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George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War
Now in paperback—the award-winning National Geographic book that presents the untold story of the invisible war behind the American Revolution. A riveting tale of intrigue, spies, counterspies and secret agents, George Washington, Spymaster is a unique and entertaining account of one of the most important chapters in our nation's history. The compelling narrative reveals the surprising role played by the first commander-in-chief, General George Washington in the War of Independence.
Follow the action as 1775 dawns, and Washington finds himself in serious trouble. At war with Britain, the world's most powerful empire, his ragtag army possesses only a few muskets, some cannons, and no money. The Americans' only hope is to wage an invisible war—a war of spies, intelligence networks, and deception.
Enter the shadowy world of double agents, covert operations, codes and ciphers—a world so secret that America's spymaster himself doesn't know the identities of some of his agents. Meet members of the elusive Culper Ring, uncover a "mole" in the Sons of Liberty, and see how invisible ink and even a clothesline are used to send secret messages. You can even use Washington's own secret codebook, published here for the first time. Experience at close quarters the successes and failures of the Americans as they strive to outwit the British. Meet the chief of covert operations, one Benjamin Franklin, and several other surprising players in America's secret war.
Author Thomas B. Allen has sifted through dozens of historical documents and coded letters to uncover the facts about a time shrouded in secrets. Archival art, coupled with lively pen-and-ink sketches by children's illustrator Cheryl Harness, detail all the action and adventure of this momentous tale. Like the highly acclaimed hardback, this little paperback is sure to have a big impact on the imagination of readers everywhere.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
Follow the action as 1775 dawns, and Washington finds himself in serious trouble. At war with Britain, the world's most powerful empire, his ragtag army possesses only a few muskets, some cannons, and no money. The Americans' only hope is to wage an invisible war—a war of spies, intelligence networks, and deception.
Enter the shadowy world of double agents, covert operations, codes and ciphers—a world so secret that America's spymaster himself doesn't know the identities of some of his agents. Meet members of the elusive Culper Ring, uncover a "mole" in the Sons of Liberty, and see how invisible ink and even a clothesline are used to send secret messages. You can even use Washington's own secret codebook, published here for the first time. Experience at close quarters the successes and failures of the Americans as they strive to outwit the British. Meet the chief of covert operations, one Benjamin Franklin, and several other surprising players in America's secret war.
Author Thomas B. Allen has sifted through dozens of historical documents and coded letters to uncover the facts about a time shrouded in secrets. Archival art, coupled with lively pen-and-ink sketches by children's illustrator Cheryl Harness, detail all the action and adventure of this momentous tale. Like the highly acclaimed hardback, this little paperback is sure to have a big impact on the imagination of readers everywhere.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
44 people are currently reading
1323 people want to read
About the author
Thomas B. Allen
68 books25 followersThomas B. Allen's writings range from articles for National Geographic Magazine to books on espionage and military history.
He is the father of Roger MacBride Allen.
He is the father of Roger MacBride Allen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
January 14, 2014
My husband insisted on buying this book at the Mount Vernon bookshop even though it is intended for children. Well, I ended up reading it before he did and found it to be an easy, enjoyable read about spies during the Revolutionary War. This is exactly the kind of book that I enjoyed as a child (I LOVED the Dear America series). This book is full of interesting snippets of history that often get left out from more traditional history narratives. Who doesn't love a story about a woman throwing balls of yarn over a cliff, each with a secret message inside? That's the sort of thing that interests me.
This is a very good book for kids interested in espionage or the revolution. It's also good for adults who don't want to read a heavy tome on the subject.
This is a very good book for kids interested in espionage or the revolution. It's also good for adults who don't want to read a heavy tome on the subject.
November 15, 2025
We think of George Washington as "the Father of our Country," the first U.S. president and the commander of the American Army who won the American Revolution. We should also think of Washington as one of history's great spymasters. He was able to utilize spy rings and double agents to fight a covert war which was crucial in gaining American independence. The man who was said to have never told a lie showed that he was very capable of using deception to mislead the enemy again and again.
For me, the most interesting part of the story was about Benedict Arnold's treason. Arnold was able to get away but Major John Andre the English agent who was his contact was captured. Washington ordered that Andre be hanged. Most fortunately, Arnold's scheme to betray the fort at West Point, which was under his command, was foiled.
There's a great quote at the end. Major George Beckwith, the head of British intelligence operations in America at the end of the war, noted: "Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply outspied us."
For me, the most interesting part of the story was about Benedict Arnold's treason. Arnold was able to get away but Major John Andre the English agent who was his contact was captured. Washington ordered that Andre be hanged. Most fortunately, Arnold's scheme to betray the fort at West Point, which was under his command, was foiled.
There's a great quote at the end. Major George Beckwith, the head of British intelligence operations in America at the end of the war, noted: "Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply outspied us."
January 18, 2013
George Washington was a SPY?!
One simple thought struck me about halfway through this book: this is not the Revolutionary War I learned about when I was a kid. Not even close. I vaguely remember learning about the many problems folks in America had with King George (so many, in fact, that they made a list). There were lessons about the desire for independence, about military strategy, muskets, and a guy riding around on a horse waking people up. Don’t even get me started on the military commanders in white wigs and white pants (!). Interesting stuff, sure. But if you had told me way back then that there were spies in this war, that George Washington was not just a General but a spymaster...well, you know, that is something that would have made me sit up and pay attention.
This is precisely the angle that Thomas Allen explores. Narrowly focused on the role that spies and spycraft played in the Revolutionary War, Allen presents an entertaining and thorough narrative coupled with a substantial amount of archival evidence showing how espionage affected the War’s outcome. He shows examples of actual codes that were used, explains how some of the tools of spycraft (such as invisible ink, masks, etc.) played a role, and, perhaps most interesting of all, reveals the actual codebook that was used by Washington’s ring of spies. In doing so he opens up a fascinating window on the war itself, showing a dimension of the war that is often ignored in American History texts.
This book would be a terrific supplement to classroom lessons on the Revolutionary War and is sure to delight kids (and adults) with an interest the world of spies and spycraft. It just goes to show: not every guy in a white wig and white pants, with a legend about chopping down a cherry tree following him around, is entirely what he seems. Definitely true in the case of George Washington. That guy was cool.
One simple thought struck me about halfway through this book: this is not the Revolutionary War I learned about when I was a kid. Not even close. I vaguely remember learning about the many problems folks in America had with King George (so many, in fact, that they made a list). There were lessons about the desire for independence, about military strategy, muskets, and a guy riding around on a horse waking people up. Don’t even get me started on the military commanders in white wigs and white pants (!). Interesting stuff, sure. But if you had told me way back then that there were spies in this war, that George Washington was not just a General but a spymaster...well, you know, that is something that would have made me sit up and pay attention.
This is precisely the angle that Thomas Allen explores. Narrowly focused on the role that spies and spycraft played in the Revolutionary War, Allen presents an entertaining and thorough narrative coupled with a substantial amount of archival evidence showing how espionage affected the War’s outcome. He shows examples of actual codes that were used, explains how some of the tools of spycraft (such as invisible ink, masks, etc.) played a role, and, perhaps most interesting of all, reveals the actual codebook that was used by Washington’s ring of spies. In doing so he opens up a fascinating window on the war itself, showing a dimension of the war that is often ignored in American History texts.
This book would be a terrific supplement to classroom lessons on the Revolutionary War and is sure to delight kids (and adults) with an interest the world of spies and spycraft. It just goes to show: not every guy in a white wig and white pants, with a legend about chopping down a cherry tree following him around, is entirely what he seems. Definitely true in the case of George Washington. That guy was cool.
April 20, 2024
A short but thorough, interesting, informative book for anyone who has interest in spy or American history. I learned an crazy amount on a era of time of which I thought I was very well acquainted with.
July 4, 2019
Military secrets! Double agents! Undercover missions! Betrayal, intrigue – espionage.
If any of that up there sounded exciting to you, or if you happen to be a fan of the American War for Independence, then George Washington, Spymaster is the book for you!
Most books about the American Revolution focus on the philosophical causes for the war, or the politically charged atmosphere which surrounded its necessity. Some talk about the famous figures who spurred on that war, or the important battles that were fought. Few take on the subject of Washington’s network of spies, and the important part they played in the war. But this book makes the case as Major George Beckwith, head of British intelligence operations during the war, stated, “Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply outspied us!” [pg. 149]
While perhaps a stretch – there is no doubt that Washington was a brilliant General and a good fighter – it is also true that Washington’s network of spies formed a vital part of the war as they not only gathered information from the British, but also fed disinformation to the British. In fact, Cornwallis’ surrender was largely due to the fact that he had been fed disinformation from double agents who convinced him to send his troops to the wrong places and left himself open for attack.
My two favorite parts of George Washington, Spymaster were the chapter concerning Benjamin Franklin’s spying shenanigans in France [which were considerable], and the variety of methods used to convey information from one side to the other. One of my favorite stories was of “Old Mom” Rinker who would conceal a note inside a skein of yarn, sit out to do her knitting by the side of a cliff, then “accidentally” knock the yarn over the edge were it was found by Patriots. :)
Conclusion. Perhaps not the most thorough book, but a really fun one for students of the American War for Independence.
If any of that up there sounded exciting to you, or if you happen to be a fan of the American War for Independence, then George Washington, Spymaster is the book for you!
Most books about the American Revolution focus on the philosophical causes for the war, or the politically charged atmosphere which surrounded its necessity. Some talk about the famous figures who spurred on that war, or the important battles that were fought. Few take on the subject of Washington’s network of spies, and the important part they played in the war. But this book makes the case as Major George Beckwith, head of British intelligence operations during the war, stated, “Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply outspied us!” [pg. 149]
While perhaps a stretch – there is no doubt that Washington was a brilliant General and a good fighter – it is also true that Washington’s network of spies formed a vital part of the war as they not only gathered information from the British, but also fed disinformation to the British. In fact, Cornwallis’ surrender was largely due to the fact that he had been fed disinformation from double agents who convinced him to send his troops to the wrong places and left himself open for attack.
My two favorite parts of George Washington, Spymaster were the chapter concerning Benjamin Franklin’s spying shenanigans in France [which were considerable], and the variety of methods used to convey information from one side to the other. One of my favorite stories was of “Old Mom” Rinker who would conceal a note inside a skein of yarn, sit out to do her knitting by the side of a cliff, then “accidentally” knock the yarn over the edge were it was found by Patriots. :)
Conclusion. Perhaps not the most thorough book, but a really fun one for students of the American War for Independence.
December 31, 2020
Dealt with some facts I didn't know about George Washington. Recommended by a friend who lives in Annapolis and with whom I toured Mount Vernon. Interesting and quick read.
November 11, 2025
i mean… this was an engaging history book. i learned a lot about washington—especially his tactics and role as a spy. though if you’re picking this up hoping for lots of “hamilton” content, you might be disappointed—he was only mentioned once. still, it’s a fascinating read for anyone interested in washington or the revolutionary war 🫡
January 25, 2014
For a man who "couldn't tell a lie," Washington was pretty deceptive.
Also, he didn't tolerate the deception of others very well, as there were a lot of hangings going on.
The book doesn't deal with Washington as much as it does the spies he handled. (I'm using handled there ambiguously - did you catch that? Handled as in "is in charge of" as well as in "dispatched." Not too shabby...)
It was nice reading this after reading The Notorious Benedict Arnold last year and The Inner Circle the year before. If I had to pick between them, I'm going with the one dedicated to Arnold - although all three were good.
The Arnold book and the Washington book were both directed at kids, dealt with spying and treachery, and were non-fiction. All three dealt with the Culper Ring. The Inner Circle is non-fiction and action, aimed at adults.
Last thought: there's been quite the hullabaloo regarding Snowden's releasing secret documents to the press. I found the section on the Hutchinson Papers - which were leaked to the press by Benjamin Franklin - fascinating - especially given our recent history.
I've heard a lot of people say that Snowden should come here to face trial. Maybe. But I wonder if those same people would have argued that Franklin should have gone to England to face trial. ...I know, I know... apples to oranges...
Also, he didn't tolerate the deception of others very well, as there were a lot of hangings going on.
The book doesn't deal with Washington as much as it does the spies he handled. (I'm using handled there ambiguously - did you catch that? Handled as in "is in charge of" as well as in "dispatched." Not too shabby...)
It was nice reading this after reading The Notorious Benedict Arnold last year and The Inner Circle the year before. If I had to pick between them, I'm going with the one dedicated to Arnold - although all three were good.
The Arnold book and the Washington book were both directed at kids, dealt with spying and treachery, and were non-fiction. All three dealt with the Culper Ring. The Inner Circle is non-fiction and action, aimed at adults.
Last thought: there's been quite the hullabaloo regarding Snowden's releasing secret documents to the press. I found the section on the Hutchinson Papers - which were leaked to the press by Benjamin Franklin - fascinating - especially given our recent history.
I've heard a lot of people say that Snowden should come here to face trial. Maybe. But I wonder if those same people would have argued that Franklin should have gone to England to face trial. ...I know, I know... apples to oranges...
December 28, 2018
This was a fun little history book for older elementary school kids. I thought it covered a lot of material and was enjoyable.
December 8, 2025
Don’t remember how I got a hold of this book but have had it for years and decided to finally read it. Lots of fun and interesting tidbits about spying in the revolutionary war but written pretty boringly
February 21, 2018
Jumped around a bit, which made it a little confusing, but a fascinating look at the spy network that Washington ran during the Revolutionary times. But my favorite part was the description of Washington's false teeth.
November 30, 2023
Needs more detail
March 3, 2018
I read this book for research purposes and it brought to light some angles and names I'd not known/considered before, and helped fill in some holes I'd found in other sources. This should be required reading for students learning about the Revolutionary War. Not only is it truthful and engaging, it proves that history is anything but boring!
August 14, 2012
I would not recommend this book for children. This book deals with a LOT of different people, and the author is not good at reminding the reader who these people are when they show up again. The main problem is that the scope of this book is just too big, making the content overwhelmingly detailed and specific. The language itself is appropriate for children between 10 and 12, but no child would ever read this book unless it was assigned because it is confusing, deals with too many people, and does not really focus that closely on the premise of the book, that being what George Washington did as a spymaster. This book dwells a lot on speculation and records actions done by spies outside of Washington’s influence as well as British spies. It also deals with a lot of the surface battles as well to show cause and effect of the spies actions, but as mentioned, it just is not presented in a very engaging manner and is too much to take in. Because of this, though the information presented in this book is unique and informative, it is neither something children would like to read nor something they will enjoy reading, so I would not suggest recommending it to any child, though as an adult, I found it a fascinating read.
November 11, 2007
This book tells the story of the Revolutionary War from the angle of the spies who helped win it. The story of America's first spies lends the history a sense of adventure and an immediacy that's lacking in so many historical books for children, making this an excellent choice for kids who have trouble enjoying history. In addition, the book is well-researched and includes the web addresses where readers can find the original letters and journals online. Finally, readers can get involved with the original Revolutionary War codes, making and breaking them themselves. The book contains George Washington's code key, and several codes are tucked away in the margins of the book. Attentive readers who find these codes can use the code key to crack the messages!
November 7, 2008
My 10 year old son and I read this together before bedtime, and we devoured it over 3 nights! I've studied the Revolutionary War just a bit, but never realized how much espionage and plain old fooling the British Army played a role in our becoming a Nation!
This book touched on Benedict Arnold, so now we've gone and checked out 3 more books on the man whose name has become synonymous with "TRAITOR"! My son wants to know what happened to Arnold. Sounds like it all could make a great movie someday.
This book touched on Benedict Arnold, so now we've gone and checked out 3 more books on the man whose name has become synonymous with "TRAITOR"! My son wants to know what happened to Arnold. Sounds like it all could make a great movie someday.
August 4, 2008
This is a wonderfully designed little book–feels good in your hands, pages have deckled edges, uses a font reminiscent of the time, and the jacket is printed in letterpress. I can see where kids, especially boys, would get caught up in the whole spy thing; there are codes to decipher throughout the whole book. Kudos to National Geographic for making history fun!
January 2, 2016
It's rather like a picture book version of Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring and would be better for younger people. However, the fact that it had codes hidden in the margins, and that it used a Colonial type gave it bonus points.
September 28, 2007
I'm not a big fan of reading history but this book is so cool! It's a different take on the American Revolution by talking about how George Washington was a spy with many undercover agents working on both sides. I wish my American History textbooks were written this way.
June 18, 2010
*Mitten Award Honor Book*
Not only does this book have great information on Washington's network of spies, it also gives sample codes and coded messages throughout. What a fun way to learn about codemaking, history, strategy and more!
Not only does this book have great information on Washington's network of spies, it also gives sample codes and coded messages throughout. What a fun way to learn about codemaking, history, strategy and more!
May 3, 2020
Boring to read. felt like I was reading more of an informative piece than a book. It was interesting to read, but it didn't go into that much detail. But I did like the way you could look at the codes he used in the back of the book. Would be a fun book to read to another person.
April 7, 2009
This little book is so much fun! A very quick read, but original and entertaining!
October 15, 2022
[read for middle school ‘8th grade year’]
February 9, 2023
Sucked ass, had to read in English and it sucked. So boring. Good if your a fan of the revolution but if not then you will not find interesting
June 17, 2018
I bought this book at the International Spy Museum while on vacation in DC. It is totally outside of my usual subject matter but it looked interesting because the title made me think I could actually understand how the Americans outspied the British and won the Revolutionary War.
It took me a long time to comprehend the text because some of it is written in Old English...I believe. The text notes in the back of the book did aid in my understanding.
What helped me also is my natural proclivity to look for the relational parts to tie into humanity...something I look for when reading so that it's not just a book. On that note, some things that stood out was Washington's disappointment in not being able to go off to school due to his father's death. The mention of him wearing dentures - his teeth were bad and thus, all pulled. An occasion when he wept out of anger.
Elaborating a bit on the schooling, one's destiny will seek them out. After all, look at who he became.
Given the purchase was made in DC, while there I visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture where Crispus Attucks was displayed along with his contributions to American history.
Other honorable mentions in the book are:
Ralph Waldo Emerson - he was a boy during the time of the war. His father was a minister, whose house women and children ran into when the British marched into Concord to seize the weapons stored there.
Boston Tea Party - I remember studying about the BTP in high school. It was a protest against taxes led by Sam Adams. Patriots dressed as Indians dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor.
Paul Revere - Also reminiscent of high school. Riding on his horse, he went to warn the Adams brothers that the Redcoats (British) were coming to capture them. There was also a rap song out years ago that mentioned Paul Revere.
Last but not least were ALLLLL the women spies! Old Mom Tinker was one. Sprinkled throughout the book are many women who were quite creative in their spy quests.
It took me a long time to read this book because I was also studying for a big test so there were times when I put it down for weeks on end. After getting used to the style, I read it faster in the end than initially.
I wouldn't characterize it as a fun read unless you have a streak for learning more about history but it does clarify and bring together chronologically all the stuff you may have heard about the war at that time.
It took me a long time to comprehend the text because some of it is written in Old English...I believe. The text notes in the back of the book did aid in my understanding.
What helped me also is my natural proclivity to look for the relational parts to tie into humanity...something I look for when reading so that it's not just a book. On that note, some things that stood out was Washington's disappointment in not being able to go off to school due to his father's death. The mention of him wearing dentures - his teeth were bad and thus, all pulled. An occasion when he wept out of anger.
Elaborating a bit on the schooling, one's destiny will seek them out. After all, look at who he became.
Given the purchase was made in DC, while there I visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture where Crispus Attucks was displayed along with his contributions to American history.
Other honorable mentions in the book are:
Ralph Waldo Emerson - he was a boy during the time of the war. His father was a minister, whose house women and children ran into when the British marched into Concord to seize the weapons stored there.
Boston Tea Party - I remember studying about the BTP in high school. It was a protest against taxes led by Sam Adams. Patriots dressed as Indians dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor.
Paul Revere - Also reminiscent of high school. Riding on his horse, he went to warn the Adams brothers that the Redcoats (British) were coming to capture them. There was also a rap song out years ago that mentioned Paul Revere.
Last but not least were ALLLLL the women spies! Old Mom Tinker was one. Sprinkled throughout the book are many women who were quite creative in their spy quests.
It took me a long time to read this book because I was also studying for a big test so there were times when I put it down for weeks on end. After getting used to the style, I read it faster in the end than initially.
I wouldn't characterize it as a fun read unless you have a streak for learning more about history but it does clarify and bring together chronologically all the stuff you may have heard about the war at that time.
November 2, 2019
There Is Nothing More Necessary Than Good Intelligence To Frustrate A Designing Enemy, & Nothing That Requires Greater Pains To Obtain.
280 am 233 634 625 613 692 fought for us.
Washington Did Not Really Outfight The British, He Simply Outspied Us.
There Is One Evil I Dread, And That Is Their Spies.
TRAVELED TO // Back To The American Revolution Spy Days
MET ALONG THE WAY // George Washington Spymaster & His Spy Ring.
April 1, 2022
This is a thoroughly engaging and fascinating book for young people - however it is just as great for an adult audience. It is said that the reason for the victory of the continental army over the more powerful and better equipped British in the revolutionary War was mainly attributed to Washington being a superb spymaster. This much is backed up in this really cool "guide" to spies and spying in the Revolutionary War. The book's format and layout is unique. It has an "old school" almost classical design and style. There are examples of spies and techniques as well as chapters dedicated to some of the famous (Nathan Hale) and not-so-famous individuals who took part in classical examples of espionage including most notably the Culper Spy Ring which operated not far (NYC) from where I live in Central New Jersey. My favorite chapters involve the intrigue leading up to the Battle of Trenton - won in large part to Washington's expert use of local "loyalist merchant" who served as a key spy for the Americans and tricked both sides! This book is a part of a small series (the other is about Harriet Tubman) that can be found in most libraries - and in some cases in book/gift shops at historic sites. Highly Recommended!
February 26, 2017
I found this to be a quick and interesting read on the use of espionage during the Revolutionary War and George Washington's role in it. It discusses how certain spy technique's came about and includes what they are called today. He also discusses how information, or misinformation, affected battles during the war.
I would suggest reading the text notes included in the back as well, as they give some interesting side bits of information.
While this book is geared toward children 10+ (could be read aloud to younger students learning about the war), I found it interesting as an adult and would recommend it to someone wanting to learn more about early espionage, George Washington, or the Revolutionary War.
I would suggest reading the text notes included in the back as well, as they give some interesting side bits of information.
While this book is geared toward children 10+ (could be read aloud to younger students learning about the war), I found it interesting as an adult and would recommend it to someone wanting to learn more about early espionage, George Washington, or the Revolutionary War.
June 23, 2018
Love this book. Small, clear, concise. Historically appropriate. Used it multiple times from 2009-2013 in my Intelligence and Democracy course I taught at the undergraduate level. Pick it up from time to time when I want to refresh my memory on the history of this issue. The French definitely helped wrap things up at the end, but I will always contend it was Washington's masterful employment of intelligence (including denial and deception) (along with the efforts of Hamilton and Tallmadge) that turned the tide of the war for the American cause. Love the appendices that include spy terms and pictures of the actual code books (that are currently housed at Mount Vernon). Fun book! Would be good for teaching at high school and even middle school level also.
May 24, 2017
George Washington was born February 22,1732.His father died when he was just eleven years old.George Washington was an officer in the Virginia militia.He had been made major in February 1753.He was thrown into swift moving water and saved himself by grabbing on a log and escaped the French and Indian War unharmed.He had resigned from the Virginia militia to join the Continental Army.A few years after George had joined, he was named commander-in-chief.He had named a site Fort Necessity and publication made him famous in London.George later resigned from the army with the honorary rank of Brigadier General.George died December 14,1799.This book is a great read if you want to know more about the first president of the United States and love to read biographies.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews