Hero of the American Revolution

Like all great spy stories, this one is full of mystery. 

Here’s what we know. On a spring day in 1781, a young man named James did just about the most dangerous thing a person can do in a time of war: He crossed into enemy territory. It was six years into the American Revolution. A powerful British army was marching through Virginia, trying to crush the American troops once and for all. 

James raced across miles of fields and forests. He scrambled over rocks and fallen trees. Finally, he found what he was searching for—the canvas tents and smoking campfires of a British army camp. James, who carried no weapon, must have felt a stab of terror. The safe thing to do would have been to turn around. 

But he was not there to play it safe.

James walked boldly into the camp. When British soldiers stopped him, he had his story ready: James told them he’d been born into slavery nearby. He’d just escaped and wanted to join the British side. He’d grown up in this part of Virginia. He could show the British secret paths through the woods. British generals needed this sort of intelligence, so they welcomed James into their camp.

It was a decision they would come to regret.

Like all great spy stories, this one is full of mystery. 

Here’s what we know. On a spring day in 1781, a young man named James did something very dangerous: He went into enemy territory. This was six years into the American Revolution. A powerful British army was marching through Virginia. It was trying to crush the American army once and for all. 

James raced across fields and forests. He climbed over rocks and fallen trees. Finally, he found what he was looking for—a British army camp. James carried no weapon. Still, he walked boldly into the camp.

When British soldiers stopped him, he had his story ready. James said he’d been born into slavery nearby. He’d just escaped and wanted to join the British side. He’d grown up in this part of Virginia. He could show the British secret paths through the woods. British generals needed this sort of intelligence. So they let James into their camp.

It was a decision they would soon regret.

The story James told the British was partly true. Like many thousands of Black people at the time, James was indeed born into slavery—in Virginia in 1748. At the time, Virginia was one of 13 American Colonies ruled by Great Britain.

James was forced to work as a personal assistant to William Armistead, the person who enslaved him. As a young man, he married a woman named Sylvia, who was also enslaved, and they had at least one child together.

James was in his late 20s when the American Revolution began, in 1775. The following year, the 13 Colonies declared independence from Great Britain. Thousands of Americans joined the Continental Army, which was led by George Washington. They wanted to help fight for what would become a new nation—the United States of America. 

But by 1781, six long years into the war, the Americans were close to losing.

Washington had a small army camped outside New York City. He badly wanted to recapture the city from the British, but his army was too small. Meanwhile, General Charles Cornwallis was leading 7,000 British soldiers into Virginia.

It was a low point for American hopes. Washington knew his forces were not strong enough to defeat the British with direct attacks. 

But perhaps the British could be outsmarted instead. 

The story James told the British was partly true. Like many thousands of Black people at the time, James was born into slavery. He was born in Virginia in 1748. At the time, Virginia was one of 13 American Colonies ruled by Great Britain.

James was forced to work as an assistant to William Armistead, the person who enslaved him. As a young man, he married a woman named Sylvia. She was also enslaved. They had at least one child together.

James was in his late 20s when the American Revolution began, in 1775. The next year, the 13 Colonies claimed independence from Great Britain. Thousands of Americans joined the Continental Army. It was led by George Washington. They wanted to help fight for what could be a new nation—the United States of America. 

But by 1781, six years into the war, the Americans were close to losing.

Washington had a small army outside New York City. He wanted to take the city back from the British. But his army was too small. Meanwhile, General Charles Cornwallis was leading 7,000 British soldiers into Virginia.

It was a low point for the Continental Army. Washington knew his forces were not strong enough to beat the British with direct attacks. 

But perhaps the British could be tricked instead.

It was at this moment that James sprang into action. After the war started, Armistead helped manage supplies for the Continental Army. James likely helped with the work. That’s probably how, in the spring of 1781, James had the chance to meet with one of Washington’s top generals: a man from France called Marquis de Lafayette. 

Lafayette was trying to defend Virginia from the British, but he had far fewer men than General Cornwallis. He was desperate to know where Cornwallis planned to strike next.

With Armistead’s permission, James offered to find out. 

Why would James volunteer to spy for the Americans? Why take such a dangerous risk for a country that forced him to live in slavery? Nobody knows for sure, but experts like Stephen Seals have some ideas.  Seals plays the role of James at Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum in Virginia. He has spent years researching James’s life.

It’s likely that James was thinking of both freedom and family when he volunteered to spy, Seals says. James probably hoped that if he helped the Americans win the war, he could gain freedom from slavery for himself and his family. That way, he could help ensure that his family would stay together in Virginia, which was their home. Enslaved families could be split apart at any time. Volunteering to spy may have been a way for James to take control of his life.

It was at this moment that James took action. After the war started, Armistead worked with the Continental Army. James likely helped with the work. That’s probably how, in 1781, James met with one of Washington’s top generals: a man from France called Marquis de Lafayette. 

Lafayette was trying to defend Virginia from the British. But he had far fewer men than General Cornwallis. He wanted to know where Cornwallis planned to attack next.

With Armistead’s approval, James offered to find out. 

Why did James offer to spy? Why risk his life for a country that forced him to live in slavery? Nobody knows for sure, but experts like Stephen Seals have ideas. Seals plays the role of James at Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum in Virginia. He has spent years studying James’s life.

It’s likely that James was thinking of both freedom and family when he volunteered to spy, Seals says. James maybe hoped that if he helped the Americans win the war, he could get freedom from slavery for himself and his family. That way, he could help make sure that his family would stay together in their home state of Virginia. Enslaved families could be split up at any time. Volunteering to spy may have been a way for James to take control of his life.

And so James talked his way into the British camp and began gathering information. Before long, he was given a job inside General Cornwallis’s headquarters. This allowed James to listen in on meetings and sneak looks at secret documents. 

But how could he get this priceless information to the Americans? 

The only way was to deliver it himself. 

Risking his life yet again, James slipped out of the British camp. He hurried back across fields, forests, and streams. He found Lafayette and told him what he had learned about the British army’s size and plans. Lafayette then passed this information on to George Washington in New York. 

Meanwhile, James slipped back into the British camp and continued his work for Cornwallis. And in the summer of 1781, the British came to James with an idea. They liked and trusted him. Would he spy on the Americans for Cornwallis?

James would have seen the beauty in this. With both sides now believing he was spying for them, he could move more safely and freely between the camps. He could share British secrets with the Americans, while feeding lies to the British about the Americans’ plans.

James talked his way into the British camp. He began collecting information. Soon, he was given a job at General Cornwallis’s headquarters. James listened in on meetings. He peeked at secret documents. 

But the only way to get the priceless information to the Americans was to bring it himself. 

Risking his life again, James slid out of the British camp. He raced back across fields, forests, and streams. He found Lafayette and told him what he had learned. Lafayette then gave this information to George Washington in New York. 

Meanwhile, James slipped back into the British camp and continued his work for Cornwallis. And in the summer of 1781, the British came to James with an idea. They liked and trusted him. They asked him to spy on the Americans for Cornwallis.

Now, both sides believed he was spying for them. He could share British secrets with the Americans. And he could lie to the British about the Americans’ plans.

That summer, James picked up a huge piece of news—something that could determine the outcome of the entire war. General Cornwallis was about to move his entire force to Yorktown, Virginia, near the mouth of the York River.

The information was passed from James to Lafayette and then on to Washington. This happened just as France was sending ships to help the Americans. 

Washington saw an opportunity: What if his army could surround Yorktown by land while the French navy’s ships blocked an escape by sea? Cornwallis’s entire army would be trapped at Yorktown.

Could the Americans finally win their fight for independence? 

That summer, James heard a huge piece of news. It could decide the result of the entire war. General Cornwallis was about to move all his soldiers to Yorktown, Virginia.

The news was passed from James to Lafayette and then to Washington. At the same time, France was sending ships to help the Americans. 

Washington made a plan: His army would surround Yorktown by land. The French ships would block any escape by river or sea. Cornwallis’s whole army would be trapped at Yorktown.

Could the Americans win their freedom?

Maybe.

The plan would work only if the British didn’t see the danger coming. So Washington devised a way to keep his army’s movements a surprise: He ordered his men in New York to build bread ovens. 

The goal was not to bake bread. It was to trick the British. 

If the British saw American soldiers building more ovens, they’d assume Washington planned to stay in New York for a while. But in fact, after the ovens were built, Washington raced his army to Virginia. 

The plan worked. In September, the French and American forces surrounded the British. Day after day, Washington hit them with cannon fire. Cornwallis soon saw that there was no hope of fighting his way out of this trap. 

Finally, on October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered. This was a major turning point in the war. It led to the Americans winning their independence. 

When Cornwallis met with American generals after the surrender, who did he see in the American camp? None other than his trusted spy—James!

“Ah, you rogue,” a British soldier heard Cornwallis say. “Then you have been playing me a trick all this time.

Maybe.

The plan would work only if the British didn’t know about it. So Washington devised a smart plan. He had his men in New York build bread ovens. 

The goal was not to bake bread. It was to trick the British. 

If the British saw American soldiers building ovens, they’d think Washington planned to stay in New York for a while. But after the ovens were built, Washington raced his army to Virginia.

The plan worked. In September, the French and American forces surrounded the British. For days, Washington’s men shot at them. Cornwallis soon saw that he couldn’t win the battle. 

Finally, on October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered. This was a turning point in the war. It led to the Americans winning their freedom. 

When Cornwallis met with American generals after the surrender, he was shocked to see his trusted spy—James!

“Ah, you rogue,” a soldier heard Cornwallis say. “Then you have been playing me a trick all this time.

But James himself was not free. When the war ended, he was still enslaved. In 1783, a law was passed in Virginia to give freedom to enslaved men who had fought in the Continental Army. James had served as a spy, however—not a soldier. The law did not apply to him. 

James knew he’d risked just as much as any soldier. He wrote to the Virginia government. Lafayette added a letter of support. 

Finally, in 1787, James was granted his freedom. He bought a farm near where he’d grown up and lived there with his family. In honor of his friend and former commander, he took the last name Fayette. (Some history books refer to James as “James Armistead,” after the man who forced him into slavery, or “James Lafayette,” after Marquis de Lafayette. But recent research suggests that James referred to himself as “James Fayette” once the war was over.)

These two Revolutionary heroes met one last time, nearly 40 years later. In 1824, Lafayette sailed from France to tour the young United States. While giving a speech in Yorktown, Virginia, he spotted James in the audience. Lafayette called out to the American, stepped into the crowd, and the old friends hugged each other. 

James died in 1830 at 81 or 82. (His exact birth date is not known.) But nearly 200 years later, his story is very much alive. 

“James Fayette’s story is an American story,” says Seals, the actor who plays James at Colonial Williamsburg. “It belongs to each and every one of us.” 

James may not be the most famous hero of the American Revolution, but he’s one we should all know and celebrate. 

As Seals says, “American heroes of the Revolution look like all of us.”

But James himself was not free. When the war ended, he was still enslaved. In 1783, a law was passed in Virginia. It gave freedom to enslaved men who had fought in the Continental Army. However, James had served as a spy, not a soldier. The law did not free him. 

James knew he’d risked as much as a soldier. He wrote to the Virginia government. Lafayette added a letter of support. 

Finally, in 1787, James was granted his freedom. He bought a farm. He lived there with his family. In honor of his friend and former commander, he took  the last name Fayette. (Some history books call James “James Armistead,” after the man who forced him into slavery, or “James Lafayette,” after Marquis de Lafayette. But recent research shows that James called himself “James Fayette” after the war.)

These two heroes met one last time. In 1824, Lafayette came from France to visit the United States. While giving a speech in Yorktown, Virginia, he saw James in the crowd. Lafayette called out to the American. The old friends hugged each other. 

James died in 1830. But nearly 200 years later, his story is very much alive. 

“James Fayette’s story is an American story,” says Seals. He’s the actor who plays James at Colonial Williamsburg. “It belongs to each and every one of us.” 

James may not be the most famous hero of the American Revolution. But he’s one we should all know and celebrate. 

As Seals says, “American heroes of the Revolution look like all of us.”