On September 1, 1775, North Carolina's 1,000 continentals were arranged in two regiments, each consisting of three field officers, an adjutant, and ten companies. The companies assembled at Salisbury beginning in October. 

On November 28, 1775 the Continental Congress ordered both North Carolina regiments reorganized on the new Continental eight-company structure. It went on to authorize a third regiment on January 16, 1776 and two more regiments on March 26, 1776.

The Continental Congress accepted the 6th North Carolina Regiment on 7 May (retroactively) and subsequently adopted three troops of light horse and an artillery company which the colony had raised during the summer.

Instead of a seventh regiment, five independent companies of state troops were authorized to defend specific points. Two were standard-sized companies, but the other three each had only sixty privates. On May 3, 1777, a 24-man company was added to garrison a frontier fort.

1776 and 1777 - Colonel Thomas Polk led the regiment.