It was subsequently organized between February 5 and March 16, 1776, and comprised seven companies of troops from easternmost Virginia.
At Germantown, under the command of Colonel George Mathews, the unit penetrated so deeply into the British lines that it was isolated from the remainder of General Nathanael Greene's division and over 400 men were taken prisoner by the British.
[1] Four retreating companies of the 1st British Light Infantry Battalion found themselves in the rear of the Virginians and attacked.
Surprised, the 9th was driven farther into the British camp where it was beset by the brigade of Charles Grey, 1st Earl Grey and the 2nd British Light Infantry Battalion.
The unit was captured on May 12, 1780, by the British Army at the Siege of Charleston and was disbanded on November 15, 1783.