Spying for his Freedom — James Armistead “Lafayette”

---

James Armistead was an enslaved African American who served the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War under the Marquis de Lafayette.  Acting as a double agent, he reported the activities of Benedict Arnold after he had defected to the British, and of Lord Charles Cornwallis during the run-up to the siege of Yorktown. He fed the British false information while disclosing very accurate and detailed accounts to the Americans.

Although Virginia enacted a manumission act in 1782 allowing for the freedom of any slave who had fought in the Revolutionary War, James Armistead remained the property of William Armistead who had sent James to serve in his place.  It was common for men who were conscripted to either hire others to take their place or to send their slaves instead.  James willingly agreed with the promise of freedom which was offered to slaves who joined the Continental Army.  Unfortunately, Virginia freed only slaves who had been issued firearms and since James had served as a spy, not a soldier, he was denied his manumission.  Both William Armistead, now a member of the House of Delegates, and General Lafayette argued to the Virginia Governor that James’ service was more perilous and vital that that of any common soldier.  On January 9, 1787, Virginia’s governor, Edmund Randolph, signed James’s petition, which both houses of the assembly had passed.  James added “Lafayette” (or “Fayette”) as his surname to honor the French general.

Want to have the
Regimental Brewmeister
at your site or event?

You can hire me.

https://colonialbrewer.com/yes-you-can-hire-me-for-your-event-or-site/