• Authorized on September 16, 1776 in the Continental Army as the 12th Virginia Regiment.
• Assigned on December 27, 1776 to the Main Continental Army.
• Organized on February 12, 1777 to consist of 5 companies from Hampshire, Berkley, Botetourt, Dunmore and Prince Edward Counties and 4 existing companies of State Troops (organized August 1775 - September 1776 from Botetourt, Augusta, Hampshire and Frederick Counties and the West Augusta District) in garrison at Fort Pitt, Point Pleasant, Tyger's Valley and Wheeling.
• Assigned on May 11, 1777 to the 4th Virginia Brigade, an element of the Main Continental Army.
• 4th Virginia Brigade redesignated 22 July 22, 1778 as the 3rd Virginia Brigade.
• Reorganized on November 1, 1777 to consist of 8 companies.
• Reorganized and redesignated on May 12, 1779 as the 8th Virginia Regiment, to consist of 9 companies; concurrently relieved from the 3rd Virginia Brigade and assigned to the 2nd Virginia Brigade.
• Relieved on December 4, 1779 from the 2nd Virginia Brigade and assigned to the Southern Department.
• Captured on May 12, 1780 by the British Army at Charleston, South Carolina.
• Disbanded on January 1, 1783

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

• Northern New Jersey
• Defense of Philadelphia
• Philadelphia - Monmouth
• Charleston 1780

The 12th Virginia Regiment was raised on September 16, 1776 at Williamsburg, Virginia for service with the (U.S.) Continental Army. The regiment saw action in the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. Most of the regiment was captured at Charlestown, South Carolina on May 12, 1780 by the British and the regiment was formally disbanded on January 1, 1783.