James Armistead was an African American spy during the American Revolution. He was born in Virginia as a slave to William Armistead in 1760. He volunteered to join the army in 1781 after gaining the consent of his owner. Armistead was to serve under the Marquis de Lafayette, the commander of French forces fighting with the American Continental Army. Lafayette used Armistead as a spy. While working for Lafayette he successfully got into British General Charles Cornwallis's headquarters by pretending to be a runaway slave hired by the British to spy on the Americans.
While pretending to be a British spy, Armistead gained the trust of General Benedict Arnold and General Cornwallis. Arnold was so convinced of Armistead's role as a runaway slave that he used him to guide British troops through local roads. Armistead often traveled between camps, spying on British officers, who spoke openly about their strategies in front of him. Armistead documented this information in written reports, delivered them to other American spies, and then returned to General Cornwallis's camp.
In the summer of 1781, General George Washington sent a message to General Lafayette, telling him to keep his forces strong and to inform him of Cornwallis's equipment, military personnel, and future plans of attack. Lafayette sent several spies to Cornwallis's camp, but none gave any valuable information until he saw Armistead's reports dated July 31, 1781. The information in these reports helped Lafayette trap the British. Later that summer Armistead's reports helped the Americans win the battle at Yorktown, and causing the British to surrender.
After the Revolution, Lafayette praised Armistead for his dedication and important role in the surrender at Yorktown. Armistead returned to William Armistead after the war to continue his life as a slave. He was not allowed to be freed by the Act of 1783 for slave-soldiers (because he was considered a slave-spy). In 1784, Lafayette found Armistead in Virginia and was disappointed to find he was still a slave. Lafayette wrote a letter for Armistead and two years later the Virginia General Assembly emancipated (freed) him from slavery. At this time Armistead made "Lafayette" his last name, in honor of the General.
After receiving his freedom, he moved nine miles south of New Kent County in Virginia, bought forty acres of land and began farming. Armistead married, raised a large family and was paid $40 a year by the Virginia legislature for his services during the American Revolution.
James Armistead Lafayette died in 1832 at the age of 72 in Virginia.
Bibliography
“James Lafayette Armistead.” BlackPast.org. Salo, Jessica Jina. 2009. October 27, 2009. http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/lafayette-james-armistead-1760-1832.
While pretending to be a British spy, Armistead gained the trust of General Benedict Arnold and General Cornwallis. Arnold was so convinced of Armistead's role as a runaway slave that he used him to guide British troops through local roads. Armistead often traveled between camps, spying on British officers, who spoke openly about their strategies in front of him. Armistead documented this information in written reports, delivered them to other American spies, and then returned to General Cornwallis's camp.
In the summer of 1781, General George Washington sent a message to General Lafayette, telling him to keep his forces strong and to inform him of Cornwallis's equipment, military personnel, and future plans of attack. Lafayette sent several spies to Cornwallis's camp, but none gave any valuable information until he saw Armistead's reports dated July 31, 1781. The information in these reports helped Lafayette trap the British. Later that summer Armistead's reports helped the Americans win the battle at Yorktown, and causing the British to surrender.
After the Revolution, Lafayette praised Armistead for his dedication and important role in the surrender at Yorktown. Armistead returned to William Armistead after the war to continue his life as a slave. He was not allowed to be freed by the Act of 1783 for slave-soldiers (because he was considered a slave-spy). In 1784, Lafayette found Armistead in Virginia and was disappointed to find he was still a slave. Lafayette wrote a letter for Armistead and two years later the Virginia General Assembly emancipated (freed) him from slavery. At this time Armistead made "Lafayette" his last name, in honor of the General.
After receiving his freedom, he moved nine miles south of New Kent County in Virginia, bought forty acres of land and began farming. Armistead married, raised a large family and was paid $40 a year by the Virginia legislature for his services during the American Revolution.
James Armistead Lafayette died in 1832 at the age of 72 in Virginia.
Bibliography
“James Lafayette Armistead.” BlackPast.org. Salo, Jessica Jina. 2009. October 27, 2009. http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/lafayette-james-armistead-1760-1832.