James Armistead LaFayette

James Armistead Lafayette (born 1748 or 1760 – died 1830 or 1832)was an enslaved Black American who served the Continental Army as a spy during the American Revolutionary War. As an agent of the Marquis de Lafayette Armistead posed as a runaway slave. He was responsible for reporting the activities of Benedict Arnold – after he had defected to the British – and of Lord Cornwallis during the run-up to the Battle of Yorktown. Armistead’s dispatches and reports were critical to understanding the movements of British troops who were blocked from retreat and heavily bombarded by French ships, which had blockaded the Chesapeake Bay. He fed the British false information while disclosing very accurate and detailed accounts to the Americans. On the recommendation of his commander the Marquis de Lafayette, who praised the accuracy and depth of the information he provided, Armistead was granted his freedom in 1786. In gratitude for his loyalty James Armistead took the name Lafayette.https://www.nps.gov/york/learn/historyculture/vicmon.htmThe Joy Trip Project celebrates American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American history.#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminuteOriginal illustration by Nate Taylor This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesedwardmills.substack.com/subscribe