• Authorized on December 28, 1775 in the Continental Army as the 5th Virginia Regiment.
• Assigned on February 27, 1776 to the Southern Department.
• Organized on February 28, 1776 at Richmond Court House to consist of 10 companies from Lancaster, Richmond, Westmoreland, Spotsylvania, Northampton, Chesterfield, Henrico, Bedford, and Loudoun Counties.
• Relieved on September 3, 1776 from the Southern Department and assigned Stephen's Brigade, an element of the Main Continental Army.
• Relieved on May 22, 1777 from Stephen's Brigade and assigned to the 1st Virginia Brigade, an element of the Main Continental Army.
• Reorganized on November 1, 1777 to consist of 8 companies.
• Consolidated on May 12, 1779 with the 3rd Virginia Regiment.

Lineage taken from "The Continental Army" by Robert K Wright

• Chesapeake Bay
• Northern New Jersey
• Trenton - Princeton
• Defense of Philadelphia
• Philadelphia - Monmouth

The 5th Virginia Regiment was raised on December 28, 1775 at Richmond, Virginia for service with the U.S. Continental Army. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. The regiment was merged into the 3rd Virginia Regiment on May 12, 1779.