You will be a country unto yourself.
His Majesty is most generous.
Though your service in this war more than warrants such a gift.
Yes, this is how His Majesty rewards those...
...who fight for him as gentlemen.
I dare to presume my own meager contributions will be rewarded one day.
You may presume too much.
His Majesty, like history, judges us by the outcome of the war...
...and the manner in which it was fought.
We serve the Crown, and we must conduct ourselves accordingly.
Surrendering troops will be given quarter.
These brutal tactics must stop!
Is it not enough that I have never lost a battle?
You serve me...
...and the manner in which you serve me reflects upon me!
I would've thought that a gentleman from a family as esteemed as yours...
...would understand that.
My late father squandered any esteem in which we were held...
...along with my inheritance.
I advance myself only through victory.
You advance yourself only through my good graces.
These Colonials are our brethren.
And when this conflict is over, we will re-establish commerce with them.
Do you understand, colonel?
Perfectly, my lord.
Reverend, with your permission, I'd like to make an announcement.
Young man, this is a house of God.
I understand that, reverend. I apologize.
The South Carolina Militia is being called up.
I'm here to enlist every man willing.
Son...
...we are here to pray...
...for the souls of those men hanging outside.
Yes, pray for them.
But honor them by taking up arms with us.
And bring more suffering to this town?
If King George can hang those men, he can hang any one of us.
Dan Scott...
...barely a week ago you railed for two hours about independence.
Mr. Hardwick, how many times have I heard you...
...speak of freedom at my father's table?
Half the men in this church, including you, Father...
...and you, reverend...
...are as ardent patriots as I.
Will you now, when you are needed most, stop at only words?
Is that the sort of men you are?
I ask only that you act upon the beliefs...
...of which you have so strongly spoken...
...and in which you so strongly believe.
Who's with us?
Mr. Howard.
Sir...
...may I have permission to write to Anne?
- May I have permission to write Anne? - Yes.
You have permission...
...to write me.
Oh, write her.
Very well.
Thank you, sir.
Reverend?
A shepherd must tend his flock.
And, at times, fight off the wolves.
Are you sure this is the right place to recruit for a militia?
God save King George!
I think we came to the right place.
- Any bounty? - No scalp money this time, Rollins.
But you can keep or sell me the muskets and gear of any Redcoat you kill.
They hanged my brother down in Acworth.
Every damned one of them Redcoats deserves to die.
- Sign up. - With all my ailments...
...I wouldn't make it through the first skirmish. No, sir.
But you can have my Negro. He'll fight in my stead.
Occam! Get over here.
Ain't overly smart. He's strong as a bull.
Can you write?
No, no, sir.
- Well, then, make your mark. - Why?
I just signed him over to you.
If you're willing, make your mark.
That'll do.
I'll kill me some Redcoats.
I believe you would.
How old are you?
Not quite old enough. But his time will come.
John Billings. I was hoping you'd turn up.
There's a story going around about 20 Redcoats...
...got killed by a ghost or some damn thing.
Carried a Cherokee tomahawk.
Aren't you a little old to be believing in ghost stories?
How many did you get?
Twelve.
Good.
These men, they're not the sort we need.
They're exactly the sort we need.
They've fought this kind of war before.
What about me? Am I one of that sort?
Hell, no.
Your sort gives that sort a bad name.
I want accuracy and precision.
Make ready!
Take aim!
Fire!
Dear Anne:
Our force continues to grow.
As long as we continue to fight, others will come to fight beside us.
I long to see you and speak to you.
I'm hopeful that our duties will bring me near you.
Until then, I am and will remain most affectionately yours.
Gabriel.
We surrender!
No! God, stop!
For the love of God, we...
These men were about to surrender!
Perhaps.
We will never know.
This is murder!
Hell, reverend, they're Redcoats. They've earned it.
- We're better than that. - What do you know about war?
I know the difference between fighting...
Go back to church!
Quiet!
He's right.
Quarter will be given to British wounded and any who surrender.
They gave no quarter when they fired on a ship carrying my wife and daughters.
I watched from 200 yards off as they were burned alive.
- All my sympathy, but my order stands. - Damn your sympathy.
Who are you to give such an order?
I know what you did to my countrymen at Fort Wilderness.
We're militia. This is not regular army.
Every man here is free to come and go as he pleases.
But while you're here...
...you will obey my command or I will have you shot.
- Damn dogs! - Shoot the damn things!
- Stay that pistol. - They won't let you near the wagon.
- Rum, Madeira. - No wonder they were guarding it.
Officers' uniforms.
What you think all this is worth?
It's the personal correspondence of Lord Cornwallis.
This is his journal.
I say we drink the wine, eat the dogs and use the papers for musket wadding.
Eat the dogs?
Dog is a fine meal.
Good heavens.
I have some maps here for you.
Put them down over there. Thank you.
Here. A proper musket for you.
I don't know about you, but I don't like the idea giving muskets to slaves.
Your sense of freedom is as pale as your skin.
Don't listen to them.
If we win this war, a lot of things will change.
What will change?
They call this the New World. It's not. It's the same as the old.
But we'll have a chance to build a new world.
A world where all men are created equal under God.
Equal.
Sounds good.
I've just been in the mind of a genius.
Cornwallis knows more about warfare than we could learn in a dozen lifetimes.
That's cheerful news.
His victories at Camden and Charles Town were perfect. Perfect.
And he knows it, what's more.
Perhaps that's his weakness.
Sir?
Pride.
Pride's a weakness.
Personally, I would prefer stupidity.
Pride will do.
Finished, my lord.
I've taken it in at the back...
...added wider epaulets and looped gold braiding.
- It's a horse blanket. - I don't know, my lord.
It's really quite nice.
- Very nice, my lord. - Very well. It's a nice horse blanket.
Colonel Tavington, why, after six weeks...
...am I still attending a ball in South Carolina...
...when I should be attending balls in North Carolina?
First, the theft of my baggage...
...including my memoirs, on which I spent countless hours.
Then half the bridges and ferries between here and Charles Town burned.
If you can't protect our supply lines against militia...
...how do you intend doing so against the Regulars or the French?
They won't fight like Regulars. We can't find them.
Colonel, they're militia.
They're farmers with pitchforks!
They're rather more than that, I'm afraid.
Made so by their commander, this ghost.
Oh, ghost, ghost, ghost.
You created this ghost, colonel.
Your brutality swelled his ranks.
Without them this ghost would've disappeared...
...and I'd be in North Carolina by now!
In my defense, my lord...
Oh, enough, enough!
A fine soldier you are, bested by a bedtime story.
Give me the horse blanket.
O'Hara, our supply ship appears to have arrived.
Yes, my lord, it has.
Then why am I still wearing this rag?
Your replacement wardrobe is aboard ship, but...
...Colonel Tavington thought it best to secure our arms and munitions first.
They are being unloaded.
You look good in that color.
It stinks.
Well, it's had a dead man in it.
The beasts took your dogs too?
Yes.
Fine animals. A gift from His Majesty.
Dead now, for all I know.
Is there no decency?
Oh, fireworks. Lovely!
Mr. Howard.
I've come to call on Anne.
I've come to call on Anne!
Well, of course you call yourself a man.
Father, stop it. You heard him.
Well...
...call on her.
I'm nearly finished.
You needn't worry, Father.
Yeah, I know.
Bundling bags are a wonderful tradition. I don't mind in the least.
Be still.
Tea?
Please.
There.
Come, dear.
It's very good.
I'm pleased that you like it.
Peter.
Don't worry. I sew better than my mother did.
I hope so.
If you're just gonna stand there...
...why don't you read it for us?
I can't read.
I can.
"Take notice.
By order of General Washington and the Continental Congress...
...all bound slaves who give minimum one year service...
...in the Continental Army...
...will be granted freedom...
...and be paid a bounty of five shillings for each month of service."
Did you hear that?
First they'll free them, then they'll pay them.
Only another six months.
What will you do with freedom?
I made this for you.
Look after your mother.
You know, Peter...
...I can't pay you for this.
Benjamin, you pay me what you can, when you can.
I'm obliged.
Gabriel sure reminds me a lot of you.
No, no, he's more like his mother.
Corporal!
Take your time. Dogs.
Sir.
This road is closed.
These wagons now belong to the Continental Army.
Ready arms!
By twos!
There's no need for your men to die. Leave the wagons and go.
This is the king's highway.
And I advise you and your men to make way.
Charge!
Fire!
Retreat!
Save yourselves!
Retreat!
Ambush! Ambush!
I have the count.
22 are dead.
18 wounded and 20 are missing.
I'm through.
He won't be the last to leave.
Trust me. Soon my countrymen will arrive.
- The French army is... - To hell with you.
And to hell with the French army.
We don't need them.
We got Benjamin Martin. We know what he done to the French.
Father.
Men always buy you drinks because of what happened at Fort Wilderness.
Strangers know more about you than I do.
Tell me what happened.
Your mother asked me that question around about the time you were born.
I was drunk and foolish enough to answer it.
The French and the Cherokee had raided along the Blue Ridge.
The English settlers had sought refuge at Fort Charles.
By the time we got there, the fort was abandoned.
They'd left about a week before.
But what we found was...
Go on.
They'd killed all the settlers, the men.
With the women and...
...some of the children, they had...
We buried them all, what was left of them.
We caught up with them at Fort Wilderness.
We took our time.
We cut them apart slowly.
Piece by piece.
I can see their faces.
I can still hear their screams.
All but two. We let them live.
We sent the heads on a pallet...
...with the two that lived back to Fort Ambercon.
The eyes, tongues, fingers...
...we put in baskets.
Sent them down the Asheulot to the Cherokee.
Soon after, the Cherokee broke their treaty with the French.
That's how we justified it.
We were...
...heroes.
And men bought you drinks.
Not a day goes by where I don't ask God's forgiveness for what I did.
Thomas was my brother, as well as your son.
You may not believe this, but I want satisfaction as much as you do.
But not at the expense of our cause.
There will be a time for revenge.
But until then, stay the course.
Your mother said that when I'd get drunk or lose my temper.
She'd say it to me when I picked on Thomas.
I miss him.
The British got 18 of our men at Fort Carolina.
They'll be hung one at a time until they give up the rest of us.
Reverend...
...can you write a letter for me?
- To my wife and boy. - Yes, of course I will.
But first let us pray.
My lord...
...there is a rider at the gates.
A civilian carrying a white flag.
I am occupied.
He has a pair of dogs with him.
Great Danes.
And dear Lord...
...protect us in this, our hour of need.
This we ask in the name of the Father, the Son...
And the Holy Ghost.
Wait here.
General Lord Cornwallis will be with you shortly.
Jupiter, Mars. Come, boys.
Come.
My good boys. My brave boys. You seem to be well fed.
I thank you for that.
I'm afraid I don't know your name.
I'm a colonel in the Continental Army. My rank should be sufficient for now.
As you wish.
Please be seated.
Thank you.
Would you, as the initiating officer, care to begin?
I will, unless you'd like to claim aggrieved status.
Yes, I would like to claim aggrieved status.
Very well, sir. Proceed.
You have in your possession belongings of mine including clothing...
...furniture, personal effects of a non-military nature...
...which I'd like returned to me.
Indeed. I will do so as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Now we come to the matter of the specific targeting...
...of officers during engagements.
You must know that in civilized warfare, officers in the field...
...must not be accorded inappropriate levels of hostile attention.
To your mind, what are appropriate levels of hostile attention?
Imagine the chaos that would follow...
...from leaderless armies having at each other.
There must be gentlemen in command to lead...
...and, where necessary, restrain their men.
Restrain them from, say, targeting civilians. Women, children and such.
That's a separate issue.
No. I consider them linked.
And as long as your soldiers attack civilians...
...I will order the shooting of officers at every engagement.
And my men are excellent marksmen.
Very well.
- Now, let us move on to... - Prisoner exchange.
Sir?
You have 18 of my men. I want them back.
I do have 18 criminals under sentence of death...
...but I hold no prisoners of war.
If that's your position, 18 of your officers will have to die.
Nineteen, if you hang me with my men.
My officers?
Sir.
Top of the ridge, to your left. Below the tree line.
Their names and ranks?
They refused to give names. There are 9 lieutenants, 5 captains, 3 majors...
...and one fat colonel who called me...
...a cheeky fellow.
This is not the conduct of a gentleman.
If the conduct of your officers is the measure of a gentleman...
...I'll take that as a compliment.
Get my men.
- Arrange the exchange. - My lord.
Thank you, sir.
Release the prisoners!
- What is this? - Prisoner exchange.
He has 18 of our officers.
Who is he? I recognize him.
He's the commander of the militia.
- Your ghost. - Stay that sword, colonel!
He rode in under a white flag for formal parley.
This is madness.
If you harm him, you condemn our officers.
With respect, sir, he's killed as many officers in the last two months.
He has shown no aggression here. Hence he cannot be touched.
Has he not?
You!
So you're the ghost, are you? I remember you!
On that farm! That stupid little boy!
Did he die?
You know...
...it's an ugly business, doing one's duty.
But just occasionally...
...it's a real pleasure.
Before this war is over, I'm going to kill you.
Why wait?
Soon.
Move out!
But I still think it's imperative to push north.
One of our captured officers, my lord.
My reputation suffers because of your incompetence!
That man insults me!
Quite impressive for a farmer with a pitchfork, wouldn't you say?
I want you to find that man.
I want you to capture him.
The man has the loyalty of the people.
They protect him. Protect his family.
Protect the families of his men.
I can capture him for you.
But to do so requires the use of tactics that are somewhat...
What was the word your lordship used?
"Brutal," I think.
Go on.
I am prepared to do what is necessary.
I alone will assume the full mantle of responsibility for my actions...
...free of the chain of command...
...rendering you blameless.
However...
...if I do this...
...you and I both know that I can never return to England with honor.
What, I wonder, is to become of me?
When this war is over here in the Colonies...
...the new aristocracy...
...will be landowners.
Tell me about Ohio.
Make way.
As you were.
Wilkins. A plantation seven miles from Wakefield, on the Santee...
...east of Black Swamp. Who lived there?
Benjamin Martin.
He's the ghost.
What do you know about him?
Hell, everything. I could tell you the size of his boot.
Does he have family? Where would he hide his children?
His wife's sister has a plantation.
It's not far.
Aunt Charlotte! Wake up, someone's coming!
Get the boys.
Margaret, come quickly.
- Let's go. - Boys, come.
Go.
Stay close.
This way.
Follow me.
We'll go downstairs to the kitchen.
Margaret, quick! Get down there! Fast!
Samuel, get down there fast!
Beneath the sill. There.
There's no one in the house.
They can't be far.
Search the outbuildings and the woods, quickly.
Prepare to fire the house.
Go.
This one's head of the house slaves.
Where are they hiding?
Keep looking! They're here somewhere!
- Gabriel. - Where's Father?
Torch the house!
To horse!
Come on! It's all right.
Susan, come here.
Charlotte!
They won't stop looking for us.
You'll be safe where we're taking you.
Father said it was a perfect place to hide.
How is he?
I don't know. I'm his son.
Where is Father?
Speaking for months now.
Speaking for months.
Why did he go?
He didn't want those mean men to find you, so he led them away.
He'll come see you as soon as he can.
I don't care. I hate him.
Susan, you don't hate him.
I hate him, and I hope he never comes back.
It's the children.
Abigale!
You're alive!
I know it's not much, but you can stay here with me.
It's beautiful.
Thank you.
She spoke. Susan talked to you?
In full sentences.
As if she'd been speaking all along.
Damn, I wasn't there for it.
What did she say?
She said...
...that she loves you and misses you...
...but understands why you can't be with her.
My Lord, she said that.
Isn't that something?
Tavington has a list of our men. He's burning our homes...
...killing whomever resists.
- Where? - Seven homes along the Santee so far.
John.
John, this is not a time for vengeance.
This is a time for mourning.
John.
No!
Attend to your families.
One week furlough for all men.
Any man who does not return will not be thought a coward or uncommitted.
Father!
Papa!
They're huge. What have you been feeding them?
They're from good stock on their father's side.
Susan?
I see it. There it is. Look. Look, Father.
I got it! I got it!
You got it.
I got it!
- Careful. - I caught it.
- All the fish are over here. - Let's get them.
Father, what changed you?
Are you sure I have?
Yes. You changed.
That's simple.
It was your mother.
A woman can have a strange effect on a man.
There were times...
...I had trouble breathing around your mother.
I know the feeling.
You once said...
...when I had a family of my own, I'd understand.
You were right.
You're trying to tell me something.
- Apple? - Thank you.
Congratulations.
Anne Patricia Howard...
...will you have this man to be your husband to live in marriage?
Will you love, comfort and honor him...
...for so long as you both shall live?
I will.
Gabriel Edward Martin, will you have this woman to be your wife...
...to live together in the covenant of marriage?
Will you love, comfort and honor her as long as you both shall live?
I will.
Then by the power vested in me by our mutual faith...
...in the Lord, our God...
...I now pronounce you man and wife.
I'm sorry we didn't give you more warning.
It's fine.
I have something for you.
It belonged to Gabriel's mother.
It's beautiful.
Allow me.
It's the North Star.
That's the only star in the sky that never moves.
It's constant, unwavering.
A guide.
I'd be honored.
May I?
- lf you must. - I must.
May I sit with you?
It's a free country.
Or at least it will be.
I'm not my sister.
I know that.
Do you?
Yes, I do.
Very well, then.
Well?
Well what?
I'll see you in Pembroke soon.
Not soon enough.
I'm counting on you to make sure...
- I know. - What?
- Say my prayers, take care of everyone. - Couldn't have said it better.
Goodbye.
Goodbye, Susan.
Goodbye?
Just one word, that's all I want.
All right.
Papa!
Papa, don't go! I'll say anything.
Please, Papa.
I'll say anything you want.
Tell me what you want me to say. I'll say anything.
I promise, Papa. Please don't go.
I promise.
I'll come back.
I'll come back. You believe me?
You know, you make me very happy.
Just the three of us?
John Raskin did come by earlier.
He looked around, then he left.
He would've made four.
Four would have been better.
I got another two months to go before I get to twelve months.
Colonel.
Reverend.
Trust the French.
Yes, trust the French.
Where else do I get the opportunity to kill a few Redcoats?
Perhaps a few wounded ones when you are not looking.
Everyone must gather at the church.
Mr. Wilkins?
Colonel Tavington wishes to address the whole village.
This town has given aid to Benjamin Martin and his rebels.
I wish to know his whereabouts.
So...
...anyone who comes forward...
...may be forgiven their treason.
Very well.
- You had your chance. - Wait!
- This man gives them supplies. - Quiet!
- He brings them to Black Swamp. - Liar!
In the marsh, by the old Spanish mission.
This man here?
- Yes. - The Black Swamp, you say?