Subject: OT tonight's ep of "The Revolution"
If you saw "The Patriot", you have already seen a fictionalized version of what the documentary will present.

Mel Gibson's character was based on Francis Marion.

Jason Isaacs' character was based on Banastre Tarleton

First time I watched "The Patriot", recognizing the roles Gibson and Isaacs were playing, together with the area, I said to myself "wonder if they will do the Battle of Cowpens". A few minutes later, the Continental officer friend of Gibson's character said Green and Morgan, two officers the documentary has already mentioned several times, were coming down to take command. I said "yup, they are going to do Cowpens", because those were the commanding Continental officers at that battle.

The big battle at the end of the film is based on Cowpens. The tactic the Continentals use in the film, is what was actually used: line the militia up in front, have the militia fire a couple volleys, then break and run, so the Brits break formation running after them, then the militia leaves the field, and the Brits are cut to ribbons by Continental regulars. One difference, while Isaacs has his showdown with Gibson in the film, Tarleton survived the battle.

For all the hours and hours of video in Burns' piece, there isn't much I have not heard/read/seen before.

Another fictionalized version of Francis Marion is presented in the Disney series from the 50s "The Swamp Fox".

"Cowpens" was the local name for the meadow, near a river, where folks liked to graze their cattle.

Steve