The First Virginia Regiment is dedicated to inspiring patriotism, educating the public, and portraying with reasonable accuracy the soldiers and civilians of the Continental Army.
The First Virginia Regiment was authorized by the Virginia Convention of July 17, 1775, as a provincial defense unit composed of six musket and two rifle companies under the command of Patrick Henry. Each company was to consist of 68 enlisted men, with officers to include a captain, lieutenant and ensign (second lieutenant). On December 28, 1775, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia recommended that each regiment should have 10 companies, and the First Virginia soon raised two more musket companies.
Over the course of the war the 1VA Reg’t saw action in the following locations:
Hampton, Jamestown, Norfolk, Great Bridge, Harlem Heights, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Valley Forge (winter of 1777-1778), Monmouth, Stony Point, Charleston, Yorktown
The Recreated 1st VA Reg’t
The recreated First Virginia Regiment is a Revolutionary War living history and reenactment group that was formed in 1975 and is a founding member of the Continental Line. We portray Continental Army troops from the State of Virginia from 1775 through 1783. The group consists of soldiers who portray the Musket Company, the Rifle Platoon, the Artillery Crew, Musick, or the Mounted Dragoons. In addition, some members portray civilians who followed and supported the Army.
The key goals of the Regiment are:
- To further the education of the members and the public about American history by way of following as closely as possible the actual conditions prevailing at the time of the American Revolution and immediately thereafter
- To rekindle the flames of patriotism and otherwise seek to inspire the involvement and appreciation of all Virginians and Americans in the celebration of America’s independence
- To better understand the conditions, attitudes, and experiences of those soldiers and civilians of that period who so wholly dedicated themselves to the causes of freedom