The American War of Independence that solidified the foundation of the United States is often described by its battles and military heroism. However, the stealthy action of a half-dozen individuals made a difference that has primarily come to light through 21st-century nonfiction works, such as “George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spies Who Saved America,” by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger.
That the patriots furtively outwitted the British, thus assisting in the outcome of the Revolutionary War, is the thesis of this 320-page, 2016 book. The secret and symbiotic relationship between leading soldiers, such as Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge, and ordinary citizens, like blacksmith and farmer Caleb Brewster, resulted in dangerous plots thwarted and strides made behind the scenes. Dubbed the Culper Spy Ring, the spies’ efforts helped enable—as authors made clear through letters and anecdotal information throughout the book—a nation free from British rule.
