General George Washington, America's First Spymaster
That's right! Washington created the first espionage and reconnaissance unit of the Continental Army and a highly effective spy ring in British occupied New York City that provided critical intelligence to him over a period of four years. US Army Intelligence traces its origins to 1776 when Washington set up Knowlton's Rangers, which became a key supplier of intelligence and also participated in several battles. Patriot martyr Nathan Hale was an officer in the Knowlton Rangers. The unit is considered the predecessor of the Army Rangers, Delta Force and other special forces. His New York City spy ring, named Culper, deeply infiltrated the British military command, including compromising Major Andre and exposing Benedict Arnold. Culper used sophisticated spycraft such as secret codes, moles, women agents and expertly planted false information. Washington's military intelligence bested their British counterparts during the Revolution; a triumph of amateurs over the experienced professionals of a world power.
This JES Satellite event will be held at:
Corry Higher Education Council
221 North Center Street
Corry, Pa 16407
Covid-19 policies will be in effect throughout programming, please review the JES Covid-19 policy here. Patrons will need to show their vaccination cards or proof of a negative test. Face masks will no longer be required for patrons, but are encouraged. All JES Satellite Programming is FREE to all.
George Deutsch, B.S., Executive Director, Emeritus, of the Erie County Historical Society/Hagen History Center is a leader in historical preservation and multiple public history projects. In 2022, he concluded a five-year, $11 Million, building and exhibit construction project for the History Center. He has co-founded several historical organizations related to the Civil War and the War of 1812 in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, including the Flagship Niagara League, which played a central role in reconstructing the U.S. Brig Niagara and creating the Erie Maritime Museum. He has taught history courses at the Chautauqua Institution in New York since 2005 and has lectured on both political and historical topics at Erie’s Jefferson Educational Society since 2010. For 30 years he has given numerous presentations on Civil War history across seven states and Washington, D.C. In 2023, Deutsch finished a three-year term on the Historical Marker Committee for the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office. He continues to serve as a representative for the America250PA Commission. He has been published in numerous journals and also served as a consultant to National Geographic magazine for its Civil War sesquicentennial issue. Deutsch was honored twice by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and received the Local History Award in 2003 from the Erie County Historical Society. He earned a degree in history from Mercyhurst University and was also educated at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He is currently writing a new book on the famous Civil War regiment, the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry from northwestern Pennsylvania.
