On August 3, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War, African American soldier James Armistead Lafayette played a pivotal role in capturing British General Lord Cornwallis by providing critical intelligence to the Continental Army.

Lafayette was a former enslaved person who became a spy for the Americans. Under the guise of a runaway slave, he infiltrated the British forces, eventually gaining the trust of Cornwallis. He was able to provide vital information that led to the successful Siege of Yorktown, a decisive victory that essentially ended the war in favor of the American colonists.

His contributions were crucial in the lead-up to Cornwallis’s surrender in October 1781, which marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Lafayette was later granted his freedom as a reward for his bravery and service.