| Citation |
IC.778.004
15 Jan 1778:31 (10/491)
Boston, January 15, 1778. When Col. Webb, who was lately
taken in his passage to Long-Island, was carried into New-
Port, and brought before the commandant there, for
examination, he had with him a small boy of 8 years of age,
who was a fifer in his regiment. After Gen. Pigot had done
examining the Colonel, he turned to the fifer, and asked
him, "Who he was?" or "Pray who are you, Sir?" The
youngster answered him very pertly, "I am one of King
Hancock's men, Sir." "How came you one of King Hancock's
men," rejoined the General; "because I have listed under
him, and fight for him," answers the Fifer. "Well," says
the General, "I will bring one of King George's boys that
shall soon whip you," "I am content," answers the youngster.
Upon which the General ordered his waiter to call a fifer;
when he came in, the General informed him that he had, for
him to whip, one of King Hancock's men. The two youngsters
having agreed to box it out, at it they went, and the young
American soon made the Briton cry out "he had got enough;"
upon which they were parted, and General Pigot turning to
Col. Webb, told him, "that as he was going home on his
parole, he might take the young fifer with him without any
exchange, as, in his opinion, he had deserved his liberty in
whipping his match in size and age."
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