The Battle of Germantown on 4 October 1777 pitted a 9,000-man British army under General William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe against an 11,000-strong American army commanded by General George Washington. After an initial advance, the American reserve allowed itself to be diverted by 120 English soldiers holding out in the Benjamin Chew House. A heavy morning fog disoriented the American assault columns and led to a friendly fire incident between elements of Major General John Sullivan's right column and Major General Nathanael Greene's left column. At about this time, the American attack lost impetus and both columns retreated. Meanwhile, two wide flanking columns numbering 3,000 American militia had little effect on the outcome. American losses was numbered at 673 soldiers killed and wounded plus 400 captured, while the British suffered 520 casualties. British Army order of battle General Sir William Howe (9,000) Picket Brigadier General Sir William Erskine 40th Foot, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Musgrave 1st Light Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Abercromby of Airthrey 14 light companies 2nd Light Infantry Battalion, Brigadier General Sir William Erskine, Major John Maitland 14 light companies Right Wing General Sir William Howe Guards Brigade: Brigadier General Edward Mathew Elements of 1st Foot Guards, 2nd Foot Guards, and 3rd Foot Guards Regiments 1st Battalion (488) Grenadier company, Lieutenant Colonel Sir George Osborn (124) Hyde's company (93) Wrottesley's company (91) Cox's company (90) Garth's company (90) 2nd Battalion (451) Stephen's company (88) Murray's company (89) O'Hara's company (87) Martin's company (91) Light company, Lieutenant Colonel Osborn (96) 1st Brigade: Major General James Grant 4th Foot 28th Foot 49th Foot 2nd Brigade: Major General Grant 5th Foot 27th Foot 55th Foot Reinforcements: Lieutenant General Charles, Earl Cornwallis, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Monckton 1st Grenadier Battalion 2nd Grenadier Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Monckton Unbrigaded: Queen's Rangers: Colonel James Weymss Light Dragoons (2 squadrons) Left Wing Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen Hessian Jaegers: Lieutenant Colonel Ludwig von Wurmb 3rd Brigade: Major General Charles Grey 15th Foot 17th Foot 44th Foot 4th Brigade: Major General James Agnew 33rd Foot 37th Foot 46th Foot 64th Foot Hessian Brigade: Major General Johann Daniel Stirn Erbprinz Infantry Regiment Donop Infantry Regiment Reinforcements: Colonel Carl von Donop Grenadier Battalion Minningerode Grenadier Battalion Linsing British and Hessian officers American Army order of battle General and Commander-in-Chief George Washington (8,000 regulars, 3,000 militia, 200 cavalry) Right Wing Militia Brigadier General John Armstrong Sr. (1,500) Pennsylvania Militia Brigade: