Continental vs Redcoat – American Revolutionary War

Osprey Combat #9

by David Bonk, Johnny Shumate (Illustrator)

In June 1775 the Continental Congress, leading the American rebellion against the British Crown, created the Continental Army to serve in the line of battle alongside militia and "Provincial" units. Although supply problems, issues with discipline, and poor training hampered the Continentals' effectiveness in combat, they were able to inflict a decisive defeat on the British at Yorktown. In contrast, the backbone of the British forces in North America were long-service regular infantrymen, serving for the most part in single-battalion regiments. They had earned a formidable reputation on Europe's battlefields during the Seven Years' War, but in fighting the French in North America during that conflict had already learned a great deal about the very different fighting conditions prevalent in the New World.
In a host of encounters ranging from skirmishes to decisive pitched battles, the infantrymen of both sides would be tested to the limit, with supply problems, hostile terrain, and poor weather all adding to the horrors of close-quarter combat. Featuring full-color artwork, specially drawn maps, and archive illustrations, this engaging study offers key insights into the tactics, leadership, combat performance, and subsequent reputations of six representative Continental and Redcoat infantry regiments pitched into three pivotal actions that shaped the outcome of the American Revolutionary War.

Genres: American Revolution, History

80 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2014

Reviews

[Carol Dobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed accounts of three battles of the American Revolutionary War, written by an author who is clearly an authority on the subject.

[Adam Gutschenritter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked learning about the gradual strengthening of the Continental Army over the course of the American Revolution. The book emphasizes the training done by Von Steuben as a key ingredient to their later success at Monmouth and Cowpens and ultimately their success in the war as a whole. The book uses three battles to show that growing strength, while still showing the skill of the British soldiers as a whole. I most enjoyed learning about the future endeavors of the various regiments described outside of these three battles, especially that the 7th Royal Fusiliers being the only regiment to lose it's colors twice.

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A commonly held view is that the American War of Independence was won solely by American farm boys against stodgy British "Redcoats" stuck in European linear tactics. Of course the most important battles of the real war are pretty much French Naval victories, the French did most of the heavy lifting (causing their own revolution only a few years later) and the American Army did learn to go toe to toe with the European infantry by the later stages of the the struggle. It is this last reality that is discussed in this book Number Nine of the "Combat" Series from Osprey Publishing by David Bonk, an author on AWI and WWI military topics. Using Brandywine, Monmouth Courthouse, and Cowpens as lessons- he shows us American Continental Infantry learning the requirements of the 18th Century land battle, British soldiers at the end of long logistics trails, and American officers learning their craft. With the typical plethora of maps, diagrams and smaller pics - along with lovely large colour illustrations from Johnny Shumate - the reader really understands Bonk's ideas about the war and its execution.

In the early skirmishes of the American war, the rebels could always be put to flight with a properly timed volley and bayonet charge- the main British Tactic of the day. Bonk shows the development of the American Armies usually a mixture of Continental (full-time) and Militia local levies. The continentals have to learn the discipline that was the core of the European Armies' use of musket firepower, first learning to deliver a real proper platoon fire or volley blow- and then how to take one- and still function -and finally how to get to bayonet proficiency to tangle with the Brits and Hessians face to face. Along with this journey, American officers have to manage their men and the battles they fight- without the sort of privilege the European, often lower nobility officers commanded. I think Bonk delivers a good read for military history buff and general audience alike.

There are a few adult themes, but no overly graphic injury or violence passages, so this is a good read for the Junior Reader with a historical interest. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, Bonk is a writer after your own heart. As a Gamer himself, he's really helped to make each battle an easy scenario for the reader. The Modeler will also get build/diorama ideas from the narrative and other material. The Military Enthusiast gets insight into the classic question of the AWI- how did a Patriot movement overcome its many obstacles to victory? For the general audience, a real sifting of three battles teaches some key lessons of the war.