In February of 1779, the NC Light Dragoons companies that had been removed from the NC Continental Line were re-assembled, along with other units, into a new NC Light Dragoons Regiment. Some considered this regiment to be Militia, while others considered them to be NC State Troops since units from all across the State were integrated into this regiment. Originally assigned to various county regimental commanders to lead in February of 1779, it was not long before these companies were consolidated under Col. François DeMalmedy.

Col. François DeMalmedy was a Continental officer in the Northern Theater who came down with Major General Benjamin Lincoln and Brigadier General Kasimir Pulaski in late 1778 or early 1779. He had no men under him when he arrived in South Carolina. During early 1779, he actively sought a command, first under Major General Benjamin Lincoln as a Continental commander; but by the Summer of 1779, he was leading the various Light Dragoon companies of North Carolina, with their first engagment at the battle of Stono Ferry, SC on June 20, 1779.

Over the next two years, many Light Horse Militia companies ended up under Col. François DeMalmedy at various engagements. This makes it quite difficult to ascertain with any certainty as to the Captains actually under his command in this regiment. Many were simply "attached" to Col. DeMalmedy out of convenience since their field officers were either sick or absent for other reasons. Some of the Captains identified above may have never been formally included in this regiment but were simply "attached" out of convenience, as mentioned.

Not long after the battle of Eutaw Springs, SC, Col. François DeMalmedy was killed in a duel by an officer named Maj. Smith Snead (VA) at the High Hills of the Santee in SC. It appears that upon his death there was no officer really pressing to keep this regiment together. The NC Light Dragoons Regiment simply dissolved and the officers returned to their home counties for re-assignment. Some ended up in the newly-recreated NC State Regiment.