Near Bland in Bland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Toland’s Raid
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 30, 2011
1. Toland’s Raid Marker
Col. John T. Toland of the 34th Regiment Mounted Ohio Volunteer Infantry leading Federal cavalrymen, marched from Tazewell County, and raided Wytheville during the evening of 18 July 1863. Confederate troops under Maj. Thomas M. Bowyer and local citizens fortified in buildings at first withstood the attack, killing Toland. After the Confederates withdrew, Federal forces burned several buildings. After learning that Confederate troops were situated at present day Rural Retreat, the federals left Wytheville early the next morning initially headed north towards Walker Mountain.
Erected 2005 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KC-4.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 18, 1863.
Location. 37° 2.74′ N, 81° 13.642′ W. Marker is near Bland, Virginia, in Bland County. It is at the intersection of Stony Fork Road / South Scenic Highway (U.S. 52) and Old Mountain Road (County Route 621), on the right when traveling south on Stony Fork Road / South Scenic Highway. Marker is at Big Walker Mountain Lookout. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8711 Stony Fork Rd, Wytheville VA 24382, 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 the North Atlantic Region, 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.
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. Battle of Wytheville (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named 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. This marker replaced a 1932 marker with the same title and number that read, “Over this pass, Union cavalry under Colonel John T. Toland raided to Wytheville to destroy the Virginia and Tennessee railway (N.& W.), July, 1863. Mary Tynes, a girl of the neighborhood, rode ahead to warn the people. When the raiders reached Wytheville, they were repulsed by the Home Guards and Toland was killed.”
Also see . . .
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 30, 2011
2. Toland’s Raid and County Line Markers
The observation tower at the Big Walker Lookout General Store is in the distance.
Unlike the original marker, the new one makes no mention of Molly Tynes. Her story is on this link. “As the legend goes, Molly learned about the Union plans and decided to risk a harrowing ride across several mountain ranges to warn Wytheville’s townspeople of the Yankee approach. So it was Molly left home late in the afternoon on July 17, 1863, on her mare, ‘Fashion,’ rode more than 40 miles over mountain ranges, through historic Burke’s Garden and finally across Big Walker Mountain, and arrived in Wytheville at about dawn the next day, July 18, to exclaim, ‘Yankees are coming’.” (Submitted on July 4, 2011.)
via Blue Mountain Country, unknown
3. "Molly" Tynes and the original marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,305 times since then and 81 times this year. Last updated on August 22, 2013, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on July 3, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 2. submitted on July 4, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on February 23, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
