By Allison Silverman, B.A. in History and Museum Studies, Christopher Newport University (’25), and Sheri Shuck-Hall, PhD, Professor of History, Christopher Newport University
When you think about the Revolutionary War, what historical figures come to mind? Typically, people envision famous Patriots like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Paul Revere. However, these famous Founding Fathers were not the only people who fought in the conflict. One often-overlooked group was enslaved Black men. Enslaved individuals fought on both sides of the war, and many used their military service to seek freedom. Among these individuals were Ned Streater, Harry Washington, William “Billy” Lee, Cesar Tarrant, and James Armistead Lafayette.[1]
Ned Streater: Reserved Resistance and the Quiet Power of Legal Action
Ned Streater fought in the American Revolution on the side of the Patriots. In his early twenties, he was sent to serve in the Nansemond County Militia as a substitute for his enslaver, Willis Streater. He served with the militia during the Battle of Great Bridge in 1775 and again during the Virginia campaign of 1780–1781. From 1780 to 1781, he served under Captain Elvinton Knott in the counties of Nansemond and Norfolk for twelve months before receiving an honorable discharge.
During his service, he fought in the Battle of Great Bridge in Norfolk County (December 9, 1775) and in a skirmish at “Pip Pot Swamp” in Nansemond County. Streater was wounded at Pip Pot Swamp, leaving his leg severely deformed and permanently disabled. After his discharge, he remained enslaved by the Streater family until Willis Streater’s death in 1792. Afterward, he was enslaved by Stephen Graham until Graham’s death in 1810.[2]
Ned Streater sued for his freedom in 1814, leveraging his honorable Revolutionary War service under an Act of Assembly passed in October 1783. This act emancipated enslaved people who had served successfully as substitutes for free persons but had been forced back into bondage after the war. Streater won his case, secured his emancipation, and was awarded $165 in damages. In 1824, he sued for compensation for the years he was unlawfully enslaved after the passage of the 1783 act, winning an additional $105 for the years 1783 to 1792. The court also awarded Streater $210 for his unlawful enslavement from 1792 to 1810. Finally, in 1833, his pension application was approved, granting him $112.55. He passed away just one month later at the age of 78.[3]
Choice, Resistance, and Individual Legacy
Streater was given no choice in his initial military service, as he was forced to take his enslaver’s place. However, he chose exactly how to resist his condition after the war. By leveraging his military record in the courtroom, he successfully fought for his emancipation. He then continued his legal battle to secure financial compensation for the decades of his life stolen by unlawful enslavement. Ultimately, Streater’s legacy is defined by his honorable wartime service and his relentless determination to use the American legal system to secure the freedom and restitution that were rightfully his.
Harry Washington: Resistance on the Run
Harry Washington was purchased by George Washington in 1763 and worked for a time on his Mount Vernon plantation. In 1771, Harry made his first attempt to escape, but he was captured and returned to the plantation within a few weeks.[4]
In late 1775, Lord Dunmore, Virginia’s British colonial governor, issued a proclamation offering freedom to enslaved people belonging to rebellious colonists if they were willing to fight for the Crown. The proclamation stated:
“And I do hereby further declare all indentured Servants, Negroes, or others, (appertaining to Rebels,) free that are able and willing to bear Arms, they joining His Majesty’s Troops as soon as may be…”[5]
Within a month of the proclamation, a Black loyalist regiment known as “Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment” was formed.[6]
In the summer of 1776, Harry escaped from Mount Vernon again, and this time he did not go back. He successfully reached British lines and enlisted in the Ethiopian Regiment to secure his freedom. Not long after, Patriot forces pushed the British out of Virginia. Many members of the Ethiopian Regiment were left behind due to a deadly smallpox outbreak, but Lord Dunmore’s remaining forces, including Harry, evacuated to New York to join the main British army. Following the disbandment of the Ethiopian Regiment, Harry became a corporal in the Black Pioneers, a British military unit dedicated to engineering, building fortifications, and providing vital logistical support.[7]
When the war ended, Harry evacuated to Nova Scotia alongside other British loyalists. Though granted his freedom and a plot of land, he and other Black Loyalists faced severe discrimination and poor conditions from white loyalists. Seeking a better life, Harry and about half of the Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia chose to migrate to Sierra Leone in West Africa to establish a new settlement. Harry flourished there for a time, but when he participated in a rebellion to liberate the inhabitants from the oppressive rule of the British Sierra Leone Company, he was captured and exiled.[8]
Choice, Resistance, and Individual Legacy
Harry Washington chose to flee his enslaver and join the British Army to seize his independence. This choice set him on a historic trajectory where he built fortifications for the Crown, actively opposed the military forces of his former enslaver, George Washington, and helped establish a colony of free Black settlers in Africa. Harry resisted slavery by directly dismantling his own bondage and taking up arms against the society that oppressed him. Though his resistance did not bring about a British victory, it secured his personal emancipation and left a legacy of unyielding resistance in the global fight for human liberty.
William “Billy” Lee: Relationships as Resistance
William “Billy” Lee was purchased by George Washington in 1768 from Mary Ball Lee, the widow of Colonel John Lee. Billy served as George Washington’s valet and personal servant. When Washington assumed command of the Continental Army, Billy accompanied him to the front lines, remaining by his side for nearly the entire war. In addition to his duties as a valet, Billy was entrusted with managing Washington’s important military papers and equipment. This service kept Billy away from Mount Vernon for eight long years.[9]
Following the war, Billy returned to Mount Vernon in 1783 to continue his service. Over time, he became a well-known figure, and visitors to the estate often requested to meet him due to his famous wartime service. Later in life, Billy suffered an unfortunate series of accidents that broke both of his knees, leaving him permanently disabled. Despite these severe injuries, Billy insisted on traveling with Washington to New York for his presidential inauguration. However, the rigorous journey aggravated his condition, forcing him to halt in Philadelphia to recover. Washington eventually had him sent back to Mount Vernon. Though Billy partially recovered and received specialized leg braces that allowed him to walk to a limited degree, he was ultimately unable to keep up with the fast-paced demands of the presidential household and returned permanently to Mount Vernon.[10]
Because of Billy’s long-standing loyalty, George Washington grew deeply appreciative of his service and found it difficult to deny his requests. For instance, when Billy asked if his wife, Margaret Thomas—a free Black woman from Philadelphia—could live with him at Mount Vernon, Washington agreed to arrange her travel despite his personal reservations about her. Washington noted that he could not deny the request since Billy had “lived with me so long and followed my fortunes through the War with fidility.”[11]
This enduring gratitude was officially codified in Washington’s will. While Washington directed that the enslaved people he owned be freed only after the death of his wife, Martha Washington, Billy was the sole exception. He was granted immediate freedom upon George Washington’s death, along with an annual annuity of thirty dollars. Washington wrote:
“…this I give him as a testimony of my sense of his attachment to me, and for his faithful services during the Revolutionary War.”[12]
Billy’s final years were plagued by health problems and severe alcoholism, which he likely used to cope with the chronic pain in his knees. He began to suffer from fits of delirium tremens, and one morning in 1810, a servant sent to assist him during a fit discovered that Billy had passed away.[13]
Choice, Resistance, and Individual Legacy
William “Billy” Lee chose to stay by Washington’s side through the hardships of the war, intentionally forging a close, indispensable relationship with the Commander-in-Chief. This strategic closeness provided him with autonomy, influence, and leverage unavailable to other enslaved people. Billy left a unique legacy of working toward his independence within the narrow margins of his reality, utilizing his proximity to power to secure personal freedom and economic stability.
Commander Cesar Tarrant: Freedom for One, the Separation of a Family
Cesar Tarrant was an enslaved Virginian who fought on the Patriot side during the American Revolution. During the war, the Virginia State Navy frequently employed enslaved maritime laborers as pilot-boat captains, and Cesar became one of their most accomplished commanders. Before the war, his enslaver had trained him as a ship’s pilot, a common practice in the coastal Hampton Roads area. When the conflict began, Cesar entered the naval service and was stationed aboard the state schooner Patriot, engaging British vessels near Hampton. While commanding the Patriot, he famously captured the Fanny, a British brig carrying vital military supplies intended for the British forces occupying Boston.[14]
In 1789, several years after the war ended, the Virginia General Assembly officially purchased Cesar from his enslaver and manumitted him in recognition of his “meritorious services” as a naval pilot.[15] While this was a monumental victory for Cesar, his freedom was bittersweet: his wife and children remained enslaved. Cesar spent the remainder of his life working to purchase his family’s freedom. He successfully bought the freedom of his wife and his daughter, Nancy. Sadly, he passed away before he could secure the funds to free his other daughter, Liddy, and her young son, Sampson.[16]
Choice, Resistance, and Individual Legacy
Cesar Tarrant chose to deploy his exceptional skills as a maritime pilot to advance the Patriot cause, guiding the Patriot to strategic victories and eventually earning his legal freedom. His resistance was defined by his tireless effort to build a secure life for his family. Unfortunately, his story highlights the brutal realities of the post-war era: despite his heroic naval service, the institution of slavery kept his family fractured. Tarrant leaves a legacy of extraordinary bravery at sea, tempered by a poignant reminder of the enduring structural battles enslaved veterans faced to protect those they loved.
James Armistead Lafayette: Reconnaissance, Risk, and Reward
James Armistead was an enslaved man who became one of the most successful spies of the American Revolution. Originally enslaved by William Armistead in New Kent County, James received his enslaver’s permission to enter the service of the Marquis de Lafayette in 1781. As the war entered its final phase in the South, Patriot commanders desperately needed to know whether British General Charles Cornwallis would march north to New York, head south to reinforce British troops in the Carolinas, or fortify a position in Virginia. Operating as a double agent, James risked his life by entering the British camp at Portsmouth under the guise of a runaway slave looking to assist the Crown. Because the British did not suspect him, James moved freely through their camps and gathered critical intelligence. He successfully conveyed detailed information regarding Cornwallis’s movements and eventual fortification of Yorktown to Lafayette, enabling the allied French and American forces to trap the British and win the decisive Battle of Yorktown.[17]
In 1786, James Armistead petitioned the Virginia General Assembly for his freedom. He detailed his extensive service to the Patriot cause, emphasizing that he had gathered essential intelligence “at the peril of his life.”[18] Supported by a strong letter of recommendation written by Lafayette himself, the legislature granted his petition, purchasing him from his enslaver and declaring him a free man. In honor of his commander and friend, James adopted the general’s surname, presenting himself to the world as James Armistead Lafayette.[19]
Choice, Resistance, and Individual Legacy
James Armistead Lafayette chose to undertake a highly dangerous espionage mission that directly altered the course of global history. He brilliantly turned the racial biases of the British military against them, using his status as an enslaved man as the perfect cover to gather intelligence without arousing suspicion. Without his actions, the decisive victory at Yorktown might never have happened. He left a legacy as a master of intelligence operations and a pivotal figure in securing American independence.
Seeking Freedom on Both Sides
Whether by choice or by coercion, enslaved individuals were active participants on both sides of the Revolutionary War. Thousands of individuals accepted Lord Dunmore’s offer to join British lines, while others cast their lot with the Patriots, using their military records to demand their natural rights from post-war legislatures. Regardless of the uniform they wore, these men shared a common objective: navigating a brutal war to escape the institution of slavery.
Collective Legacy
These individuals leave behind a collective legacy of tactical resistance against human bondage. While their political allegiances differed, their true battle was always for personal autonomy and the preservation of their families. Their contributions proved vital to the operational success of both armies, demonstrating that the story of American independence cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the Black veterans who fought for a freedom of their own.
What would you have done if you had been placed in their position? Would you have joined the British or the Patriots? How would you have navigated the narrow paths available to resist slavery?
Their stories remind us that there are many ways to fight against oppression. Though the individuals in this exhibit fought on opposing sides of a geopolitical war, they were ultimately allies in the same human cause: the pursuit of liberty.
Learning More
This exhibit was created in partnership with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways Museum, and the Fort Monroe Authority. We encourage you to explore this history further by visiting these institutions and examining their collections.
About the Author
Allison Silverman graduated with a B.A. in History and minors in Museum Studies and Leadership Studies from Christopher Newport University in 2025. Allison completed this exhibit as a service-learning project in partnership with the Christopher Newport University Public History Center. During her time at CNU, she also completed an internship with the Poquoson Museum, gaining experience in collections care, historical research, and artifact cataloging. She plans to pursue a career in public history.
Notes
[1] Willard M. Wallace, “American Revolution: Conflict Begins in Massachusetts,” Encyclopædia Britannica, April 21, 2025.
[2] Will Graves, “Pension application of Ned Streater S7645,” Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters, 1–3, Historical Text Archive.
[3] Graves, “Pension application of Ned Streater S7645,” 1–3.
[4] Judith L. Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light: African American Patriots in the American Revolution (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2017), 56.
[5] Woody Holton, Black Americans in the Revolutionary Era: A Brief History with Documents (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009), 53–55.
[6] Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light, 54.
[7] Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light, 55–56; Alan Gilbert, Black Patriots and Loyalists: Fighting for Emancipation in the War for Independence (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2012), 37; Simon Schama, Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves, and the American Revolution (New York: HarperCollins, 2006), 9.
[8] Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light, 56; Schama, Rough Crossings, 9.
[9] Mary V. Thompson, “William Lee & Oney Judge: A Look at George Washington & Slavery,” Journal of the American Revolution, June 19, 2014, JAR Archive; Gilbert, Black Patriots and Loyalists, 108.
[10] Thompson, “William Lee & Oney Judge.”
[11] Thompson, “William Lee & Oney Judge.”
[12] Thompson, “William Lee & Oney Judge.”
[13] Thompson, “William Lee & Oney Judge.”
[14] Gilbert, Black Patriots and Loyalists, 170; Kolby Bilal, “Black Pilots, Patriots, and Pirates: African-American Participation in the Virginia State and British Navies during the Revolutionary War in Virginia” (master’s thesis, William & Mary, 2000), 13–14, W&M ScholarWorks.
[15] “An act for the purchase and manumitting negro Caesar,” in Hening’s Statutes at Large, ed. William Waller Hening (Richmond: Samuel Pleasants, 1823), 13:102, VAGenWeb Archive; Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light, 187.
[16] Gilbert, Black Patriots and Loyalists, 170; Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light, 173, 187.
[17] Gilbert, Black Patriots and Loyalists, 169; Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light, 187.
[18] Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light, 187.
[19] Van Buskirk, Standing in Their Own Light, 187; Gilbert, Black Patriots and Loyalists, 169.