Virginia. Regiment (1754-1762)

The Virginia regiment was organized as the colony's armed forces in March 1754. From June 1754 through 1758, it was under the command of George Washington. Following Washington's resignation in 1758, the command passed to Colonel William Byrd III. Byrd resigned in Septermber and was succeeded by Adam Stephen. During Amherst's expedition against the Cherokees in June 1761, the regiment was stationed at the Great Island of the Holston River. Because the Virginia Assembly had agreed to maintain the regiment until the end of the Cherokee hostilities, it was disbanded in February 1762. The regiment was reactivated a month later when the news of Britain's declaration of war on Spain reached Williamsburg. The men were posted at Frederickbsurg and remained there until December 1, 1762 when it was disbanded for the second and last time.