| Citation |
PGCJ.776.005
24 Feb 1776:22,23 (634)
Philadelphia, Feb. 7. Extract of a letter from Cambridge,
January 28.
Last Thursday Capt. Manly took two store ships, loaded with
provisions, potatoes, coal, &c. which he carried into
Plymouth, notwithstanding he was attacked by a cutter, which
he could have taken had he not been afraid of losing his
prizes. . .when about 200 of our people (Col. Misslin in the
number) were performing the business, the regulars were
acting a play, called the Busy Body; that being finished,
the scenes were hoisted to perform a farce (wrote by the
officers) called the Blockade of Boston, General Washington,
with a large wig and a long rusty sword, had just appeared
on the stage, together with his orderly serjeant, who had a
rusty gun of seven feet long on his shoulder; at that
instant one of the regular serjeants came running (almost
out of breath) on the stage, on which he threw his bayonet,
and hallowed out, Boston is on fire and attacked in 50
places; those who were unacquainted with the farce, thought
this part of it; but General Howe cried out, officers to
your alarm posts, which changed the act to shrieking,
crying, fainting, &c. and indeed the troops on Bunker's Hill
were not much less frighted than they were in Boston . . .
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