James Armistead [Lafayette] was an
African American spy during the American Revolution.
Born in Virgina 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 stationed to serve under the Marquis de Lafayette, the
commander of French forces allied with the
American Continental Army. Lafayette employed Armistead as a spy.
While working for Lafayette he successfully infiltrated British General Charles
Cornwallis's headquarters posing as a runaway slave hired by the British to spy
on the Americans.
While pretending to be a British spy, Armistead gained the confidence of General Benedict Arnold and General Cornwallis. Arnold was so convinced of Armistead's pose 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 return to General Cornwallis's camp.
Additional information is available here.
While pretending to be a British spy, Armistead gained the confidence of General Benedict Arnold and General Cornwallis. Arnold was so convinced of Armistead's pose 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 return to General Cornwallis's camp.
Additional information is available here.
Source: BlackPast.org
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