In today''s world of satellites and electronic spying it is hard to appreciate the difficulties involved two centuries ago in collecting and disseminating
secret intelligence in a time of war. This book provides a close-up look at the ingenious methods used to obtain and analyze secret material and deliver it to operational forces at sea during the age of fighting sail. It brings together information from a variety of sources to present a concise analysis of the use and development of intelligence, focusing on the British experience from 1793 to 1815, but it also covers French and American activity. In addition the book examines how commanders used the information to develop strategy and tactics and win--or sometime lose--naval battles.