Patriotism

The overriding theme of George Washington's Secret Six is patriotism. The six people who comprised the Culper spy ring did what they did for a single reason -- love of country and a desire to see their nation gain independence from Britain. The authors note that Benjamin Tallmadge, for example, had little interest in a military career and was teaching school when the "shot heard round the world" took place in Lexington, Massachusetts. That incident, and the subsequent Battle of Concord, rankled Tallmadge and prompted him to join the army, where he rose quickly up the ranks. The young officer so impressed General George Washington that he named Tallmadge as the head of his secret service and mastermind of the espionage operation. His neighbor, Abraham Woodhull, was not an outspoken Patriot when the war broke out, but as his family's only surviving son, he felt that his primary...