eason to suppose that the men suffered very
heavily. The loss among the Delawares was nearly all in
prisoners. Lutz had six officers taken, but none killed or
wounded; Hay lost one officer, either killed or prisoner. In
Kachlein's detachment it is certain that the
lieutenant-colonel, major, adjutant, three captains, and
three lieutenants were not killed, which leaves little room
for casualties in a party of not over four or five
companies. So of all the other regiments engaged, they
suffered but slightly in killed or wounded.

Howe's list of prisoners was undoubtedly swelled by captures
among the Long Island militia and citizen Whigs after the
battle. He includes General Woodhull and two lieutenants,
for instance, who were not taken at the battle but on the
day following, and who, as Washington says, were "never
arranged" in his army.

The reports of the slaughter and massacre of our troops
current in the enemy's camp at the time were greatly
exaggerated. Some of our men were probably cut down most
wantonly in the pursuit through the woods, both by British
and Hessians, but the number was small. It is a noticeable
and significant fact that the American accounts make no
mention of any such wholesale cruelty, and certainly our
soldiers would have been the first to call attention to it.
That word "massacre" should have no place in any accurate
description of the battle.

CHAPTER V.

THE RETREAT TO NEW YORK.

The situation at the Brooklyn lines was relieved on the 29th by the
famous retreat of our army to New York. If Howe had surprised us by an
unexpected manoeuvre on the 27th, Washington was now to surprise the
British with a different manoeuvre, conducted with greater skill. "A
fine retreat," says Jomini, "should meet with a reward equal to that
given for a great victory." History assigns such a reward to
Washington at Long Island.

This success--the extrication of the army from what was soon felt to
be a dangerous position--was not to be achieved without a previous two
days' experience of great hardship, trial, and despondency on the part
of the troops; and unceasing anxiety and watchfulness on the part of
the commander-in-chief. The night of the 27th had closed cheerlessly
on the devoted Americans. The hills had been wrested from them; many
of their best officers and soldiers we