Trenton strategy tipped to British (WASHINGTON HAD SPY IN HIS CAMP)

The Washington Times ^ | July 3, 2003 | Associated Press

[aristeides]

Through a spy, the British were tipped off that George Washington would be making his famous Christmas night crossing of the Delaware, but the information went unheeded, according to newly reviewed papers of the British commander.

The papers from the archive of Gen. James Grant were found in the tower of his Ballindalloch Castle, northwest of Aberdeen, Scotland.

[aristeides]

I wonder why the Hessians didn't act on this intelligence.

[aristeides]

Anybody know whether Benedict Arnold was at Valley Forge?

[Dog]

Yes he did. He spent the winter of 1777-1778 with the army at Valley Forge.

[aristeides]

Hmmm. Thanks.

[Dog]

Lowrie is to purchase Rum to the amount of twenty thousand Dollars at Philadelphia with Continental money & to store it there till the (money?) arrives."

Someone could research this purchase I bet..

[Dog]

All we would need to know is the names of Washington's staff...a purchase of $20,000.00 of Rum had to be recorded in the US Armies records...they even had bean counters back then.

[aristeides]

I suppose a Wharton in Philadelphia would be related to whoever the Business School is named after.

[Publius]

The intelligence was passed to Col. Rall in writing -- but in English. Rall only spoke German, and there was nobody there to translate.

Thanks to a Christmas party, the entire garrison was drunk on Jersey Lightning, as applejack was called in that time. Rall was playing cards when the paper was handed to him. Drunk and having higher priorities (his bet on this hand), Rall looked at the paper, saw it was in English and crumpled it up, putting it in his pocket.

When Rall, dying, was laid out in the church in Trenton, the paper was found in his pocket, obviously unread.

[rmlew]

Benedict Arnold was still a patriot then.
He saved the Revolution at Saratoga.

[aristeides]

I stand corrected. My chronology was confused. Washington was headquartered in Philadelphia the winter of 1776-77. Battle of Trenton was Dec. 26, 1776. Saratoga, as you point out, was Oct. 1777. Valley Forge winter was 1777-78. So we still don't know who the spy was. I wonder if there's any way to find out.

[Kenny Bunk]

Many a fine old colonial family kept a foot in both camps, with Tory and Patriot relatives operating simultaneously. Oddly enough, sometimes they were the same people.

The war lasted 14 years and was a fluid situation. Think Vietnam. Many of the ARVN officers had a brother in the Viet Cong, or a cousin in the NVA. Through networks upon networks, more often than not, we and the enemy received our orders, and sometimes their orders, at the same time. There were very few secret secrets.

A former VC, now resident in CA, said to me, "It was like pro football, we always knew exactly what play you were going to run, the only question was if we were good enough to stop it!"

[neb52]

This is what I was taught in my History classes, except Rall did find out what it said as he lay dying. DOH!!!!

[jamaksin]

Yes, winter of 1777-78.

[Coleus]

`

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the bump Coleus.

Imagine how history would have changed if the Hessians had acted on the tip.