Continental vs Redcoat: American Revolutionary War

Osprey Combat #9

by David Bonk

The American Revolutionary War pitched the newly formed Continental Army against the professional British Redcoats – a highly trained organization manned by long-serving and experienced infantrymen with a formidable reputation forged on European battlefields during the Seven Years' War. So, how were the poorly trained, poorly supplied Continental infantry able to hold their own and shape the outcome of the Revolutionary War and establish the future of their young nation? David Bonk answers this question in a highly illustrated book that looks at the challenges facing both armies, weighing up how each side was able to cope with the day-to-day experiences of the war and using extensive first-hand accounts to allow a modern audience to experience what life was like for soldiers on and off the battlefield during the war.

Genres: American Revolution, History

83 pages, Kindle Edition

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.