Authorized on May 25, 1776 as an Extra Continental regiment, the unit recruited ethnic Germans from Maryland and Pennsylvania. The Continental Congress appointed Nicholas Haussegger to command the battalion. which initially organized in the strength of eight companies. While the unit assembled at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a ninth company was added. The regiment consisted of 5 companies from eastern Pennsylvania, 2 companies from Baltimore County, Maryland, and 2 companies from Fredrick County, Maryland. It was assigned to the on June 26, 1776 to the Middle Department. The battalion fought at Trenton in December 1776, where its soldiers called out in German for the Hessians to lay down their arms. Reassigned on October 8, 1779 from the Hand's Brigade and it was assigned to the on September 16, 1780 to the New Jersey Brigade, an element of the main Continental Army. Disbanded on January 1, 1781 at Morristown, New Jersey, and Baltimore, Maryland.