1778

The winter of 1777-1778 saw the First Virginia Regiment with Washington's Army at Valley Forge. The troops built log huts and many of the officers of the Virginia Regiments were sent home during the winter to recruit for their vastly under-strength units. The American Army at Valley Forge, including the men of the First Virginia, were taught the new American Drill under the command of Baron von Steuben. During the winter, General Howe returned to England, and General Clinton took command of the British in Philadelphia. By June, Clinton decided to move his army back to New York City, and Washington saw an opportunity to take on the British with his newly trained Army.

Monmouth Courthouse

On June 28, Washington ordered General Charles Lee with 2,000 men to attack the rear of the marching British column. Lee's force joined by 1,500 Americans under General Charles Scott, soon found themselves facing the entire British Army. General Lee retreated while the Americans under General Scott held until surrounded and then they too retreated in good order. Falling back about two miles, the retreating Americans ran into General Washington riding ahead of the main American Army.

Washington managed to halt the retreat and form the Americans into a line of battle while more troops arrived to extend the line on high ground. When the British arrived they made several attacks but without coordination each was repulsed. In Sterling's Brigade, the First Virginia, alongside the First and Third New Hampshire Regiments, attacked the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment. Both sides exchanged volleys at short range with the Highlanders forced to retreat from the field. Several men of the First Virginia were killed, including Major Edmund Dickinson, while the Highlanders sustained heavy casualties.

By the end of the afternoon, heat had also taken the lives of men on both sides of the field. Both armies rested overnight and Clinton moved the British on toward New York early the next morning. With the Americans standing up to and repulsing the British the battle was considered a great victory for Washington and his Army.

By September 1778, the entire Virginia Continental Line was reduced in strength due to the hardships of campaign and disease and the three-year enlistments of many of the soldiers was about to expire. A board of officers met at White Plains, New York to consolidate the fifteen Virginia regiments to eleven. The remains of the 9th Virginia, which had suffered the capture of many of it's men at Germantown, was absorbed into the First, but this only filled six of the prescribed eight companies.