James Armistead Lafayette

The Spy Who Won Yorktown: James Armistead Lafayette

​The American Revolution is often depicted as a clash of uniformed armies on open battlefields, but its most decisive victory was actually secured through the shadows. At the heart of this clandestine warfare was James Armistead, an enslaved man whose daring espionage turned the tide of history and paved the way for American independence.

​From Enslavement to Secret Intelligence

​Born into bondage around 1748 in Virginia, James Armistead’s life took a dramatic turn in 1781. With the permission of his enslaver, William Armistead, he volunteered to join the Continental Army. However, instead of carrying a musket, he was assigned a far more dangerous task. Under the command of the Marquis de Lafayette, Armistead began operating as a double agent.

​To infiltrate the enemy, Armistead posed as a runaway slave looking for work. His cover was so convincing that he was eventually hired as a laborer and personal servant for British General Charles Cornwallis. This position gave him unprecedented access to the inner workings of the British military command.

​The Double Agent of the Revolution

​While the British believed Armistead was a loyal servant, he was actually a master of psychological warfare. His contributions were twofold:

1. Gathering Intelligence: He meticulously observed British troop movements, supply levels, and strategic plans, reporting everything back to Lafayette.

2. Feeding Misinformation: He successfully planted “leaked” false information to the British, leading Cornwallis to believe the American forces were elsewhere, which kept the British stationary in Yorktown.

​This high stakes deception was the “missing link” that allowed George Washington and the French fleet to trap Cornwallis, leading to the British surrender at Yorktown; the battle that effectively ended the war.

​A Hard-Won Freedom

​Despite his heroic efforts, the end of the war did not bring immediate liberty for Armistead. Because he served as a “spy” rather than a formal “soldier,” he was excluded from the 1783 act that granted freedom to Black veterans. He was forced back into enslavement for several more years.

​His justice finally came in 1784 when the Marquis de Lafayette wrote a glowing testimonial of his “essential services.” With this endorsement, Armistead petitioned the Virginia legislature, finally gaining his manumission in 1787. In a final act of self definition, he adopted the surname Lafayette to honor his commander and friend.

​A Legacy of Courage

​James Armistead Lafayette spent his later years as a farmer in Virginia, eventually receiving a military pension in 1818; a rare acknowledgment for a Black patriot of that era. His story serves as a vital reminder that the foundation of American liberty was built by those to whom liberty was initially denied.