Virginia Regiment
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The Virginia Regiment was formed in 1754 by Virginia's Royal Governor Robert Dinwiddie, initially as an all volunteer militia corps, and he promoted George Washington, the future first president of the United States of America, to its command upon the death of Colonel Joshua Fry. Washington, who had previously been a lieutenant colonel of the Virginia militia, received a promotion to colonel when he assumed command. The regiment served in the French and Indian War, with members participating in actions (all under Washington's command) at Jumonville Glen and Fort Necessity in 1754, the Braddock expedition in 1755, and the Forbes expedition in 1758. Small detachments of the regiment were also involved in numerous minor actions along Virginia's extensive wilderness frontier.
Most recruits were characterized by Washington as "loose, Idle Persons... quite destitute of House, and Home." Hampered by frequent desertions because of poor supplies, extremely low pay .[citation needed] and hazardous duty, Virginia Regiment recruiters went to Pennsylvania and Maryland for men. Washington also said of them, " and not a few... have Scarce a Coat, or Waistcoat, to their Backs". Later drafts pulled only those who could not provide a substitute or pay the £10 exemption fee, ensuring that only Virginia's poor would be drafted. White males between 16 and 50 were permitted to serve, although the regiment's size rolls report men as young as 15 and as old as 60 in the ranks, along with references to a small number of drafts with partial African and native American ancestry.
The Virginia Regiment is noteworthy in the colonies because it was the first all-colonial professional military force.[citation needed] Although colonials had served in the British Army, and local militias were common, the regiment was the only unit at the time to drill regularly and wear a standard uniform.
When Virginia ordered the creation of multiple regiments in 1775 with the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, these were called the Virginia Line.
