James Armistead Lafayette

Slave, Spy, Patriot

James Armistead LafayetteI. Early Life A. Born 1760 in Virginia B. Born as a slave to William Armistead

II. Accomplishments A. Joined American Continental Army with consent of master B. Served as a messenger C. Served as spy, reporting British strategies and plans

III. Later Life A. Emancipated in 1786 by General Assembly of Virginia at request of Gen. Lafayette B. Bought and farmed land 9 miles south of New Kent County, Va. C. Married and raised a large family D. Received $60 as financial aid from the General Assembly of Virginia E. Granted $40 a year as a pension F. Died c.1830 in Virginia

The war for American Independence was a long and grueling battle endured by many

men and women. Not the least of these patriots were the slaves who also did their part for their

adopted nation, serving as spies or soldiers. One such slave was James Armistead.

James Armistead was born in late 1760 as a slave to William Armistead, a farmer in

Virginia. In the summer of 1781 at the age of 21, with the permission of his master, he

volunteered to join the American Continental Army and was stationed under General Lafayette,

commander of the French forces allied with the Continental Army. His initial duties were as a

messenger between French units. Soon he was reassigned as a spy in the camp of General

Benedict Arnold, a former general on Washington’s staff turned traitor to the Americans. While

there Armistead posed as a runaway slave who was willing to serve the officers and guide them

on the local roads. What the British never imagined was, while they freely discussed strategy and

battle plans, the young man who faithfully served them was sending detailed daily reports of

their discussions to General Lafayette. He sent the messages through other slaves who would

pass through the camp. Some of the reports contained information that resulted in the near

capture of Arnold by a band of Virginian soldiers. Even though the British never suspected the

guileless young servant, they believed they held his loyalty because they could offer him

freedom from slavery.

When Benedict Arnold was dispatched to the fight in the north, Armistead was

transferred to the camp of General Cornwallis. In Lord Cornwallis’ camp he again posed as a

runaway slave but worked as a waiter in the British headquarters. As a waiter and trusted servant,

Armistead would often serve Lord Cornwallis and his officers and easily overhear their plans. He

continued to send reports as he had in Arnold’s camp; however, Lord Cornwallis was a more

cautious general and the risk of capture was greater. His constant reports of every British

movement allowed Lafayette’s troops to follow Cornwallis undetected. In July 1783,

Cornwallis’ troops moved to the coast near Chesapeake Bay and General Lafayette received

communique from Armistead that they were awaiting a fleet of ships to be taken to a new post.

After that message, Lafayette heard naught from Armistead and the next contact Armistead had

with General Lafayette was in person. Believing he held Armistead’s loyalty, Lord Cornwallis

had commissioned his services as a spy and sent Armistead into Lafayette’s camp after the

British forces had camped at Yorktown.

By October Cornwallis’ troops had surrendered at Yorktown after being cut off at the sea

by the French Navy and on land by French and American troops. After surrendering, Lord

Cornwallis had occasion to visit Lafayette’s camp and spotted a familiar figure standing among

the Colonial ranks. James Armistead, the young man he’d trusted to be his spy, was in fact

already an American spy.

Armistead returned to his master and was again a slave. He was considered a slave-spy

and therefore not eligible for emancipation under the Act of 1783, which freed slave-soldiers. A

year later, in 1784, General Lafayette encountered Armistead in Virginia and was dismayed to

find his old comrade was still a slave. He wrote a certificate of praise for Armistead’s espionage

services during the war to the General Assembly of Virginia and requested his emancipation.

James Armistead was freed two years later after insisting that his master be reimbursed for

losing an able-bodied slave. When he was freed, he adopted the surname “Lafayette” in honor of

his old commander.

As a freeman, James Armistead Lafayette bought a forty acre farm nine miles south of

New Kent County, Virginia. He married and raised a large family. In 1819, when he had grown

old and unable to work, he petitioned the General Assembly of Virginia for financial aid. They

granted him sixty dollars for present relief and a forty dollar yearly pension for his service in the

American Revolution. In 1824, James was once again reunited with his old commander when

General Lafayette visited in Richmond, Va., on his final tour of America. It was during this visit

that Armistead sat for a portrait by John B. Martin. James Armistead Lafayette died c. 1830, one

of the great patriots who fought for America’s freedom.

Portrait by John-Baptiste Paon of James Armistead with his commander, General Lafayette

James Armistead Lafayette as painted by John B. Martin

Bibliography1. Davis, Burke, Black Heroes of the American Revolution, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich,

Publishers, C. 1976

2. Abdul- Jabbar, Kareem, Black Profiles in Courage: A Legacy of African American Achievement, William Morrow and COmpany, INC., C. 1996.

3. Wikipedia.com, “James Armistead,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Armistead

4. Black Past. org, “James Armistead,” http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/lafayette-james-armistead-1760-1832

5. A Beka Books, America Land I Love, “James Armistead,” Pensacola Christian College, C. 2005