Commissions for senior rank such as Colonel, Captain, Lieutenant, and Ensign were signed by the Governor of the state, and the officers served at this rank until they resigned, were replaced, or promoted. These recommendations and assignments were recorded by the Clerk of Courts. Lesser ranks such as Sergeant, Corporal, Drummer, and Fifer were commissioned by the militia itself and did not require a higher level approval, nor were they recorded by the court.

Companies made up the smallest unit of the army and were commanded by a captain who generally had a lieutenant, a 2nd lieutenant, and one or two ensigns serving directly under him. Below that were found several sergeants, two to four corporals, and then the company drummer and fifer. Normally 50 to 60 men served in a company, usually for a term of one month.

Unlike the Continental Army, the Militia operated on a one-month-on/one-month-off schedule; each month one unit was relieved of duty while another unit took their place. This allowed the local men to continue their farming and businesses without undue interruption or duress, and probably contributed to the overwhelming number of volunteers who signed on to serve in the militia.

The names of the officers below are listed alphabetically, followed by their highest rank, and the date when that commission request was recorded. Records are found in Loudoun County Order Book G are given with their pages.

" * " means the data appeared in the last four pages at the back of Order Book G, Vol 2 which began military commission records from 1778.

Commissions for 1776 and 1777 were scattered throughout Order Book G, Vol 1. A number of Captains were referenced (by last name only) on page 8, dated January 1777, as part of the Tithables List for February 1777. The Tithes Lists in this case did include the full name of the individual and their general residence (east or west) in the county.