"the film-makers also invent a British atrocity, and turn that dashing figure Banastre Tarleton into a sadistic villain."

For what it's worth the American ambassador was on the radio apologising for the film when it was released over here...

...his viewpoint was that OF COURSE Americans knew that eighteenth century British troops didn't behave like that...???!

...I haven't seen the film but I gather they had the British behaving like the Gestapo in a bad mood...