COOL DUDES I ADMIRE: JAMES ARMISTEAD LAFAYETTE
not much is documented about the birth and death of james armistead lafayette, but the records of him being an absolute american hero are pretty well documented. a VIRGINIA slave during the revolution, armistead became a double agent who passed intel and misinformation to the american and british armies, respectfully. when he joined the american effort, they assigned him orders to infiltrate the british by pretending to be a runaway slave wanting to serve the british crown. due to his vast knowledge of local terrain, he soon became a rather strategic resource whom the british welcomed with open arms.
eventually, the brits directed him to spy on the americans. since his true loyalty remained with the CONTINENTAL effort, he kept delivering false intel about the american army and their plans to take the british by storm. in the meantime, he jumped from british camps where generals would openly discuss battle plans in front of him. he wrote these down in memos, and brought them back to his commander, general marquis de lafayette. these plans served the americans well— because of his efforts, they obtained major insight which led to a successful siege of yorktown which effectively ended the revolution.
although armistead remained the property of william armistead until 1787, a 1784 testimonial as to james’ service under general lafayette excelled a petition to the virginia assembly that would grant him his freedom. william armistead, james’ owner and then-member of the house of delegates fundamentally supported the petition for his freedom. it was at this time that armistead added his surname “lafayette” to honor the general. he continued to live in virginia with his new wife and children, eventually becoming a wealthy farmer who bought slaves to work his land.
according to various accounts, general lafayette returned to the us at the invitation of james monroe in 1824. he took a tour through 24 states, which was met by huge crowds and overwhelming appreciation. he visited washington’s grave at mount vernon, and gave a speech in richmond— while there, he spotted armistead in a crowd, abruptly stopped his carriage, and quickly embraced him— armistead died somewhere between baltimore and virginia between 1830 and 1832.