Virginia Line - Reorganization of The Virginia Line, 1778-1779

Reorganization of The Virginia Line, 1778-1779

The Continental Congress ordered a reorganization of the Continental Army on May 27, 1778. Under this resolve, the Virginia quota was reduced from fifteen infantry regiments to eleven. In September 1778 the Virginia Line was in the vicinity of White Plains, New York, after serving at the Battle of Monmouth. New commissions issued at this time were dated September 14, 1778. In the White Plains rearrangement the Virginia Line was reorganized thus:

• The 1st Virginia Regiment absorbed the 9th Virginia Regiment of 1777.
• The 2nd Virginia Regiment absorbed the 6th Virginia Regiment of 1777.
• The 3rd Virginia Regiment absorbed the 5th Virginia Regiment of 1777.
• The 4th Virginia Regiment absorbed the 8th Virginia Regiment of 1777.

(The 5th Virginia Regiment was consolidated with the 3rd Virginia Regiment).

(The 6th Virginia Regiment was consolidated with the 2nd Virginia Regiment).

• The 7th Virginia Regiment of 1777 was redesignated the 5th Virginia Regiment of 1779.

(The 8th Virginia Regiment was consolidated with the 4th Virginia Regiment).

(The 9th Virginia Regiment was consolidated with the 1st Virginia Regiment).

• The 10th Virginia Regiment of 1777 was redesignated the 6th Virginia Regiment of 1779.
• The 11th Virginia Regiment of 1777 was redesignated the 7th Virginia Regiment of 1779.
• The 12th Virginia Regiment of 1777 was redesignated the 8th Virginia Regiment of 1779.
• The 13th Virginia Regiment of 1777 was redesignated the 9th Virginia Regiment of 1779.
• The 14th Virginia Regiment of 1777 was redesignated the 10th Virginia Regiment of 1779.
• The 15th Virginia Regiment of 1777 was redesignated the 11th Virginia Regiment of 1779.

The Virginia regiments were still understrength and continued to dwindle in 1779, reduced to a fraction of their paper strength; at this point, regimental history becomes very confusing to track. Given the number of men fit for duty, these “regiments” are not really “regiments” at all any more, yet they are still named as such. In 1780, the word “Detachment” comes into use, describing a 700-man conglomeration of these “regiments.” The 1st Virginia Detachment was led by Richard Parker. The 2nd Virginia Detachment was formed out of various regiments under the 2d Virginia Regiment’s original colonel, Brigadier General William Woodford, including elements of the 2nd Virginia Regiment. The 3rd Virginia Detachment would be formed under Colonel Abraham Buford and was composed of elements of the 7th Virginia, as well as various pieces of other units. The first two Detachments of the Virginia Line served at the Siege of Charleston in South Carolina and were surrendered to the British Army on 12 May 1780. The 3rd Detachment was cut to pieces at the Battle of Waxhaws; the Virginia line had effectively ceased to exist. The single exception was the two-company 9th Virginia Regiment of 1779, which was stationed at Fort Pitt (the present Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).