Continuity mistake: When the Colonial militia leave after the parlay with Cornwallis, Benjamin Martin whistles for the two dogs. The dogs can be seen running through the gates at the heels of the militia but do not appear in any other of the scenes with the militia riding back to camp. (01:34:50)
Continuity mistake: When Thomas and Gabriel come out of the woods and spot the postman, Thomas start running and runs quite a distance from Gabriel. When it cuts Thomas is just a few feet away from Gabriel while running. (00:02:50)
Continuity mistake: In the beginning when the girl is holding up a card in front of the boy, her grip on the card changes when she lowers it. (00:01:55)
Continuity mistake: In the final fight scene between Benjamin and Tavington, when Tavington flies off his horse and lands on the ground, his pants are visibly untucked from his boots. A few seconds later, when he stands up, his pants are tucked back into his boots.
Factual error: During the evening at the beach scenes, the sky over the sea appears as though it is during sunset. In the morning, the sunrise is in the same direction. A South Carolina beach would only face toward a sunrise.
Continuity mistake: In the scene when the Martins are in Charleston, Peter Howard is talking about his experience in the French and Indian War and how he lost his leg fighting in it. When the camera shows him standing there, he is holding a crutch under his right arm, seemingly supporting him, but it is his left leg that is missing. So he is actually giving support to his good leg while giving none to the missing one.
Suggested correction: It is the correct way to use one crutch. Crutches are usually used on the opposite side of the leg they must support. When one leg is partially weight-bearing, the crutch is on the opposite arm, when both legs are partially weight-bearing, two crutches are used each one moving along with the opposite leg. For more info, google "two-point gait."
Continuity mistake: During the battle of Cowpens, the French Major points out to Benjamin Martin that the line is beginning to falter. Benjamin runs to stop the retreat. As he runs towards the camera he is holding his pistol in his right hand but grips it by the barrel to swing it like a hammer or club. The camera then cuts to show Benjamin running away from the camera and the pistol is now gripped by the handgrip as it would be for firing.
Continuity mistake: Charlotte is reading a letter from Benjamin at the end of the film. When the camera is pulled back far enough to show her surrounded by Benjamin's children as she reads, Charlotte's dress has a modest neckline and shows no cleavage. When the camera cuts to a closeup that shows just the letter and her chest, she suddenly has several inches of cleavage showing, obviously another dress.
Continuity mistake: In the part when Gabriel and Tavington are fighting right before Gabriel is killed, Tavington drops his sword before getting shot by Gabriel. When he is shot by Gabriel, he falls onto the ground which is clear of all debris. When Gabriel approches Tavington to stab him, Tavington flips over and stabs Gabriel with his sword, which he had dropped earlier.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Cornwallis is being shaved with a straight razor the amount of shaving cream on his face changes from almost none to nearly full in one shot.
Continuity mistake: In one battle scene, a soldier's head is knocked off by a cannonball but the same soldier appears in a later battle scene, complete with head.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Mel catches his son trying on his old uniform jacket. The shot goes from Mel to his son then back to Mel. The candle on the wall behind him is not lit, then lit, then out again.
Factual error: When Cornwallis is preparing to hang the militia they are testing the gallows which have trap doors, these were not yet being used at the time of the American Revolution. (Source director's commentary.) (01:27:00)
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Benjamin Martin is saving Gabriel from the Redcoats, he's hiding behind the trees. In the second to last shot before he runs down the hill to go hand-to-hand, you can see that the tree has red marks on it, and then in the next shot of the tree, they're gone.
Continuity mistake: When Thomas is sitting by the window painting his tin figure he looks out the window while holding his brush away from the figure. When it cuts to close-up the brush is on the figure. (00:21:40)
Continuity mistake: When Thomas is shot, the entry and exit wounds are the same height. SInce the shooter was on horseback, the exit wound should be lower. (00:29:15)
Continuity mistake: When Gabriel is sitting in the snow writing a letter, we see a close up of a quill pen. Then, in the next shot, the writing implement looks more like a pencil than a quill pen. And wouldn't it be a trick to sit in the snow with a bottle of ink?
Continuity mistake: After the Green Dragoons burn the people in the church, the Militia chases them to the riverbank. Col. Tavington shoots Rev. Oliver who falls to his knees holding his rifle with the barrel to the right. Rev. Oliver throws the rifle up for Gabriel to catch, but now the barrel is pointing to the left.
Continuity mistake: Another mistake in the scene for the battle of Cowpens involves Benjamin Martin charging at Colonel Tavington. As Benjamin charges, the camera shows him from the front and you see he is gripping the flag with one hand, his right. The camera then cuts to a different view to show Colonel Tavington on horse back charging towards Benjamin. Although Benjamin is slightly out of focus, you can see that he is now carrying the flag across his body with two hands (Flag towards Benjamin's left). The camera then shifts again to show Benjamin from the front and you now see him shift the flag from a one handed grip to a two handed grip.
Factual error: In the scene where the Martins are leaving Charlestown to go to Santee, they are actually travelling south toward the west Ashley area of south Carolina. If they were actually travelling to Santee they would be heading northwest with Charlestown directly behind them.
