The commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army, General George Washington, took charge of the American forces gathered outside of Boston in the days following the battle of Bunker’s Hill. Over the next few weeks, a combination of colonial spies in Boston and deserting British soldiers gave Washington fairly accurate information about enemy losses. While the reports overestimated the number of British troops present that day— the true number was around 2,600 rather than 7,533 as Washington was first led to believe— the scale of British losses (more than 1,000) proved to be on the mark.
"“By very authentick Intelligence lately received out of Boston (from a Person who saw the returns) the number of Regulars (including I presume the Marines) the Morning of the action on Bunkers Hill amounted to 7533 Men- their killed & wounded on that on amounted to 1043, whereof 92 were Officers, out loss was 138 killed— 36 Missing & 276 Wounded. The Enemy are sickly, and scarce of French provisions— Beef, is chiefly got by Slaughtering their Milch Cows Boston, sells from one Shilling to 18d. Sterg pr lb.; & that it may not get cheaper, or more plenty, I have drove all the Stock within a considerable distance of this place, back in the Country, out of the Way of the Men of War Boats; In short I have, & shall continue to do, every thing in my power to distress them.”"
George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 27 July 1775
