Patriot’s Story – Daniel Bissell, Spy

The Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution celebrates America 250! In anticipation of the July 4, 2026, 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the 13 Colonies the DAR wishes to remind people of three of the Connecticut brave young men who were awarded the first military medal for non-commissioned officers.

General George Washington created the Badge for Military Merit on 7 Aug 1782, later known as The Purple Heart. These “Honorary Badges of distinction are to be conferred on the veteran Non- commissioned officers and soldiers of the army, who have served more than three years with bravery, fidelity and good conduct…” The badge was to be presented to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action”. Washington wanted to recognize enlisted soldiers with this award because the usual practice was to present military awards to ranking officers. George Washington changed this idea because he believed the "road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is…open to all."

Washington’s “Purple Heart" was awarded to only three known soldiers during the Revolutionary War and all three were from Connecticut: Sergeant Elijah Churchill of Newington, Sergeant William Brown of Stamford, and Sergeant Daniel Bissell of Windsor.

This story will highlight Sergeant Daniel Bissell, who was presented with the Badge of Military Merit for spying behind enemy lines for a year. He was chosen because he was “an intelligent, faithful and brave man to obtain by personal inspection, information of the strength and position of the British Army in New York…near White Plains….”

Sergeant Daniel Bissell received his Badge of Military Merit on 10 Jun 1783 at the Highlands, NY for spying behind enemy lines.

Daniel Bissell was 22 when he enlisted in Windsor, Hartford Co, CT in the 5th Regiment Continental Line as a Corporal on 1 Apr 1777 in Captain Abner Prior's Co. in Col. Phillip B Bradley's CT Regiment. He was promoted to Sergeant 1 Sep 1777. He transferred to Col. Heman Swift's 2nd Regiment CT Line and served as Sergeant in Captain David Strong’s Company. At the request of General George Washington, Sergeant Bissell enlisted in one of the British Provincial Regiments near New York City as a quartermaster sergeant under the pretext of being a deserter from his regiment. He served in this role until 29 Sep 1782, returning to his own regiment until he was honorably discharged in June 1783. He later said that by being a Quartermaster Sergeant he could observe the enemy without bearing arms against his country.

David Humphreys’1817 deposition for Daniel Bissell’s Revolutionary War Pension application, reported “Daniel Bissell of the Town of Windsor in the State of Connecticut was a Sergeant in the 2nd Reg’t of the Troops…in 1781.” David Humphreys was an aide de camp to the Commander in Chief who wanted to find “an intelligent, faithful and brave man to obtain by personal inspection, information of the strength and position of the British Army in New York…near White Plains….” Col. Hemon Swift recommended Daniel Bissell for “this perilous and important undertaking”. To make the deception of a deserter, David Humphreys said that the Muster Rolls recorded Bissell quit the American Armies on the 14th of August 1781. Daniel Bissell enlisted in one of the Provincial Regiments “in the service of the King of Great Britain and became Quarter-Master’s Sergeant….” He had the opportunity of assessing the force of several of the Corps by the amount of rations delivered at the commissary store. He remained 13 months and returned “to the American Head Quarters, with interesting intelligence”.

General Washington, “having been well satisfied with his whole conduct did give him an honorable discharge from the Army, lest from any future contingency he might fall into the hands of the British and be capitally punished for this patriotic and secret service to his country.” David Humphreys concluded that Daniel Bissell received a certificate and the Badge of Merit.

Daniel Bissell (DAR Ancestor #A010517; Pension number: W23604) was born in Windsor, Hartford Co, CT on 30 Dec 1754 and died in Richmond, Ontario Co, NY on 5 Aug 1824. He married Theoda Hurlbert 30 Dec 1789 at Windsor, CT and they had 9 children. A house fire in July 1813 destroyed his original certificate and all his papers.

The DAR is a women’s service organization dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. Any woman over 18 who can prove lineal descent to an ancestor who served in the American Revolution is a prospective member. For more information on the DAR visit http://www.sarahriggshumphreysDAR.org

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution asks everyone to celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States of America and the Patriots that achieved American Independence. For more information visit https://honoringourpatriots.dar.org/

Sources:

https://www.mountvernon.org/li...

Daniel Bissell Rev War Pension W23604 - MIUSA1775D_134814-00263; David Humphreys affidavit - MIUSA1775D_134814-00296 and 00297. Source Ancestry.com