The Third Virginia Regiment

1781 - 1783: Colonel Abraham Buford in command from February 12th 1781 to the close of the war.

1778 - 1781: Colonel William Heath was in command from April 30th 1778 to February 12th, 1781.

1776 - 1776: Colonel Hugh Mercer was in command from February 13th 1776 to June 5th 1776.

1776-1777: Colonel George Weedon was in command from August 13th 1776 to February 27th, 1777.

1777-1777: Colonel Thomas Nelson JR was in command from February 21st 1777 to December 4th 1777.

In early 1776 he joined the Third Virginia Regiment in the Continental Army where his background as a college student and the son of a well known planter enabled him to obtain an officers commission. In June 1775, after the battles of Lexington and Concord, Monroe, and some other William and Mary students joined 24 other men in raiding the arsenal at the Governors Palace in Williamsburg. They used the loot of 200 muskets and 300 swords to arm the Williamsburg Militia.

Washington became part of the 3rd Virginia Regiment Continental Line on February 25th, 1776, commanding its 7th Company. On January 27th, 1777, Washington was promoted to the rank of major and assigned to the newly created 4th Continental Light Dragoons.