In the late summer of 1781, General George Washington finally
saw an opportunity to take New York City away from the British.
Virtually from the beginning of the War for Independence six
years earlier, the British had held this key city, and Washington had
long desired to take it into American hands. Washington laid siege to
the town all summer. With the expected arrival of Admiral de Grasse
and ships of the French fleet along with an additional 3,000 French
soldiers, he believed he finally had his chance. But on August 14, he
changed his mind and turned his eye to Yorktown, Virginia.
Washington received intelligence, gained partially through the
decryption of captured British messages, that gave him the assurance
he needed to complete his move on Yorktown.
Communication plays an important role in both a country’s
diplomacy and its wars. Keeping those communications secret and
understanding the adversary’s communications
saw an opportunity to take New York City away from the British.
Virtually from the beginning of the War for Independence six
years earlier, the British had held this key city, and Washington had
long desired to take it into American hands. Washington laid siege to
the town all summer. With the expected arrival of Admiral de Grasse
and ships of the French fleet along with an additional 3,000 French
soldiers, he believed he finally had his chance. But on August 14, he
changed his mind and turned his eye to Yorktown, Virginia.
Washington received intelligence, gained partially through the
decryption of captured British messages, that gave him the assurance
he needed to complete his move on Yorktown.
Communication plays an important role in both a country’s
diplomacy and its wars. Keeping those communications secret and
understanding the adversary’s communications
