The result of the Battle of Long Island gave the British great exultation and correspondingly depressed the Americans.

On the preceding fourth of July they had declared their Independence; they were no longer Colonies but independent States bound together by a common interest.
They felt all the more keenly that in this first battle after their Independence they should be so ignominiously defeated.

They might have taken much comfort in the thought that had Howe surprised them on their midnight retreat across the river, he might have captured most of the American army and probably have ended the war.

Washington's disaster sprang not from his incompetence, but from his inadequate resources.

The British outnumbered him more than two to one and they had control of the water; an advantage which he could not offset.