Battle of Wytheville

Battle of Wytheville. The Road to Mount Airy Depot. , In the early evening of July 18, 1863, a Union raiding party under Col. John Toland arrived at the instersection just north of here. Toland had led his mounted force over Walker Moutnain, 7 miles north, with orders to destroy the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad near Wytheville., When Toland reached this area, he detached two companies of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry and ordered them to stirke the railroad at Mount Airy Depot (present-day Rural Retreat), "tear up the track and cut the telegraph wires," and then continue the path of destruction along the railroad towards town. The detached companies, about 100 men, moved down Black Lick Road, passing to your right., Toland continued with the rest of his force towards Wytheville, 5 miles away. He initially planned to divide his command again 2 miles east of here, taking part of it to destroy the railroad bridge (Walters or High Bridge) that spanned Reed Creek. But after learning that Confederate troops had arrived in Wytheville , and realizing he had sent only his reliable guide with the detachment to Mount Airy Depot , he changed his mind and ordered his entire remaining command to march on Wytheville with plans to deal with the railroad bridge after capturing the town., Meanwhile, the two companies Toland had detached to attack Mount Airy Depot accomplished nothing. According to their report, the depot was too strongly guarded, garrisoned by 300 men, so they aborted their mission and rode to rejoin the main force at Wytheville, but did not arrive until after the fighting there had ended.,

"The enemy sent a detachment of about 100 men on the road leading to Mount Airy." , , Confederate Gen. John S. Williams

, [Captions:] , Walters (or High) Bridge spanning Reed Creek southwest of Wytheville. The bridge was a target during Toland's Raid but was not destroyed during the war.