"The Patriot" was fiction, it's well to remember; some of it was a touch over-the-top as relates to the moral basis of the Revolutionary cause.Based, however, on real characters and historical events. Just not documenary, and not to be confused with such--let's have no conservative Oliver Stones.
The real-life "Tavington" was named Tarlington, I believe--and tho the military history instructor didn't specify why he felt that way, he noted that the historical Tarlington "unfortunately" escaped from the battle of Cowpens, in which the British forces were defeated in detail.
I'd have liked the movie better if it had been less ficitonal about that final battle; the historical one was in fact very nice tactical use of available forces and terrain, to spring a very nice trap.