| Citation |
MG-B(D.778.005
24 Feb 1778:22 (3/148)
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 Hankock'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 yougsters 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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