My buddy Kirby Wilbur writes:

Jonah, Kirby here. A note on the 10 most historically inaccurate movies you posted and commented on. It says the battle represented in The Patriot is Guilford Court House, when it fact it is the battle of Cowpens, which went as it is portrayed in the movie, with the militia firing two rounds at the British, then retreating, sucking the British into a trap set by the American regulars. An overwhelming American victory, just FYI, from your favorite talk show host and history major.

Update: Many responses to Kirby. Here’s a long one:

Since we’re discussing the degree of historical accuracy in movies, I feel a response to Kirby Wilbur’s comment is in order. The battle shown in the Patriot is indeed Guilford courthouse, and not Cowpens. Cowpens was a much smaller afair fought between Daniel Morgan in command of the American forces and Banastre Tarleton (who was far more dashing in real life than his Patriot counterpart) in charge of the British forces. Guilford Courthouse was a battle between the two main armies, Nathaniel Green in charge of the American army, Cornwallis in charge of the British army. The ‘fire two shots and then retreat’ line was indeed from Cowpens, but the formation adopted by the American army of two lines of militia who would fire a few times and then flee, backed up by a line of continental soldiers who could be counted upon to resist a British Regular bayonet charge, was also employed at Guilford Courthouse. I believe the movie also has the British firing cannons into a rather confused melee situation, which also happened at Guilford Courthouse, rather than Cowpens. Also of note is that while Cowpens was a major clearcut victory for the Americans, Guilford courthouse was essentially a draw. The British were left in position of the field, but with extremely heavy losses, while the American army retired in relatively good order. I believe the movie represents the outcome as more favorable to the Americans.

Update II: Kirby needlessly slanders Star Trek trivia in the process of defending his honor:

Jonah, not to put you in the middle of this, but your other correspondent is wrong for many reasons and I must defend my honor. Plus, this exchange is more educational that Star Trek trivia. Here are just a few of the reasons he is wrong: Guilford Courthouse ended with an American withdrawal from the battlefield, Cowpens with the British withdrawing. What does the movie show? At Guilford Courthouse, the American forces were partially behind a fence facing the British, didn’t see that in the film. The militia retreat to suck the British in, and the Americans being below the hill as the British charged are all elements of Cowpens and did not occur at Guilford Courthouse, but they did occur in the movie. Cowpens is considered a turning point in the war in the South, this battle in the movie is the turning point for American fortunes. It is Cowpens that is depicted and I will duel with pistols at 30 yards to defend my position.