Floyd in Floyd County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Last Cavalry Raid

Stoneman in Floyd County: "The Yankees are Coming!"

— Stoneman's Raid —

Last Cavalry Raid Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 2, 2026

1. Last Cavalry Raid Marker

Inscription. On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,00 cavalrymen from Tennesse into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the North Carolina Railroad, and the Piedmont Railroad. He struck at Boone on March 28, headed into Virginia on April 2, and returned to North Carolina a week later. Stoneman's Raid ended at Ashevlie on April 26, the day that Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Union Gen. William T. Sherman near Durham.

On April 3, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman sent detachments from Hillsville to attack the lead mines near Wytheville as well as the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad depots, bridges, culverts, and tracks, and "if practicable" Lynchburg and Danville. He and his remaining 3,500 men headed for Christiansburg, riding northeast toward Jacksonville (now Floyd) "along with camp followers, deserters, runaway slaves, thieves and robbers." On April 4, a few of the "home guard" (men too young or old for regular service) fired on them. The Federals fired back, killing Lt. James M. "Mat"

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Howard. Confederate surgeon Capt. Callohill M. Stigleman's wife warned their son, as the raiders neared Jacksonville, " The Yankees are coming!" Realizing that the situation was hopeless, Capt. Stigleman surrendered the town. Many years later, former slave Wise Headen recalled that Stigleman "waved a stick with a white handkerchief on it." After accepting the surrender, Stoneman and his staff ate supper at Stigleman's house (still standing at 406 E. Main St.). Some of the raiders bivouacked nearby while others occupied Jacksonville. Not all residents resented this short occupation, including Union sympathizers and some Confederate deserters who hid in the county's mountains.

On April 5, Stoneman reached Christians-burg, and then retraced his route through Jacksonville on April 6. Stoneman had accomplished most of his mission by damaging the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad east and west of Christiansburg. Three days later, the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox Court House, 100 miles east of here.

(Captions)
Gen. George Stoneman Library of Congress

Lt James M. "Mat" Howard Courtesy Floyd County Historical Society Museum

Capt. Callohill M. Stigleman in 1904 Courtesy Floyd County Historical Society Museum

Federals shot a drunken comrade as he approached the 1846 Jacksonville Male Academy (then across the street) against orders. Courtesy Floyd County Historical Society Museum

Erected by Virginia

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 2, 2026

2. Last Cavalry Raid Marker

Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 3, 1865.

Location. 36° 54.825′ N, 80° 19.237′ W. Marker is in Floyd, Virginia, in Floyd County. It is on North Locust Street (Virginia Route 8) south of Penn Avenue NW, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 217 North Locust Street, Floyd VA 24091, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 2, 2026

3. Last Cavalry Raid Marker

8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: "The Ridgemont" (here, next to this marker); Floyd County Confederate Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Floyd County War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Floyd (approx. 0.2 miles away); Glenanna (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jacksonville Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nannie Harmon Howard House (approx. ¼ mile away); Robley Evans (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Floyd.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 2, 2026

4. Last Cavalry Raid Marker

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 2, 2026

5. Last Cavalry Raid Marker

Civil War Trails Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, May 2, 2026

6. Civil War Trails Sign

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 31 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 4, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.