Scenes of war are particularly violent. This is the first time I've ever seen a man get his head torn off by a cannonball, for example. And as it was historically, expect to see lots of teenagers and kids even younger take to killing. In one scene, Martin's two young sons Samuel and Nathan, perhaps 12 and 10, help their father dispatch some British officers. It's more than unsettling for the youngest - he seems a virtual basket case after the incident, especially upon witnessing his father's revenge laden killing rampage.
War does make monsters of some men.
With Martin now in the war, the colonialists smarten up because it is Martin who tells them that battling in an open field is pretty stupid. And when you see them all lined up like toy soldiers waiting for the other side to blast away, you'll agree. It's a six-month wait at best. And South Carolina apparently marked the turning point of the war thanks to their efforts. We see the viciousness of war close up and the sacrifices of the men who fought for independence.