Page "The Patriot (2000 film)" Paragraph 53

What happened during the Battle of The Waxhaws, known to the Americans as the Buford Massacre or as the Waxhaw massacre, is the subject of debate.

According to American field surgeon named Robert Brownfield who witnessed the events, the Continental Army Col. Buford raised a white flag of surrender, " expecting the usual treatment sanctioned by civilized warfare ".

While Buford was calling for quarter, Tarleton's horse was struck by a musket ball and fell.

This gave the Loyalist cavalrymen the impression that the Continentals had shot at their commander while asking for mercy.

Enraged, the Loyalist troops charged at the Virginians.

According to Brownfield, the Loyalists attacked, carrying out " indiscriminate carnage never surpassed by the most ruthless atrocities of the most barbarous savages ".