“The Unknown Spy”
Name __________________
The best Christmas present America ever received was given by George
Washington in the winter of 1776. On Christmas day of that year he crossed the
Delaware River and captured Trenton, New Jersey from the British. Up to that day,
those fighting for independence from England seemed to be losing the American
Revolution.
Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence five months before, in
July 1776, the American Army had met only failure. It had been driven out of New
York and chased across New Jersey. Many men had been sick. Many had died. Others
had deserted. Now the army was made up of only a few thousand hungry, ragged diehards.
Lord Cornwallis, commander of the British forces, was sure that hunger and
cold in Washington’s camp would soon end the war. He had confidently started
packing to go back to England.
Then, only seven days later, Washington suddenly ferried his troops across the
Delaware River. They stormed into Trenton at dawn, won America’s first great victory
and changed the whole nature of the war. What happened in those seven days to
change the picture so dramatically?
History books don’t tell us. But the story comes out of hiding in the records of
a colonial family. It is the strange story of John Honeyman, George Washington’s
unknown spy. And his story is largely unknown.
©Mark Aaron
Teachers Pay Teachers
Honeyman himself told the story to only one person during his life: his wife.
Later his grandson wrote down the story. And finally a well-known historian looked
into it and proved it true.
On the icy-cold afternoon of December 22, 1776, John Honeyman walked out
of Trenton, a British-held village. Honeyman was a big Scotch-Irish man. He was
known publicly as a Tory, a supporter of England.
Now, with a coil of rope in one hand and a long whip in another, he appeared
to be hunting cattle for the British Christmas dinner, which was only three days later.
With eyes alert, he moved across the frozen fields until he saw two American soldiers
on horseback in the distance. Then Honeyman shouted and ran into the open chasing
after a nearby cow.
Soon the two American soldiers caught up with him and captured him. They
were delighted to learn Honeyman’s name and that he was serving the British. They
tied him up with his own rope and carried him off to Washington’s headquarters.
The two troopers pushed him into the presence of the Commander-in Chief.
Washington thanked them. Then he gave an order. This spy was to be left alone with
him. The guards outside were to shoot to kill if he tried to escape.
But when the door closed, a smile broke across Washington’s face. Honeyman
straightened up with a grin as he brushed the dirt off his shoulders. This was not the
first time these two had met. More than a year before, Honeyman had offered to serve
George Washington as a spy.
Honeyman had been in the British Army at one time. He had been a
bodyguard for a famous British hero, General James Wolfe. With that background
and his Scottish accent, Honeyman could be accepted by the British and also spy for
Washington. And that is exactly what he wanted to do.
A plan was worked out. Whenever he thought he had important information
for the Americans, Honeyman was to let himself be captured by Washington’s men.
He would pretend to put up a struggle. Afterwards, his escape would be arranged.
Now, at the December 22nd meeting, Honeyman gave Washington a
description of the village of Trenton. He told the General that Colonel Rall,
commander of the British forces in Trenton, thought little of Washington’s soldiers.
He had not put up proper defenses around the city. Rall was busy planning a big
Christmas celebration for the homesick British soldiers!
When Honeyman finished his report, Washington ordered him locked in the
guardhouse. Later that night Honeyman “escaped” by going out an unlocked door at
the back of the building. Back in Trenton, Honeyman was taken to Colonel Rall’s
headquarters. He had good news for the Colonel. The Americans had lost hope. The
men were going to give up and go home.
Rall was very happy. It was now December 23rd and two days before Christmas.
Rall went ahead with his plans for a big Christmas. Two days later he was playing
cards in the home of a Trenton merchant. A Tory farmer from across the river
pounded on the door. The servant wouldn’t let him interrupt the game. So the farmer
wrote a note, warning Rall that Washington’s army was coming.
Rall stuffed the unread note in his pocket and went on with the card game. He
was sound asleep, as were most of his men, when Washington’s troops stormed down
the village streets. The plan had worked.
It was all over in less than an hour. Colonel Rall was killed and more than a
hundred of his men were killed or wounded. Some 200 prisoners were taken. On the
American side only two officers and two enlisted men were wounded. The battle was
won.
So that was the “best Christmas present” that America received in that cold
winter. “There appears to be no doubt,” wrote a well-known historian, “that John
Honeyman’s visit with Washington on that night was the cause of the attack on
Trenton three days afterward.”
John Honeyman became a well-to-do farmer. He lived to be 93. His part in the
American Revolution was not known for a long time. Other heroes, like Nathan Hale,
are much better known. Yet Hale failed in his short mission. Honeyman did not. It
was John Honeyman who had made the first great victory of the American Revolution
possible.
Now, on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River at Washington Crossing
Park, stands a stone memorial fountain. It was dedicated in 1930. A bronze plaque on
it reads: DEDICATED IN MEMORY OF JOHN HONEYMAN WHO SERVED
WASHINGTON AND THE CONTINENTAL ARMY AS A SPY
Exercise A: Circle the letter of the answer choice that best completes the sentence.
1) The writer of this article seems to believe that
A) Nathan Hale should be honored more than John Honeyman.
B) one of our American heroes is not honored as he should be.
C) Honeyman deserves little credit for the victory of Trenton.
2) The main reason John Honeyman served Washington as a spy was that
A) his family had been punished by the British.
B) he had a Scottish accent.
C) he wanted American independence from England.
3) Lord Cornwallis had started packing to go back to England because
A) he was sure hunger and cold in Washington’s camp would soon end the war.
B) he was homesick.
C) Washington had written to him saying he would surrender.
4) John Honeyman deserves honor from Americans because he
A) fooled the British and kept them from capturing him.
B) risked his life to give Washington important information.
C) fought in the French and Indian War.
5) Honeyman shouted as he ran after the cow to
A) make sure he caught her.
B) attract the soldier’s attention.
C) drive the cow away from the soldiers.
6) Colonel Rall stuffed the note into his pocket without reading it because he
A) already knew what it said.
B) was not doing his duty as a leader.
C) thought it was too late to do any good.
7) A well-known historian proved that Honeyman’s story is
A) true.
B) greatly exaggerated.
C) unimportant.
8) From the ending of the article the reader gets the feeling that
A) it never pays to be a spy.
B) honor finally comes to those who deserve it.
C) most people never get what they deserve.
©Mark Aaron
Teachers Pay Teachers
Exercise B: To complete each sentence below, write the word whose meaning is given in
parenthesis. Choose the words from this list of ten words: Tory, patriots, dedicated,
historian, independence, diehards, mission, treason, convincing, close-mouthed.
Two extra words are given and will not be used!
1) In the Revolution, Americans fought for _____________________________ (freedom)
from Britain.
2) Only a few thousand __________________________ (men who refused to give up)
remained in Washington’s army.
3) A good spy must be _______________________. (not talkative)
4) Honeyman was a simple man who carried out an important __________________ .
(task)
5) Honeyman pretended to be a ______________________ (follower of the British).
6) The punishment for _____________________ (betrayal of one’s country) was death.
7) A public fountain was _____________________ (set up and devoted to the memory of) to
Honeyman in 1930.
8) A well-known ______________________ (person who studies the past) has studied the life of
John Honeyman.
Read the following text:
One day not long after the war’s end John Honeyman was sitting on his porch when he saw a
mounted group of American officers come up the road. Behind them was a line of curious neighbors.
They turned into the Honeyman yard. George Washington, serious as always, walked up on to the
porch.
What did George Washington likely say and do in the next part of the article? Explain below.
______________________________________________
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Exercise C: Are spies as necessary to a country’s army as the regular soldiers? Explain your
thoughts below:
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
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