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 1 8 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 honour.
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 honour 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 honour 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 honoured.
May l?
-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?
By the old Spanish mission.
Thank you very much.
Shut the doors.
But you said we'd be forgiven.
And indeed you may!
That's between you and God.
Be strong. We must.
I'll fire the town on your orders.
The town?
Burn the church.
There's no honour in this.
Didn't you say all those who stand against England...
...deserve to die a traitor's death?
Burn the church, captain.
Give me the torch.
The honour is found in the end, not the means.
This will be forgotten.
Bordon.
Anne!
Mrs. Howard?
Where is everybody?
They're not here.
Gabriel's gone.
To arms! To arms!
Father.
Just don't talk. Don't talk.
Father.
-I'm sorry. -Be quiet.
I'll take care of you. You'll be all right.
I'm sorry about Thomas.
Oh, son, that wasn't your fault.
That was mine.
Hold on. You're gonna be all right.
Don't go. Gabriel, don't.
Oh, God help me. God help me.
Where is he?
I'll help you bury him.
I'll bury him.
My wife in Alexandria is with child.
My first.
I fight for that child.
Benjamin, nothing will replace your sons.
But if you come with us, you can justify their sacrifice.
Why?
Why do men feel they can justify death?
Is it arrogance or...?
I have long feared...
...that my sins would return to visit me.
And the cost is more than I can bear.
Benjamin, we have a chance.
Greene and Dan Morgan are down from Virginia.
If we win this next battle, victory in the war is within our grasp.
Go, then.
Seek your victory.
-I'm small issue to it. -You're wrong, Benjamin.
You matter to your men...
...and to others as well.
Your victories...
...and your losses...
...are shared by more than you know.
Stay with us.
Stay the course.
I have run my course.
You men will be leaving with us.
Prepare the baggage.
Jean.
You will be missed tomorrow, colonel.
-Missed, my lord? -Your wound.
It's nothing, my lord.
I am, as ever, ready to serve.
Very well.
Make sure you do.
I stand on the eve of the greatest victory of my career. Don't fail me.
My efforts in no small measure have brought you here.
I grant you that small measure...
...in spite of your failure to deliver the ghost to me.
Thus far.
I will not tolerate a premature charge...
...born of your eagerness for glory.
Wait for my order.
Or you may abandon any hope of Ohio.
Tomorrow's battle can alter the course of the war.
General Greene, what exactly is the task before us?
Gentlemen, Cornwallis has us cornered.
Not only does he outnumber us...
...but nearly half of our force is militia.
Unreliable, at best.
Excuse me, sir.
You underestimate our militia.
All of you do.
We've seen our militia lines break time and again.
Kips Bay, Princeton.
But the British have seen that too.
Cornwallis' own letters bear out that he has no respect for the militia.
What are you suggesting, Ben?
I'm suggesting we use that.
I know you men have sacrificed a lot so far.
But all I'm asking is that you...
...Iet the front line of the militia fire two shots tomorrow.
A lot can happen in the time it takes to fire two shots.
Especially against British Regulars.
Indeed. That's why I'm not asking you to fire three.
If I die, I will die well dressed.
Fire!
-Battalion! -Company, halt!
Harry...
...will you give this to my children?
Thank you.
It's October now.
I know.
It's more than 12 months.
You're a free man.
I'm here now on my own accord.
I'm honoured to have you with us.
Honoured.
Shoulder arms!
Forward...
...march!
How old were your daughters?
Violette was 12 and Pauline, 10.
They had green eyes.
I'm sure they were lovely.
Yes, they were.
-Battalion! -Company!
March!
Fire!
Unless I'm dreaming...
...I believe I see militia forming at their centre.
Battalion, halt!
Dress ranks!
Make ready!
Battalion!
Halt!
Take aim!
Fire!
Hold the line!
-Prepare to charge! -We haven't been given that order.
Charge!
Tavington.
Damn him! Damn that man!
Make ready.
Take aim!
Fire!
Take aim!
Fire!
Retreat!
Bayonet charge. We'll see who takes the glory from this field.
Charge!
Congratulations, my lord.
Infantry reserve into the centre.
But you've taken the field.
Now we'll take their spirits.
Send the battalion over that hill and crush them.
It ends today.
Hold the charge!
Fire!
Hold the charge!
Fire!
Take aim!
Fire!
Charge!
Charge bayonets!
Halt!
Hold! Dress your ranks!
Fire!
Charge!
Retreat!
Colonel!
The line is faltering!
Retreat! Retreat!
Wait!
No retreat!
Hold the line!
Push forward, men!
Artillery, concentrate on the centre.
If we reform and wheel right, we may be able to turn their flank.
You dream, general.
Kill me before the war is over, will you?
It appears you are not...
...the better man.
You're right.
My sons were better men.
Sound the retreat.
Sound...
...retreat.
Dear Charlotte:
The war has turned.
General Cornwallis took flight with his army and moved north.
We continued to engage the British, and in the following months...
... Cornwallis entrenched himself at Yorktown, Virginia.
Washington escaped from the north...
...and surrounded Cornwallis, who could not retreat to the seas.
it was blocked off by our long-lost friends...
... who had finally arrived.
Vive la France.
Vive la liberté.
My lord, I beseech you.
You must order the surrender.
How could it come to this? An army of rabble.
Peasants.
Everything will change.
Everything has changed.
Though he eventually surrendered...
...Cornwallis himself hid in shame...
...appointing his subordinate to relinquish his sword.
With the war ending, and our militia disbanding...
...i take measure of what we have lost...
...and what we have won.
My hope and prayer is that the sacrifices borne by so many...
... will spawn and fulfil the promise of our new nation.
Tell the children, and especially Susan, that i will keep my promise...
...as i will be returning to you all soon.
Where will you go now?
Home. Start over.
Your wife's expecting a child, isn't she?
She gave birth to a son three weeks ago.
What'd you name him?
We named him Gabriel.
Thank you, Harry.
Gabriel is a good name for a farmer.
It is. It is.
Jean.
Ben.
Gabriel said if we won the war...
...we could build a whole new world.
Just figured we'd get started right here...
...with your home.
Sounds good.
Thank you.
Ma'am.
Subtitles by SDl Media Group