Washington himself wrote to Hancock
that he was still uncertain how far the army had suffered.
On Saturday, the 31st, he wrote again, and in this letter
gave an estimate in figures. This was the only report he
made to Congress in the matter, except indirectly. "Nor have
I," he writes, "been yet able to obtain an exact account of
our loss; we suppose it from seven hundred to a thousand
killed and taken." In subsequent public and private letters
to his brother, to Governor Trumbull, General Schuyler, and
the Massachusetts Assembly, Washington did not vary these
figures materially (except to make the estimate closer,
about 800), and they stand, therefore, as his official
return of the casualties of that day.

Sir William Howe's report, on the other hand, presented
altogether a different showing. It left no room for doubt as
to the extent of the British victory. Dated September 3d,
seven days after the affair, it contained all those
particulars of events up to that time which a successful
general is well aware will be received with special
satisfaction by his government. The landing at Gravesend,
the occupation of Flatbush, the skilful march of the
flanking column, the bravery of the troops, and the complete
success of the entire plan of action were mentioned in
order; while a detailed statement and estimate of the losses
on either side, including a tabulated return of prisoners
taken, only fortified the impression that a most damaging
defeat had been served upon the Americans. Against
Washington's estimate of a total of one thousand or less for
his own loss, Howe reported that the enlisted men he
captured alone numbered one thousand and six, and that in
addition he took ninety-one commissioned officers, of whom
three were generals, three colonels, four
lieutenant-colonels, three majors, eighteen captains,
forty-three lieutenants, eleven ensigns, one adjutant, three
surgeons, and two volunteers; and he "computed" that in
killed, wounded, and drowned, the Americans lost two
thousand two hundred more. On the part of the British, Howe
reported five officers and fifty-six men killed, twelve
officers and two hundred and fifty-five men wounded, and one
officer and thirty men prisoners and missing. The Hessians
lost two men killed