The Marquis de Lafayette was a Frenchman who was one of General George Washington’s most trusted Generals. Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette joined the 5,000 French soldiers led by Comte de Rochambeau and proceeded to Yorktown, VA to engage the British army of Cornwallis.

Before the battle of Yorktown, the French soldiers and Geroge Washington’s Continental Army spent some time in Williamsburg, VA planning the battle of Yorktown. The Marquis de Lafayette was staying with the Colonel John Armistead Family in Williamsburg, VA. There he met Armistead’s slave, James Armistead. The Marquis de Lafayette was so impressed with James Armistead that he proposed a plan to turn James Armistead into a spy, who would infiltrate General Charles Cornwallis’ army.

James Armistead accepted the offer and the effort to become a spy for the Continental army and helped to win the war.

Presented by Syl Woolford, recognized by the Delaware National Education Association and the NAACP for his contribution to the preservation of African American history. Mr. Woolford is a member of the Delaware Heritage Commission, the Historical and Cultural Affairs Collections Committee, the Historic Preservation Fund, and the Wilmington University History Committee.