Filthy Rich + Dirt Poor

The Strangest Tale You've NEVER Read: Weird things happen during wars. One of the strangest tales you've never read is how the richest kid in France teamed up with a teenage slave to help win America's Revolutionary War. (And it's true.) Spies & Lies (+ Tons of Money): Lafayette was nineteen when he arrived at General George Washington's "front door step" (his military tent) and basically said, "Put me in, coach, I'm ready to play." Washington didn't need another soldier with a quick trigger finger. He needed money, and Gilbert Lafayette had inherited tons of it. Washington signed him up. For the final member of his team, Washington wanted someone who was a really good liar (especially when a gun was pointed at him). And he found him: James Armistead, a teenage slave. The Kid Who Fooled Them All: Everyone assumed that James Armistead was a Black boy who couldn't read, write, or add a column of numbers. But the kid fooled them all (and he even spoke French) Pretending to be a runaway slave, Armistead became a servant for the commander of England's forces, Lord Cornwallis. All the while, he risked his life to supply General Washington and Lafayette with details about British strengths, weaknesses, and troop movements. Gilbert Lafayette and James Armistead weren't very good at following rules, but they were terrific at getting results for General Washington. They dodged death, lied when they had to, and lived extraordinary lives. Their motto? "Cur non? " - "Why not? " Author's Website: www.LeeSmyth.com