| Citation |
PG-Y.778.005
14 Feb 1778:21
Boston, January 15. 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 had 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 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."
|