282 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN

at 3,300; and the British loss, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, at 367.1

The night (27th) which followed the battle was one of great anxiety to Washington. His fatigued, wounded, and dispirited soldiers were but poorly sheltered against the heavy storm which seemed to be gathering; the enemy was encamped before the lines; the morrow would probably bring a renewal of the conflict. But his energy again triumphed over his fears. The long hours of night—yet all too short for the work in hand—were occupied with efforts to strengthen his position; troops were ordered over from New York, from Fort Washington, and Kingsbridge; nothing was left undone that human effort and foresight could accomplish.

The morning sky of the 28th was lowering and heavy, with masses of vapor which hung like a furneral-pall over sea and land. At four o’clock, and in the midst of a thick-falling mist, Washington visited every part of the works, encouraging his suffering soldiers with

the absence of authorities on which Mr. Bancroft bases his estimate, we must consider it as considerably underrated. The stress which he lays upon this being the “account always given by Washington,” etc., is, in our opinion, of little importance. It was policy on the part of that general, in the peculiarly demoralized and critical condition of his army after its first pitched battle, to give the lowest reasonable estimate of losses sustained.

Dawson (Battles of the U. S., 148), usually accurate, gives the American loss, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, as between 1,100 and 1,200 men, more than a thousand of whom were prisoners. A thousand prisoners would leave only 200 men to be killed and wounded out of the whole 1,200, whereas the Maryland battalion alone lost two hundred and fifty-six men, without taking into account the number killed in other parts of the field.

In consequence of the large and rapid desertion which occurred after the battle; the demoralization of the troops; the absence, as far as we can learn, of any full and accurate reports from regimental and other officers; the capture of the three general officers (Sullivan, Stirling, and Woodhull) who were best fitted, by education and personal knowledge, to furnish reliable reports, etc., we find it impossible to arrive at any very decisive conclusion as to the actual losses of the Americans. Our own examination of the matter Inclines us to accept the British and Hessian estimate as being most nearly correct. As masters of the field they had the best opportunity of knowing the facts, nor can we see that they have been guilty of much exaggeration.

1 Of the British, five officers and fifty-six subaltern officers and privates were killed, twelve officers and two hundred and forty-five subalterns and privates wounded, and one officer and twenty marines taken prisoners. The Hessian loss consisted of two privates killed, three officers (one of whom was Captain Donop) and twenty-three men wounded.