James was born on a Virginia plantation which made him the slave of John Armstead, later Col. John Armstead of the Continental Army. He was inherited by his master’s son William in 1779. William allowed him to enlist in the Continental Army. James was a patriot because he had refused to take advantage of Governor Lord Dunmore’s invitation for slaves to escape to British lines and get their freedom. He served under Lafayette who used him as a courier and spy. When Benedict Arnold arrived in Virginia, James pretended to be a runaway slave and joined Arnold’s unit. He was trusted because he acted as a guide on marches through Virginia. What he actually was doing was overhearing British officer conversations and writing reports that he passed on to Lafayette. When Arnold left Virginia, James attached himself to Lord Cornwallis’ army. He continued to gather intelligence and pass it on. He even fed the British false information. He played a key role in the trapping of Cornwallis at Yorktown and delivered information about the British defenses during the siege. After the war, he petitioned Congress for his emancipation, but because he had not carried a gun in the Continental Army technically he did not qualify! It took many years and a letter from Lafayette to get him freed in 1787.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Armistead_Lafayette
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/james-armistead-lafayette
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