"Combat: Continental vs Redcoat – American Revolutionary War" by David Bonk is a military history study examining the tactical and operational differences between British and American forces during the American Revolutionary War.
The book compares the British “Redcoat” army—one of the most professional European forces of the 18th century—with the developing Continental Army, tracing how both adapted to the conditions of war in North America. It highlights the British reliance on linear tactics, disciplined volley fire, and formal battlefield formations, contrasted with the Continental Army’s gradual evolution toward greater discipline and hybrid tactics combining European drill with irregular warfare.
A central theme is the process of adaptation over the course of the conflict. Early Continental forces struggled with training, coordination, and supply, but improved significantly through reforms in drill and organization. The British, while tactically superior in many early engagements, faced increasing challenges due to extended supply lines, unfamiliar terrain, and the growing effectiveness of American resistance.
The study also emphasizes the importance of terrain and operational environment, showing how forests, rural landscapes, and dispersed settlements in North America often undermined traditional European battlefield methods. This allowed Continental forces and militia units to exploit mobility, concealment, and local knowledge.
Another key element is the role of coalition and auxiliary troops, including German units from the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, commonly referred to as “Hessians,” who served alongside British regular forces in multiple campaigns and contributed significantly to British manpower and battlefield capability.
