seems, had taken place in the British army, were scarcely to be
paralleled; and it is said, so strongly did the idea of a retreat
prevail, that Chester was fixed on as their rendezvous. I can discover
no other cause for not improving this happy opportunity, than the
extreme haziness of the weather."

Much controversy has arisen among writers as to the cause of failure at
Germantown, but Washington's means of observation were certainly not
inferior to those of any other person whatever, and in the above
extracts the whole matter is clearly explained. He does not refer to
the delay at Chew's house as the cause of failure. Panic struck as the
British were, they would have been defeated, notwithstanding the delay
at that impromptu fortress, if the fog had not occasioned the American
soldiers to believe that the firing on their own side proceeded from
the enemy, and that they were about to be surrounded. Hence the recoil
and retreat. It was apparently a great misfortune, but it was the
destiny of Washington to achieve greatness in spite of severe and
repeated misfortunes.

The same opinion respecting the fog is expressed in the following
extract from a letter from General Sullivan to the President of New
Hampshire: "We brought off all our cannon and all our wounded. Our loss
in the action amounts to less than 700, mostly wounded. We lost some
valuable officers, among whom were the brave General Nash, and my two
aides-de-camp, Majors Sherburne and White, whose singular bravery must
ever do honor to their memories. Our army rendezvoused at Paulen's
Mills, and seems very desirous of another action. The misfortunes of
this day were principally owing to a thick fog which, being rendered
still more so by the smoke of the cannon and musketry, prevented our
troops from discovering the motions of the enemy, or acting in concert