The 1st North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line

The historic 1st North Carolina Regiment was organized September 1, 1775, with men from the Wilmington District and the Salisbury District. It included ten companies and considered to be the NC Provincial Troops. On November 28, 1775, the Continental Congress ordered both the 1st and 2nd North Carolina regiments reorganized on the new Continental eight-company structure, and this was completed by January 4th, 1776. The Regiment was now officially on the Continental Line.

Between 1776 and 1777, the regiment changed from the Southern Department and Northern Department. On July 19, 1779, the NC Brigade, including the 1st NC Regiment, was reassigned to the Highlands Department. The NC Brigade was then reassigned on November 11, 1779 to the Southern Department and all regiments were marched to Charlestown, SC. On May 12, 1780, the 1st NC Regiment surrendered 278 men to the British Army at the Fall of Charlestown, SC.

The Regiment was reconstituted from April to July of 1781, with detachments being hurriedly sent to South Carolina to support Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene. As men were recruited, they were assembled and marched southward, usually with no uniforms and with no arms or ammunition. Ultimately, the 1st NC Regiment again became part of the NC Brigade, an element of the Southern Department. The regiment was furloughed on April 23, 1783 at James Island, South Carolina and officially disbanded on November 15, 1783.

Today, at Tryon Palace, the First North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line is made up of volunteers who have a strong desire to portray soldier life with historical accuracy. They represent Governor Tryon’s militia (pre-Revolution), NC militia (wartime), and a contingent of the British 82nd Regiment Afoot (wartime).  If interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Gary Riggs at gary.riggs@dncr.nc.gov.