On 18 July 1863, Colonel John T. Toland of the 34th Regiment Mounted Ohio Volunteer Infantry led Federal cavalrymen from Tazewell County in a raid on Wytheville during the evening. Confederate troops under Major Thomas M. Bowyer and local citizens, fortified in buildings, at first withstood the attack and killed 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 toward Walker Mountain.

Photo: via Blue Mountain Country

Photo: J. J. Prats