“Nothing appeared but fright, disgrace, and confusion.” Others, like Chaplain Fithian, saw God’s vengeful hand. “We are a sinful nation, O Lord,” he acknowledged. “But is it written in thy book concerning us that we must always fly before our enemies?” Washington had lost another battle, most of another island, and his first city. American casualties in what he called “this disgraceful and dastardly” rout included about 50 killed and, according to a British tally, 371 captured. The prisoners were locked in Dutch and Presbyterian churches converted to jails. Jubilant loyalists sporting red
...more
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
