The 3rd Regiment transferred from the Southern Department to George Washington's main army in February 1777.

Assigned to Francis Nash's North Carolina Brigade in July 1777, it soon saw action at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and was present at White Marsh.

The rebuilt regiment returned to the main army in late 1778, but it was reduced to a cadre again in April 1779 and sent back to its home state.

Assigned to the North Carolina Brigade, the regiment fought at the Siege of Charleston where it was captured by the British Army on 12 May 1780.

[1] Commanders:[1] Companies of this unit were engaged in the following battles, sieges, and skirmishes:[1]