them all the positions of the British they needed. With this the Patriots can use the detailed map to get around British fortified defenses and try to take the Boston