The regiment was one of two formed by the state of Rhode Island between November 1775 and January 1776 to deter an attack by the British against Rhode Island. The regiment was authorized by the Rhode Island General Assembly on January 8, 1776, in the Rhode Island State Troops as Babcock's Regiment. It was organized on January 18, 1776, with 12 companies under the command of Colonel Henry Babcock (1736–1800). Relieved on November 10, 1776, from McDougall's Brigade and assigned to Nixon's Brigade. Nixon's Brigade was re-designated on 22 December 22, 1776 as Hitchcock's Brigade. Although the regiment was enlisted for one year, the soldiers of the regiment volunteered to stay with the Army for four more weeks. This allowed the regiment to participate in the Second Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton. The regiment was disbanded on January 18, 1777, at Morristown, New Jersey.