Authorized by the Second Continental Congress on 16 September 1776, it was organized on 3 February 1777 and consisted of four companies from the Virginia counties of Loudoun, Frederick, Prince William, and Amelia; Captain Daniel Morgan's Independent Rifle Company from Fauquier County; and five companies from the state's portion of the Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment.
On 15 April 1777 Captain George Price's company (organized on 18 January 1777 in the Virginia State Troops with volunteers from Frederick and Augusta Counties) was transferred to the regiment.
On 11 May 1777 the regiment was assigned to the 3rd Virginia Brigade of the Main Army and was reorganized to eight companies on 1 November 1777.
It was relieved from the 2nd Virginia Brigade on 4 December 1779 and assigned to the Southern Department.
The unit was captured on 12 May 1780 at the Siege of Charleston and subsequently disbanded on 1 January 1781.