| Citation |
BG.774.058
3 Oct 1774:12,13 (1016)
[Letter to editor from shopkeeper Enoch Brown, Sept. 24 re.
an incident in Cambridge:]
On the evening of the day on which a large number of
people assembled at Cambridge, being at supper, some of my
people came in and inform'd me that a party of soldiers had
gone towards Roxbury, I went immediately out into the
street, when I heard a drum and fife playing in Roxbury, at
the same time observing two officers near my house, I went
up to them, and address'd them as follows.--Gentlemen, I
suppose you have sent the soldiers to Roxbury, in
consequence of hearing a fife and drum, yes, answered they;
I then assured them there were only two lads who were
practising to improve; no, no, the are beating a challenge,
by God! said one--I assured them they were only boys, who I
imagin'd had no such design, or any intention to affront the
gentlemen of the army--ay, ay, that's a stale story says
one, boys, ha! there has been a riot in the country to day,
they were boys too were they ? No, answered I--they were
men, and behaved like men, of which you would have been
convinced had you been present as I was--why did they not
come to Boston, he ask'd ? They expected you at Cambridge I
relied, oh! they did! did they ? and you was there with them
was you ? very well.--we shall acquaint the general of this,
and further said they would go back immediately and send
over a stronger party.--Well, gentlemen, said I, if you are
determined to acquaint the general, you may want my name,
which is Brown, and I live on the Neck; soon after this, the
stronger party came over, and by this time the other party
had returned from Roxbury with the boy's fife. . . [1/2 col.
more]
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