The regiment was authorized on 16 September 1776 for service with the Continental Army and was assigned on 27 December 1776 to the main element.

[2] During the Battle of Brandywine on 11 September 1777, both the popular brigade commander William Smallwood and Gist were on detached duty recruiting the Maryland militia.

This left the disliked Frenchman Philippe Hubert Preudhomme de Borre as the senior brigadier.

The inept Frenchman botched the evolution, throwing the troops into disorder just as they came under attack by the Brigade of Guards.

[9][notes 1] Surprised by a sudden British counterattack, the American advance guard began to retreat.

Washington personally asked Ramsey and Colonel Walter Stewart to hold off the British while he arranged the main line of defense.

The Guards charged and cleared the wood after a tough fight in which they lost 40 casualties including Colonel Henry Trelawney wounded.

Impressed by his bravery, the British commander Sir Henry Clinton paroled Ramsey the next day.