Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis [At Cowpens, sees Tavington's dragoons charge without Cornwallis' orders]
Tavington. Damn him, DAMN THAT MAN!
Played by Tom Wilkinson 
The Patriot (2000) · 20 quotes
The Patriot (2000) · 20 quotes
Tied for 2nd most-quoted character in The Patriot (2000): in 6 of its 20 quotes
Most scenes with: Colonel William Tavington (3)
These rustics are so inept. Nearly takes the honor out of victory... nearly.
More lines from Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis
1 quote Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis Scenes with Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis
4 scenes Lieutenant General Cornwallis Now we come to the matter of 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 opinion, what are appropriate levels of hostile attention?
Lieutenant General Cornwallis Colonel, imagine the utter chaos that would follow from leaderless armies having at each other. There must be gentlemen to command, lead, and- and, where necessary, restrain their men.
Restrain them from, say, targeting civilians. Women, children and such.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis That's a separate issue.
No, 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.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis Very well. Let us move on to...
Prisoner exchange.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis Sir?
You have eighteen of my men. I want them back.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis [Visibly confused, General Cornwallis turns to General O'Hara, who whispers to him.]
I-I hold eighteen criminals under sentence of death, but I hold no prisoners of war.
If that's your position, eighteen of your officers will have to die. Nineteen, if you hang me with them.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis My officers?
[Martin gets up, taking a field telescope off the General's desk. He looks out the window behind him, and hands the device to Cornwallis.]
Top of the ridge, to your left. Just below the tree line.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis [General Cornwallis looks, and locates what appears to be a group of British officers held at gunpoint by Colonial militia.]
Their names and ranks?
They refuse to give me their names, but the ranks are nine lieutenants, five captains, three majors, and one very fat colonel who called me a "cheeky fellow."
Lieutenant General Cornwallis You know 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. [Pauses] Get my men.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis [To O'Hara]
Arrange the exchange.
Brigadier General O'Hara
My lord.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis [Cornwallis reprimands Tavington on his conduct]
His Majesty, like history, judges us not only by the outcome of the war, but the manner in which it was fought.
My lord...
Lieutenant General Cornwallis 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, my lord, that I have never lost a battle?
Lieutenant General Cornwallis You serve me, and the manner in which you serve me reflects upon me! I would've 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 though victory.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis You advance yourself only through my good graces. These colonials are our brethren, and when this conflict is over, we will reestablish commerce with them. Do you understand, colonel?
Perfectly, my lord.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis 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've 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 doing so against the colonial regulars, or the French when they arrive?
My lord, they won't fight like regulars. We can't find them.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis Colonel, they're militia! They're farmers with pitchforks!
They're rather more than that, I'm afraid, my lord. Made so by their commander, this "Ghost".
Lieutenant General Cornwallis Ghost, ghost, ghost... you created this "Ghost", Colonel.
My lord?
Lieutenant General Cornwallis Your brutality has swelled his ranks, without which this "Ghost" would have disappeared, and I would be in North Carolina or Virginia by now!
In my defense, my lord...
Lieutenant General Cornwallis Oh, enough, enough! [contemptuously] Fine soldier you are, bested by a bedtime story.
Lieutenant General Cornwallis [Martin has deceived Cornwallis into a false prisoner exchange]
My reputation suffers because of your incomptence! That man insults me!
Quite impressive for a farmer with a pitchfork, wouldn't you say?
Lieutenant General Cornwallis [beckons Tavington closer]
I want you to find that man. I want you to capture him.
The man has the loyalty of the people. They protect him. They protect his family. They 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?
Lieutenant General Cornwallis [Cornwallis glances aside, dismissing his staff]
Go on.
[pours himself a glass of wine]
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 honor. What, I wonder, is to become of me?
Lieutenant General Cornwallis When this war is over here in the colonies, the new aristocracy... [unrolls a map of North America] will be landowners. [Tavington glances at the map]
Tell me about Ohio.
