After a day of battle, General Sullivan decided that his forces were insufficient and ordered an orderly withdrawal during the night. His soldiers left their camp fires burning to make the Hessians think that they were still in place. The retreat lasted a total of four hours, with six Continental brigades retreating. Sullivan praised the Rhode Island Regiment for its actions, saying that they bore "a proper share of the day's honors." General Lafayette proclaimed the battle as “the best fought action of the war.”