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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Near Wytheville in Wythe County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic) |
Battle of Wytheville
Into the Valley of Death
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By J. J. Prats, May 30, 2011 | |
| | | 1. Battle of Wytheville Marker | | |
Inscription. On July 13, 1863, Union Col. John T. Toland led 872 officers and men of
the 34th Regiment Mounted Ohio Volunteer Infantry from Camp Piatt,
West Virginia, into Southwest Virginia to attack the railroads, telegraphs,
and salt and lead mines essential to the Confederate cause. Five exhausting days later, the raiders arrived near where you are now standing for
their first view of the valley before the Battle of Wytheville.
The day after the march began, Toland fought the first engagement
of the raid at Piney Creek, West Virginia, killing and wounding nine Confederate soldiers. Toland lost two killed and three wounded. On the, same
day, Toland received orders directing him to “move immediately upon the
railroad at Wytheville,
Virginia.” Later, six
miles west of Raleigh
(present-day Beckley),
West Virginia, the regiment dismissed the
wagon train that carried the supplies.
The train, including
unserviceable horses
and men unfit for
combat, returned to
Camp Piatt.
After bivouacking overnight at Jeffersonville (modern-day Tazewell),
Virginia, on July 17, Toland broke camp about 3 a.m. to march to Wytheville
to destroy the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad tracks. He placed thirty-five prisoners of war, several African Americans, and 20 horses captured
at Abb’s Valley in the rear of the column. | | | | 
By J. J. Prats, May 30, 2011 | |
| | | 2. Battle of Wytheville Marker | | |
Toland’s force probably arrived
here about 3 p.m. on July 18.
Erected by Virginia Civil Was Trails.
Marker series. This marker is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails marker series.
Location. 37° 2.736′ N, 81° 13.686′ W. Marker is near Wytheville, Virginia, in Wythe County. Marker is at the intersection of South Scenic Highway (U.S. 52) and Old Mountain Road (County Route 621), on the right when traveling south on South Scenic Highway. Click for map. It is at Big Walker Lookout on Big Walker Mountain. The county line cuts through the new general store. The old general store building and observation tower is in Bland County. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8711 Stony Fork Rd, Wytheville VA 24382, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Wythe County / Bland County (within shouting distance of this marker); Toland’s Raid (within shouting distance of this marker); One of the “Big Four” (approx. 2.2 miles away); Henry C. Groseclose (approx. 6.6 miles away); Bland (approx. 6.9 miles away); Site of James Burke’s Garden (approx. 7.7 miles away); Crockett’s Cove (approx. 8.9 miles away); Burke’s Garden (approx. 9 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Wytheville.
More about this marker. | | | | | | 3. Close Up of Sketch on Marker | | Caption reads, “troops destroying railroad tracks, sketch by Alfred A. Waud.” | | |
Marker contains an un-captioned photograph of the valley on the lower right, a map of area on the lower right, and a sketch by Alfred A. Waud of troops destroying railroad tracks, center right. |
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By J. J. Prats | |
| | | 4. Observation Tower at Marker | | Colonel Toland's men would have appreciated this tower. They had to climb the summit (Photo 5) for the best view the valleys. Pay $5 at the general store at the lookout to climb the tower. | | |
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By J. J. Prats | |
| | | 5. Walker Mountain From the Observation Tower | | |
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By J. J. Prats, May 30, 2011 | |
| | | 6. A View of the Valley from the Observation Tower | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on July 1, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Springfield, Virginia. This page has been viewed 444 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 1, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Springfield, Virginia. 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 3, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Springfield, Virginia.
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