The arrival of the Green Dragoons at the Martin's farm, called 'Fresh Water' in the Book.

"Lieutenant? - Have a detachment take our wounded to our surgeons at Winnsboro!"

"Yes, sir."

"Fire the house and barns! - Let it be known if you harbour the enemy you will lose your home. - By standing order of his majesty King George all slaves of the American colonies who fight for the Crown will be granted their freedom with our victory."

"Sir - we're not slaves. We work this land. We're freedmen."

"Then you are freedmen who will have the opportunity and the privilege of fighting in the king's army, aren't you?"

"Rebel dispatches, sir."

"Who carried this?"

"I did, these people gave me care, they have nothing to do with it."

"Take this one to Camden. He is a spy. Hang him, put his body on display. Destroy the livestock. Save the horses for the Dragoons."

"Colonel, this is a uniformed dispatch rider carrying a marked case. He cannot be held as a spy."

"We are not going to hold him, we are going to hang him."

"Colonel .."

"Father!"

"Oh, I see. He's your son. Perhaps you should've taught him something of loyalty."

"Colonel, I beg you, please reconsider - By the rules of war-"

"Rules of war? - Would you like a lesson, sir, in the rules of war? - Or perhaps your children would?"

"No lesson is necessary"

"Sir? What of the rebel wounded?"

"Kill them."

Gabriel! Run!

"Stupid boy."

After Benjamin freed Gabriel, in the surgeon's tent at the British Army camp.

Sir, we have the private the cherokee scout brought in

Private? Colonel William Tavington. Green Dragoons. What happened? Who did this?

Him. It was mad. I couldn't tell you who it was.

Calm down. Calm down, man. Twenty of His Majesty's soldiers are dead. And I need to know how.

He said there was-

Were you there? Then let him speak. Take your time and tell me. How many were there? Were they militia? Were they Regulars?

I don't really remember how many. Maybe one.

One man. Really?

He was in the flank. All around us. Amongst us. I could barely see him. He was there, then he was gone.

He just vanished. Sounds more like a ghost than a man.

Yes, a ghost. He was like a ghost.

Enough. Bordon? Take a patrol. See if we can't capture this ghost before word his exploits spread. Who's this?

Sir, this is Captain Wilkins. He was with the Loyalist Colonial Militia. I thought he might be of some use.

Another colonial. Tell me Captain Wilkins, where do your loyalties lie?

To king and country.

Why should I trust a man who'd betray his neighbours?

Those neighbours of mine who stand against England deserve to die a traitor's death.

We'll see.

A deleted Scene, set after the battle, Benjamin and Gabriel watch from the raided house.

My Lord General, (everyone turns) gentleman. Glorious day for His Majesty and England.

Col. Tavington. Always too early. Always too eager for glory.

Victory my Lord I believe we took the field.

Next time you wait for my command

It appears that Col. Tavington prefers to follow his own commands.

Gen. O'Hara tells me you earned the nickname "The butcher" among the populace. We'll discuss it tomorrow. Gentleman my compliments.

To victory.

Cornwallis orders Tavington, to play it nice and clean.

... and right across the far bank of the Ohio River. It's a 100,000 acres.

It's an imposing land grant, my lord. You will be a country unto yourself.

His Majesty is most generous ,my lord. Though of course 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, but the manner in which it was fought.

My lord?

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 have 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.

After the militia under Martin has raided a lot of supply lines Tavington in Cornwallis' office.

Finished my lord. I've taken it in at the back added wider epaulets and looped gold braiding.

It's a horse blanket.

Oh, 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 here in Middleton place attending a ball in South Carolina when I should be attending balls in North Carolina? First, the theft of my personal baggage including my memoirs, on which I spent countless hours. Then half the bridges and ferries between here and Charles Town burned. Colonel, if you can't protect our supply lines against militia how do you intend to do so against the Colonial Regulars or the French when they arrive?

My lord, 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.

My lord?

Your brutality swelled his ranks. Without which this ghost would have disappeared and I'd be in North Carolina or Virginia by now!

In my defence, my lord-

Oh, enough, enough! A fine soldier you are, bested by a bedtime story. Give me the horse blanket.

My lord ....

After the rebels were captured and Benjamin Martin rode in under white flag to negotiate their freedom.

Release the prisoners!

General, what is this?

Prisoner exchange. He has 18 of our officers.

Who is he? I recognise him.

He is the commander of the militia. You're 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.

General, with respect, sir, he's killed as many officers in the last two month.

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. Just occasionally it's a real pleasure.

Before this war is over, I'm going to kill you.

Why wait?

Soon.

After the blow with the straw officers in Cornwallis' office.

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.

Later that night, after having card blanche in one of the Green Dragoon's tents.

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.

The nightly raid on the farm

Beneath the sill. There.

There's no one in the house, sir.

They can't be far. Search the outbuildings and the woods, quickly.

Yes, sir.

Prepare to fire the house.

This one's head of the house slaves.

Where are they hiding?

I don't know.

Keep looking! They're here somewhere! Torch the house! To horse!

(deleted Scene)

The church burning...

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 you're 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.

Ready to fire the town on your orders, sir.

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.