Masked Dispatches: Cryptograms and Cryptology in American History, 1775-1900

Chapter 2. "Friend Jimmy's Cyphers": James Lovell and Secret Ciphers during the American Revolution

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When the American Revolution began, American statesmen found themselves caught up in a violent conflict that demanded more than guns and powder. For the first time, the new nation faced the international world of intrigue and spies as it negotiated with sovereign nations. Though familiar with the traditional weapons of war, Americans lacked the experience and sophistication required for secret diplomatic correspondence. European countries, particularly Austria, France, and Great Britain, spent large sums of money to develop cryptographic systems for protecting their foreign correspondence. Moreover, they also organized confidential offices to ...