Daigler on Revolutionary War Spies in Newport, 7 May

On Thursday, 7 May, Ken Daigler will speak about the stories from his book Spies, Patriots, and Traitors: American Intelligence During the Revolutionary War with the Newport Historical Society.

Everyone knows the names of Revolutionary War spies like Nathan Hale and Benedict Arnold, but few have closely examined the wider intelligence efforts that enabled the colonies to gain their independence.

A retired C.I.A. officer, Ken Daigler will provide insight into the Revolutionary War from an intelligence professional’s perspective, highlighting the tradecraft of intelligence collection, counterintelligence, and covert actions.

“Focusing on these intelligence activities provides seldom mentioned insights into how and why events happened,” Daigler explains. He will show how many of the principles of the era’s intelligence practice are still relevant today and will reveal roles that Rhode Islanders played in shaping key events during the American Revolution, including spying activities against the British during their occupation of Newport.

In my look at the early chapters of Spies, Patriots, and Traitors set in New England, I didn’t see many new stories, but the analysis of the established events seemed sound and experienced.

This talk will take place at 5:30 P.M. at the Colony House on Washington Square in Newport. General admission costs $5 per person, $1 for Newport Historical Society members and active-duty military personnel. Visit NewportHistory.org to reserve a space.