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By D. Michael Ryan, the Concord Minute Men Historian, an 18th Century volunteer history interpreter with the National Park Service and Associate Dean of Students at Boston College
Concord a Military Center and Espionage Target At Concord, the spies asked directions to Tory Daniel Bliss's house from a woman who accommodated them but later received threats to her welfare. Bliss -- his sister married to patriot minister Rev. Emerson -- hosted the visitors to dinner and detailed information on all supplies and weapons and where such could be found. Receiving threats to his life, he accepted the spies' escort to the safety of Boston never to return. Rev. Emerson remarked, "Verily our enemies are of our own households." DeBerniere's report would note 14 cannon; 2 mortars; magazine of powder, cartridges and lead; flour, fish, salt and rice. It also detailed roads, houses, a river and two bridges.
Other unknown agents provided reports to Gage on the sessions of Congress in Concord. For example on 30 March: an alarm system and criteria for assembling the militia, regulations for an army, need for secrecy; 3 April: response to the 30 March movement of British troops in/out of Boston, plans to oppose future movements; 9 April: raising of an army of observation, decision to do so before British troops begin movements; 15 April: plans for a New England army of 18,000 men (8,000 Massachusetts). One informer noted that cannon and munitions boxes were hidden in the woods between "the River and Malden Pond". A mysterious "John Hall" (a Concord farmer or merchant?) reported on deserters escaping Boston and items -- including cannon -- hidden at Barrett's farm. Concord Tories regularly passed secrets.
The Spy Who Never Existed? Two final documents helped Gage make his fateful April/Concord decision. A letter explained "last Saturday the 7th [actually 8th] of April P: ____ R: ____ toward evening arrived in Concord, carrying a letter that was to be from Mr. W(arre)n". Revere rode to warn Town leaders that an attack was eminent but the date unknown. He made a similar visit to Hancock and Adams in Lexington on the 16th. On 18 April, Gage received word that military stores were being moved from Concord but large amounts of provisions and several cannon plus powder remained, with numerous materials located over the bridge at Barrett's farm. Congress had adjourned until May avowing each colony's right to tax and govern itself.
General Gage Makes His Move to Concord Regarding the spies, most would enter history unknown and unnoticed. Gen. Washington would uncover Church through his mistress and the doctor would die in a shipwreck on the way to exile. Howe would continue a mystery with no documentation in Gage, British military or colonial records, as would the Concord "Frenchman". Bliss would remove his family to Boston, evacuating to Halifax on 17 March 1776 with Gage. Concord returned to being a quiet, farming community struggling to survive the impact of war. But for several months in early 1775, it was the center for major intrigue, espionage and intelligence gathering by colonials and British military alike. What was discovered and shared would lead to the events of 19 April and the beginnings of the War for Independence.
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Gage and his Chief Intelligence Officer (also brother-in-law), Maj. Stephen Kemble, obtained the services of Dr. Benjamin Church, a member of the Provincial Congress and Committee of Safety. The doctor had an expensive mistress and spying brought ready cash. Thus, while Congress met in Concord (October, 1774; March through April, 1775), sworn to secrecy, Church regularly provided proceeding summaries to Gage.
Among Gage's spy papers were two intriguing letters written in poor French by a person who lived in or near Concord and had an intimate knowledge of the Town and its people and provincial affairs. Dated 9 and 11 March, the messages detailed buildings and the location of weapons and materials including "a large amount of munitions", 4 brass cannon, 10 iron cannon (at Town House), 2 mortars, small arms and various supplies. Storage sites included the homes of Barrett, Hubbard, Jones and Whitney. Rev. Emerson was noted to be "a very bad subject" of the King.
One controversial spy was "John Howe" who allegedly visited Concord on 11 April by order of Gage, claiming to be a Maine gunsmith. He supposedly met Barrett and Buttrick, was shown military stores, left Town to retrieve his equipment but instead reported to Gage. Questions persist as to whether this man was a civilian, in the military or even existed. In 1824, his "journal" documenting this spy story and other tales of April 1775 surfaced and was published. While many unsuspecting historians have assumed authenticity, doubts exist and the writings are more likely embellished plagiarism -- from DeBerniere's spy report, mistakenly left in Boston and published in 1779 -- and a hoax.
With this espionage intelligence and under pressure by Parliament to act against the rebels, Gage drafted his order to Col. Smith to proceed with an expedition, quickly and quietly, to Concord and destroy all stores and equipment uncovered. Based on spy reports and with DeBerniere as a guide, specific homes and locations were targeted for search. However, colonial intelligence resulted in most materials being moved and the alarm being spread mobilizing the militia and minute companies thus essentially hindering the British plan.