'...the "butcher's Bill" In Mr Mcmeekin's Crisp Phrase...'

[sandyRoe]

In a review in The Guardian of an account of Turkey's part in WW1, The Ottoman Endgame, the writer seemed to attribute this phrase to the author. I'm sure I've read somewhere that Nelson would use those same words when asking the number of casualties after battle.
Can anyone confirm this?

[Togo]

I always thought that it was Nelson sandy, but Ulysses S Grant also used the phrase during the American civil war. Nelson got there first methinks.

[Peter Pedant]

could be a recycled phrase sandy

like - History is written by the Victors - used by Goebbels and the er Archbishiop of Canterbury
but I am assured is much older then the 1930s

when whistler exclaimed ' I wish I had said that !'
the Divine Oscar replied " You will ! you will ! "

[Svejk]

Wellington?