The 3rd North Carolina Regiment was authorized on January 16, 1776 by the General Assembly. On February 27, 1776, it was assigned to the Southern Department, even though it was not yet organized.

The 3rd North Carolina Regiment was organized April 15, 1776 at Wilmington. It included eight companies from Halifax, Edenton, and Hillsborough Districts.

On February 5, 1777, it was reassigned to the Northern Department. On July 8, 1777, it was assigned to the NC Brigade, an element of the Northern Department.

On June 1, 1778, it was reduced to a mere cadre at Valley Forge, PA, and removed from the NC Brigade. On July 9, 1778, it was reorganized to consiste of nine (9) companies.

On November 7, 1778, the 3rd NC Regiment was removed from the Northern Department and reassigned to the Highlands Department. On December 19, 1778, it was removed from the Highlands Department and reassigned to the Middle Department.

On April 17, 1779, the 3rd NC Regiment was removed from the Middle Department and reassigned to the Southern Department - stationed in Philadelphia, PA. The regiment was so depleted that it was sent home to recruit new men.

On November 5, 1779, it was reorganized at Halifax, NC, with nine (9) companies.

On February 14, 1780, the 3rd NC Regiment was assigned to Parker's Brigade, an element of the Southern Department. On March 6, 1780, it was removed from Parker's Brigade and reassigned to the NC Brigade (the one and only), an element of the Southern Department.

May 12, 1780, the 3rd NC Regiment surrendered 162 men to the British Army at the Fall of Charlestown, SC.

Reconstituted from April to July of 1781, with detachments being hurriedly sent to South Carolina to support Maj. Gen. Nathanael Green. As men were recruited, they were assembled and marched southward, usually with no uniforms and with no arms or ammunition.

The regiment was furloughed on January 1, 1783 at James Island, South Carolina and officially disbanded on November 15, 1783.