When the fog rose, the last detachment was discovered crossing, but a few ineffectual cannon-shot were the only harassment experienced by the Americans in the course of this rapid and dexterous retirement.

The garrison of Governor's Island was withdrawn at the same time.
The unmolested use of the water, and the nautical skill of the fishermen who composed one of the American regiments, were essential to this escape; for admirable as the movement was in arrangement and execution, no word less strong than escape applies to it.

By it Washington rescued over half his army from sure destruction, and, not improbably, the cause of his people from immediate collapse.

An opportunity thus seized implies necessarily an opportunity lost on the other side.

For that failure both army and navy must bear their share of the blame.