The Painted Coat is the story of an 18th century volunteer soldier, Adam Truworthy. In Lobster Back, Adam volunteers as a redcoat; he serves in Scotland, fighting at Culloden, and joins in the pacification of the Glens. Transferred to the Continent, his regiment fights at the botched battle of Laufeldt. After a successful struggle with small pox, Truworthy, now a sergeant major, does police duty in Ireland. Along the way he has several inept encounters with women. At the end of this volume, his battalion is about to embark for the American colonies to take part in General Edward Braddock's expedition into the Ohio country.