| Citation |
CG-NY.775.008
30 Sep 1775:21,22 (18)
July 29. The account of the late action between the
Americans and the troops of General Gage, is one of the most
evasive and unsatisfactory that was ever yet obtruded on the
public, even through the channel of a ministerial paper;
and yet it is every way worthy of the victory which it
affects to describe. The general sent out "something above
2000 men," of whom, something above half (i.e. 1053) are
either killed or wounded. The General, however, takes care
not to mention how many hours were employed in the
prosecution of this hopeful business, but nevertheless
pretends to tell us that great numbers of the enemy were
destroyed; and seems to have employed his soldiers in
digging up such as were buried in holes, that he might have
the power to ascertain the value of his conquest. With all
the vanity of a military man, he praises the conduct of the
officers under his command; but prudently omits to say
whether any such advantage has been gained, as may be
supposed to make up for the loss of "one Lieutenant-Colonel,
two Majors, seven Captains, nine Lieutenants, fifteen
serjeants, one drummer, one hundred and ninety-one rank and
file, killed, and three Majors, twenty-seven Captains,
thirty-two Lieutenants, eight Ensigns, forty serjeants,
twelve drummers, and seven hundred and six rank and file
wounded," and unfit for service.
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