1st North Carolina Regiment


The 1st North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army was raised on September 1, 1775, at Wilmington, North Carolina. In January 1776 the organization contained eight companies. Francis Nash was appointed colonel in April 1776. The regiment was present at the defense of Charleston in 1776. It transferred from the Southern Department to George Washington's main army in February of 1777. At that time, Thomas Clark became colonel of the 1st Regiment. The regiment became part of General Francis Nash's North Carolina Brigade in July.

Commanders

The commanders were full colonels and included:
Known lieutenant colonels included
Known majors included
In 1777 the 1st North Carolina saw action at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown and it was present at White Marsh. Still led by Clark, it fought at Monmouth in June of 1778. The North Carolina Brigade marched south under the command of James Hogun and arrived at Charlestown, South Carolina in March of 1780. The 1st Regiment was captured by the British army at the Siege of Charleston on May 12, 1780. Clark and 287 men became prisoners. The regiment was reformed in the summer of 1781 and fought well in Jethro Sumner's brigade at Eutaw Springs in September that year. The 1st North Carolina was furloughed on April 23, 1783 at James Island, South Carolina and disbanded on November 15, 1783.
The complete list of engagements of the regiment include the following:
Other officers included the surgeon, surgeon's mater, quartermaster, commissary, chaplain, muster master, deputy muster master, paymaster, and captains. The captains led a company that included a lieutenant, ensign, sergeant, corporal, fifers, drummers, and privates. The original captains of the 1st North Carolina Regiment included:
Original Ensigns