Methods and Tactics
The spies of the American Revolution used many different techniques to ensure that their message was secretly and safely delivered. Among these techniques were secret codes, invisible ink, intelligence, mask letters, and quill letters.
Secret Codes
Secret codes were used to help disguise the information that needed to be delivered. A lot of times ciphers were used. A cipher is when letters, symbols, or numbers are put in the place of real words. There are different types of ciphers used so that only the writer and receiver understand and can communicate. Other ways that secret codes can be used in sneaky ways is that the writers can pretend to be every day people, such as merchants, and write the letter as if it were part of their normal business, whereas it actually contains secret messages within the message. So, to other people it may look like a normal letter, but it actually communicates other news.
Invisible Ink
Another way to secretly communicate was to use invisible ink. Both the English and British sides used this form of secret writing. Invisible ink is made when you mix ferrous sulfate and water. This way of spying was very effective, but also had to be taken care of. Water or other liquids could smear the ink and ruin the letter. The secret writing was placed between the lines of an innocent letter, in case they were intercepted by the enemy army, and could be discerned by treating the letter with heat by placing the paper over the flame of a candle or by treating it with a chemical reagent such as sodium carbonate. The rebel army commonly used this method to report to George Washington.
Intelligence Letters
These letters were used by both sides of the war and contained information on the military strategies of the opposing side of the war. Spies were the people who usually found this information and returned it to their respectable side. Some of these letters also carried maps or drawings of the enemy's movement which is very useful.
Mask Letters
The British often used a type of secret writing that the Americans either were unsure of or just never used. Mask letters were a type of letter that were meant to be read through a mask, or a grille. These types of letters had to be taken care of because they had to read both with or without the mask. The information was written in the shape of an hourglass. The advantages were that they had the ability to send the letter by one route and mask by the other and had the opportunity to convey false information.
Quill Letters
Quill letters were a way to hide the real message within various everyday objects such as quills, buttons, or small silver balls. Nobody suspected that the letter was hidden within these objects, which made it easier to deliver. Some letters would have to be cut in half in order to fit in a quill, such as one of Sir Henry Clinton's messages.
Secret Codes
Secret codes were used to help disguise the information that needed to be delivered. A lot of times ciphers were used. A cipher is when letters, symbols, or numbers are put in the place of real words. There are different types of ciphers used so that only the writer and receiver understand and can communicate. Other ways that secret codes can be used in sneaky ways is that the writers can pretend to be every day people, such as merchants, and write the letter as if it were part of their normal business, whereas it actually contains secret messages within the message. So, to other people it may look like a normal letter, but it actually communicates other news.
Invisible Ink
Another way to secretly communicate was to use invisible ink. Both the English and British sides used this form of secret writing. Invisible ink is made when you mix ferrous sulfate and water. This way of spying was very effective, but also had to be taken care of. Water or other liquids could smear the ink and ruin the letter. The secret writing was placed between the lines of an innocent letter, in case they were intercepted by the enemy army, and could be discerned by treating the letter with heat by placing the paper over the flame of a candle or by treating it with a chemical reagent such as sodium carbonate. The rebel army commonly used this method to report to George Washington.
Intelligence Letters
These letters were used by both sides of the war and contained information on the military strategies of the opposing side of the war. Spies were the people who usually found this information and returned it to their respectable side. Some of these letters also carried maps or drawings of the enemy's movement which is very useful.
Mask Letters
The British often used a type of secret writing that the Americans either were unsure of or just never used. Mask letters were a type of letter that were meant to be read through a mask, or a grille. These types of letters had to be taken care of because they had to read both with or without the mask. The information was written in the shape of an hourglass. The advantages were that they had the ability to send the letter by one route and mask by the other and had the opportunity to convey false information.
Quill Letters
Quill letters were a way to hide the real message within various everyday objects such as quills, buttons, or small silver balls. Nobody suspected that the letter was hidden within these objects, which made it easier to deliver. Some letters would have to be cut in half in order to fit in a quill, such as one of Sir Henry Clinton's messages.