“Psychological Warfare in 1776: The Jefferson–Franklin Plan to Cause Hessian Desertions” by Lyman H. Butterfield, published in the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society (Vol. 94, No. 3, June 20, 1950, pp. 233–241), examines the innovative use of psychological operations by the American revolutionary leadership. Butterfield analyzes a plan devised by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin aimed at encouraging desertion among Hessian troops serving with the British army in 1776. Using primary documents from the Library of the American Philosophical Society, the article explores the methods, rationale, and effectiveness of early propaganda campaigns in the context of revolutionary warfare, shedding light on the intersection of diplomacy, intelligence, and psychological strategy in the American Revolution.
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