James Armistead Lafayette, The Enslaved Spy Who Outsmarted Cornwallis | The Martin Memo | Ep. 59

Episode 4: James Armistead Lafayette – The Enslaved Spy Who Outsmarted Cornwallis He posed as a runaway slave inside Lord Cornwallis’s headquarters, listened to British war plans, fed the enemy false information, and passed critical intelligence straight to the Marquis de Lafayette. His daring espionage helped trap the British army at Yorktown — the decisive victory that won the American Revolution. In Episode 4 of Unsung Patriots, we uncover the remarkable true story of James Armistead Lafayette: an enslaved Virginian who volunteered for one of the most dangerous missions of the war. While still in bondage, he became a double agent, gained the trust of Benedict Arnold and Lord Cornwallis himself, and delivered the intelligence that helped George Washington and French allies seal the final blow. You’ll discover: How James used his position as a servant to eavesdrop on British officers The high-stakes game of feeding disinformation while smuggling real secrets The emotional reunion with the Marquis de Lafayette years later Why his story forces us to confront the contradictions of a nation fighting for liberty while still enslaving others Next time (Final Episode): Deborah Sampson — the woman who disguised herself as a man, fought in elite light infantry units, removed a musket ball from her own leg to protect her secret, and became the only woman to earn a full Revolutionary War pension. Unsung Patriots: Heroes Behind America’s Founding Telling the stories of the overlooked men and women who risked everything for liberty.