Bates, Ann, 1748?-

This letter is thought to be written by Major Drummond, the leader of Clinton’s spy network, regarding the loyalist spy, Ann Bates. Bates was a schoolteacher in Philadelphia and joined Clinton’s espionage network sometime in 1778. Because Bates’ husband was a soldier and gun repairman in Sir Henry Clinton’s army, she could identify the weaponry and report on important military information such as the numbers of cannons, men and supplies. Ann Bates disguised herself as a peddler and freely traveled amongst the American soldiers and camp followers, observing the numbers of weapons and men in each camp she visited. Later, when all her supplies had been sold, Bates would return to the British camp and report her findings to Clinton’s men.

Ann Bates had just returned from spying on the American troops in New York where she had been arrested, searched and imprisoned for a day and night and then released. Bates reported to Major Drummond and was sent out again on July 29, 1778 to spy on the American troops. Ann was told to look for a disloyal American soldier, a man named Chambers, to share information. However, Chambers had been killed in battle about three weeks earlier. For three or four days, Bates wandered about the American camp, counting 199 pieces of cannon and 23,000 American men. Bates also tried to gather information on the American troops movement to Rhode Island and erroneously reported back to Clinton on August 6, 1778 (this report can be found at the Library of Congress in the British Intelligence Book) that the American troops had not yet gone to Rhode Island. As soon as Bates returned from this mission, she was sent out again to spy on the American troops. Bates went back to Washington’s headquarters in White Plains, New York and overheard one of Washington’s aides say that boats were being prepared for landing on Long Island and that part of Washington’s troops had already left for Rhode Island. Bates was back in New York to warn Clinton of the American troops movements on August 19, 1778 and her information influenced Clinton’s decision to send more men to defend Rhode Island, forcing the American and French armies to withdraw from Newport on August 31.

Ann Bates (c. 1748 – c. 1801) was a loyalist spy during the American Revolution.[1] Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bates was known for her awareness, her intelligence, and her ability to remain calm under pressure.[2] She was commonly referred to as "Mrs. Barnes" by affiliates in her spy networks. She was known to carry an unknown unique token that would eventually identify her as a British spy. She would go on to become a part of British General Clinton's espionage network, and would help the British combat American forces on several fronts. She reportedly took part in various clandestine spy missions between 1778 and 1780. Bates was most well known for her missions completed at George Washington's base camp in White Plains, New York, and during the Rhode Island campaign or the Battle of Rhode Island. Ann Bates was reportedly born around 1748 in Pennsylvania.[2] Before becoming a spy, she was a schoolteacher in Philadelphia. To supplement her income as a school teacher, she also kept bees, raised sheep, and ran a small store.[2] She was married to Joseph Bates,[3] who was a soldier and artillery repairman for the British Army.[1] Ann Bates used her resourcefulness and wit to eventually become a great spy. Because women were generally understood to be uneducated about wartime strategy and armaments during the Revolution, she was able to go un-noticed in American camps.[3] While in hiding, she disguised herself as a peddler and freely traveled amongst the American soldiers.[4][5][6] She is most well known for her spy expeditions at George Washington's camp in White Plains, New York. Ann Bates was first discovered by a civilian-spy, John Craig, or "Craiggie". On June 29, 1778, Bates left New York City for her first mission after only one day of training.[3] She subsequently traveled to Washington's camp in White Plains, New York under the name "Mrs. Barnes". Because she was familiar with the artillery used during the Revolution, she was able to relay valuable information about the Americans' materials and strategy. In September 1778, when she was on another mission infiltrating Washington’s army, a deserter from the British Twenty-Seventh Regiment recognized her, but she was able to elude capture.[8] She then went on to travel through a series of safe houses that were designed for women spies at the time. She later wrote, "I had the Opportunity of going through their whole Army Remarking at the same time the strength & Situation of each Brigade, & the Number of Cannon with their Situation and Weight of Ball each Cannon was Charged with".[3] During her final mission in White Plains, Ann Bates came across a former British soldier, a defector, who she suspected would report her after seeing her. She had recognized him from an earlier mission, and immediately left the American camp. She fled directly back to New York, and while doing so, cut straight through New Jersey. While traveling throughout that state, Bates stayed in Tory safe houses throughout the state. She wrote of the safe houses, "where I might be accommodated through the Jerseys."[2] The expansive network of Loyalist safe houses throughout mid Atlantic proved to be effective. Many British prisoners were able to escape American camps from Virginia, up the east coast due to the effectiveness of the safe houses.[2]

Bates wanted to get back to British lines as quickly as possible, for fear that her cover would be blown. On Saturday, September 26, 1778, on her way back to New York City, she was discovered at an American headquarters. The American unit had over 5,000 troops, and was under the command of General Charles Scott. General Scott was Washington's Chief of Intelligence, and was on the lookout for British counter-intelligence.[2] Bates was detained and taken to Scott who questioned her. Bates told Scott that she "was a Soldier's wife in the Centre Division & had forgot something about five or six Miles below the Plains."[2] Bates eventually was let go, but she was rattled by the occurrences, and suspicion that she was beginning to garner. After she returned to New York City and delivered information to Major Drummond, Drummond took her to Long Island with him for fear of her running into American forces again. A few days later they returned to Manhattan and Drummond asked her to meet with a friend of Benedict Arnold's within a 47-mile radius of Philadelphia. This displays Benedict Arnold's early involvement with the Tory intelligence network.[2] On March 6, 1781, Ann Bates and her husband sailed for England.[2]

She is remembered as a well-connected, intelligent, and integral spy for the Loyalist army during the American Revolution. Her busy career and the family's economic distress put a strain on her marriage, and Joseph left her soon after they arrived in England. Regardless, Bates took pride in her role after the war was over, and wrote a petition for a pension in 1785. The petition stated, "my timely information as the blessed means of saving the Rhode Island garrison with all the troops and stores who must otherwise have fallen a prey to their enemies".[3] She contacted Major Duncan Drummond to assist her in securing a pension from the British government for her services during the American Revolution.

Major Drummond's personal papers, official government documents, and her memory secured her a pension. Bates' date of death was not recorded, but it is suspected that she died in England.