The Virginia Regiment was formed in 1754 by Virginia 's Governor Dinwiddie, initially as an all volunteer corps. Lt. Col. George Washington assumed command (and promotion to Colonel) upon the death of Col. Joshua Fry in 1754.

Most recruits were characterized by George Washington as "loose, Idle Persons... quite destitute of House, and Home." Hampered by frequent desertions because of poor supplies, extremely low pay and hazardous duty, Virginia regiment recruiters went to Pennsylvania and Maryland for men. Many of these recruits lacked proper clothing " and not a few... have Scarce a Coat, or Waistcoat, to their Backs" ( Washington ). Later drafts pulled only those who could not provide a substitute or pay the 10 pound exemption fee, ensuring that the 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.

Prior to the Braddock expedition, Dinwiddie sought to quell arguments over rank seniority (between provincial officers with state commissions and regular army officers with Royal commissions), by breaking the unit up into independent companies and demoting its officers. Washington resigned and was appointed to Braddock's staff as a volunteer, but resumed command in September 1755 when the regiment was reorganized.

Washington had the men trained in standard infantry tactics, as well as ordering his officers to see that the men "regularly practiced in Shooting at Targets, in order that they may acquire a Dexterity in that kind of firing." . Governor Dinwiddie wrote Washington in December 1755 that "I hope the Men are duly exercised & taught the Indian Method of fighting, that they may be prepard for Action in the Spring." Correspondence survives confirming that this order was carried out.

After the death of Frye , Washington commanded the unit until he resigned upon the fall of Fort Duquesne in 1758. The regiment served on until 1762 under William Byrd and Col. Stephen. The Virginia Regiment served at Fort Necessity , with Braddock along the Monongahela River , along with the Sandy Creek Expedition, under Forbes on the third expedition against Fort Duquesne , and later marched against the Cherokees in the Carolinas , as well as manning Virginia 's chain of small forts and patrolling along the frontier throughout the war.

A Brief History of the Original Waggener’s Company:

Thomas Waggener first appeared in the Virginia records as appointed officer in the Virginia contingent of the planned, but never executed, Canadian campaign of 1746. He was appointed lieutenant by Lieutenant-Governor Robert Dinwiddie in 1754. He was wounded slightly in the skirmish with the French which took place just prior to the Fort Necessity battle. He was promoted to captain when the regiment joined the Braddock campaign in 1755. He was wounded in the Battle of the Monongahela in July. When the regiment was reorganized in August 1755 with George Washington as colonel, Waggener was given a company and was stationed on Virginia ís outer frontier on the South Branch of the Potomac River in Hampshire County from fall 1755 to summer 1758. Subalterns of the company were Lt. Walter Stewart (sometimes spelled Steuart) and Ens. Nathaniel Milner. He and his company served on the successful Forbes campaign against Fort Duquesne in 1758. Waggener was with the vanguard of the army when it arrived at Fort Duquesne after the French had burned and abandoned it. The captain of Company 3 was stationed at what is now Pittsburgh in the newly built Fort Pitt until the end of 1759, when he returned to Virginia . He died in 1760. It is not known who obtained command of his company, Company 3, after he retired from service.