Brown Bag Lecture: Cloak and Dagger - The Revolution's Secret War

Spying may be the world’s second oldest profession, even recounted in the Old Testament.

By the time of the Revolution England already had a long tradition of the Great Game, its tentacles spread through the British Isles and deep within the European Continent.

But on this side of the Atlantic with 13 separate and competing colonies?

Enter George Washington – first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen….and America’s first spymaster.

As the new Commander-in-Chief George Washington would have to make it up as he went along, through trial and error, sometimes with disastrous results. 

AMC’s TURN told only part of the story. “Cloak and Dagger – The Revolution’s Secret War” will take you beyond the Culper Spy Ring. We’ll see who spied for love, who for greed.

We’ll explore the who, the how, and the successes and failures of America’s first foray into intelligence gathering and the part it played in the ultimate success of the American War for Independence.

Presenter bio:

Eric Chandler is retired from a 30+ year career as an underwriter for a leading land title insurance company. He has been involved in American Revolutionary War Living History since 1974. He has portrayed infantry, light infantry, whale-boat raider, and mounted and dismounted dragoons. He is currently serving his fourth term as a member of the Norwalk Historical Commission, sits on the Norwalk Historical Society Board of Directors as well as the Board of Directors for the recreated Sheldon’s Horse, 2nd Regiment Continental Light Dragoons for which he also serves as lieutenant and adjutant.

His artistic endeavors included writing and recording a non-selling comedy CD, and decades as a musician playing Saxes in area Rock & Roll and Blues bands. To his credit, or shame, he had his likeness used in an issue of MAD Magazine. Eric is enjoying retirement with his wife Catherine, taking classes, giving lectures on historical topics and continuing to live history.