Near Wytheville in Wythe County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Battle of Wytheville
The First Skirmish
May had been pursuing and harassing Toland’s rear guard for more than a hundred miles. Gen. John S. Williams, hoping to block the Federals’ avenues of escape, had ordered May to “advance and check them at advantageous positions.” At or near where you are now standing May struck a sudden blow. During a brief engagement, he freed all of the thirty-five soldiers taken by Toland at Abb’s Valley. He also killed eight of Toland’s men and captured twenty, as well as a “number of citizens and Negroes.” May’s attack reduced the strength of the 34th Regiment Mounted Ohio Volunteer Infantry to 802 officers and men. The Confederate losses are unknown. Despite May’s assault, however, Toland pressed on toward Wytheville and the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
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This is the Stony Fork Road (old highway 52) looking north about six miles from Wytheville. Walker Mountain can be seen in the distance. On July 18, 1863, Col. John T. Toland marched into Wytheville on this road. — Courtesy of the Wythe County Historical Society
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1949.
Location. 37° 0.612′ N, 81° 11.412′ W. Marker is near Wytheville, Virginia, in Wythe County. Marker is at the intersection of Stony Fork Road (U.S. 52) and Krenning Road (Virginia Route 717), on the right when traveling south on Stony Fork Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wytheville VA 24382, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Homesteader's Legacy (approx. 2.6 miles away); One of the “Big Four” (approx. 2.8 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Wytheville (approx. 3.1 miles away); Toland’s Raid (approx. 3.2 miles away); Wythe County / Bland County (approx. 3.2 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Wytheville (approx. 3.2 miles away); The Flohr House (approx. 5.9 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Wytheville (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wytheville.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 928 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 5, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.