Why does Benjamin say that gates is a damned fool has spent too many years in the british army going to muzzle to muzzle with redcoats in open field it's madness this battle was over before it began?

Benjamin's statement reflects his belief that General Gates' traditional military strategies are outdated and ineffective against the British. He criticizes Gates for engaging in conventional tactics, which he sees as futile given the context of the American Revolutionary War. By suggesting that the battle was already lost before it began, Benjamin underscores his frustration with a leadership that fails to adapt to the realities of guerrilla warfare and the colonists' unique situation. Essentially, he views Gates' approach as a reckless adherence to old military norms that disregards the advantages and strategies available to the American forces.