Near Bland in Bland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Battle of Wytheville
Into the Valley of Death
Photographed by Mark Parker, March 19, 2024
1. Battle of Wytheville Marker
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 Abbs Valley in the rear of the column. Tolands force probably
this page online
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails. (Marker Number 1.)
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 date for this entry is July 13, 1863.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 2.736′ N, 81° 13.686′ W. Marker was near Bland, Virginia, in Bland County. It was 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. 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. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 8711 Stony Fork Rd, Bland VA 24315, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Southwest Virginia and in the Blue Ridge Highlands. It was also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found 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 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Wythe County / Bland County (within shouting distance of this marker); Tolands Raid (within shouting distance of this marker); One of the Big Four (approx. 2.2 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Wytheville (approx.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 30, 2011
2. Battle of Wytheville Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. One of the "Big Four" (was approx. 2.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. 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.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 30, 2011
3. Battle of Wytheville Marker
Photographed 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.
Photographed by J. J. Prats
5. Walker Mountain From the Observation Tower
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 30, 2011
6. A View of the Valley from the Observation Tower
Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 4,497 times since then and 157 times this year. Last updated on April 30, 2026, by Jacob Gutman of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photos: 1. submitted on March 19, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 2, 3. submitted on July 1, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 3, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
