Spy Quiz
In honor of John Negroponte’s selection as the first National Intelligence Director, I’m putting up a quiz to see how much you know about famous intelligence people and events:
1. Nathan Hale is famous for his defiant quote, “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” What unit did Hale belong to, and where was he scouting when he was caught?
A: Nathan Hale belonged to Knowlton’s Rangers (he was the newest and youngest member when Knowlton asked for volunteers). Hale was scouting Long Island when he was caught. Having no assistants, tools, or previous scouting experience, Hale was unable to evade the British troops or provide a cover story to escape hanging. Tip to ChuckR for getting the second part right, and to Beto Ochoa for getting the unit right.
2. George Washington’s raid on Trenton, New Jersey (the famous ‘Washington Crossing the Delaware’) was prompted by information received from what American agent? Here’s a hint; after telling Washington the troop strength and disorganization of the Hessian troops, this man made his way back across the partially frozen Delaware River to report to Colonel Johann Rhall that he had been spying on the rebels, and promised Rhall that the Colonials were far too disorganized and demoralized to mount any sort of attack.
A: John Honeyman, a Jersey cattle trader and butcher. Another point about Honeyman, is he almost did his job too well. After the Revolutionary War, a crowd of townspeople wanted Honeyman run out of the county as a Tory supporter. It took a letter from Washington himself, to save Honeyman’s house and property, ossibly even his life. Tip to Beto Ochoa for the correct answer.
3. Codebreaker Herbert Yardley created a team of cryptologists in the 1920s, who broke almost every known existing diplomatic code in the world at the time. His work was ended, when a high government official stepped in, not only preventing research into codebreaking, but who personally fired every member of Yardley’s team. What was the nickname of Yardley’s team, and who was this high government official?
A: Yardley’s group was called The Black Room, then later The Black Chamber.
Secretary of State Henry Stimson made the now-infamous statement. Tip to Chuckr and Another Thought for getting the name, extra credit to Chuckr for getting the SecState right, as well as the WW2 addendum.
4. In July 1861, desperate for information about the logistical and overall strength of Confederate forces, President Lincoln met with a man who agreed to travel through the South gathering information for the Union forces. Arrested several times by the Confederates over a four-year period, this man was never convicted, and found ingenious ways to get information back to the North – including sending information with Union POWs being exchanged. Who was this man, and why was he able to travel without great suspicion? Here’s a hint: He was never paid for his services, and after his death in 1868, his family sued the Federal government in a case which was eventually decided by the Supreme Court.
A: William Alvin Lloyd was the reluctant spy. He turned down Lincoln three times before finally agreeing. Lloyd was already famous for a published series of railroad and steamboat guides. Tip to Dea & Michael for getting the name, nobody noted his famous profession, however.
5. Who was the author of the classic work, ‘The Military Policy of the United States’? This work not only established consistent policies for the U.S. Military for the first time, but also included foundational principles for a profesional Military Intelligence agency. Here’s a hint: This man was a Major General when the Civil War ended, at age 26. He had been wounded in combat three times, and was sent to West Point as an instructor for fear he would be killed in battle.
A: Emory Upton. His book was published by the War Department in 1904. Tip to Beto Ochoa for the correct answer.
Note: The answers were provided in the update.
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