Regarding the Washington kicking some British ass...
Had the wind not been out of the East on the night of August 29-30, 1776, and the British been able to bring in reinforcements, we would all likely be British today. Because of the heavy wind from the East, the Bristish army was not able to board small boats and cross from New Jersey to Long Island. Washington's army was able to evacuate 9000 across the East River without a single loss of life.
FWIW, one of my great great great great .... aunts was a spy for Washington (the Culper spy ring) during this time period.
http://aphdigital.org/projects/culperspyring/strong