The National tribune., 1901-04-25
BLUE SPRINGS BATTLE.
Col. Allen. of the 7th Ohio Cav, Estimates
Buruside's Strength at over 10, ,000

| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
chapter of George Dallas Mosgrove's "Bu
gle Notes from Dixie" relating to the bat
| tie at Blue Springs, Tenn, which occurred
Oct. 10, 1863, he gives me as his authority
| for stating that Burnside had about 10,00(
| troops ON this field. Some of the Union
| veterans who are reading Mosgroye's "Bu
| gle Notes" have gone down into theiI
| boot-legs and produced regimental histories
| trying thereby to demonstrate that Mos
groves. statement regarding Gen. Burn,
| sides force is not correct. 1t is hardly
to be expected that the regimental his
| torians can with any, degree Of accuracy
go beyond the limits of their own regi-
ments, and as a demonstration of this fact
permit me to attach hereto Gen. Burn
sides report on the battle of Blue Springs,
| wherein he specifies the troops engaged,
figure up or cipher out, either mentally or
with slate and pencil, that there were
more than 10000 Union troops on this
battlefeld.-CAPT. TRHo. T. ALLEN, 7th
Ohio Cav, Cincinnati, o. T..
GEN. BURNsIDE's REPORT on THE BATTLE
OF BLUE SPRINGS.
By the Both of September the whole of
the Ninth Corps had arrived, numbering
about 6,000 men. On the 9th Of October
Gen. Wilcox reported to me,from Cumber-
land Gap with four new regiments of In
diana troops, and was ordered to Morris
town, and from thence to Bulls Gap.
l now determined to push our advance
farther up the valley, and for that pur-
pose sent the Ninth Corps, under Brig
Gen. r. B. Potter, together with all the
cavalry, under Gen. Shakelford, in that
direction. They were Joined by division
of Gen. Wilcox at Bulls Gap on the 9Th.
Col Hoskins's Brigade, which was at Nor
ristown, was ordered to report to Gen.
Wilcox. l left Knoxville on the morning
Of the 9th and overlook our forces on the
same day at Bulls Gap.
On the following morning the advance
was ordered, and at Blue Springs, midway
between Bulls Gap and Greenyille, the
enemy were found posted In heavy
force and in a strong position, be-
tween the wagon road and railroad at
Greenville. Our cavalry ecr"ried him with
skirmishing until late In the afternoon.
Col. Fosters Brigade was sent around to
to establish himself on the line over which
he would have to retreat, at point near
Rheatown. 1t was not desirable to press
the enemy until Col. Foster had time to
reach this point. directed Capt. Poe
(my Chief Engineer) to make a reconnois-
to making the attack at the proper time.
The ground was selected upon which the
attacking force was to be formed, and at
$3.50 o'clock, believing. sufficient time had
been given to Col. Foster to reach the
desired point, l ordered Gen. Potter to
move up his command, the Ninth Corps,
and endeavor to break through the center
OF the enemy's line. By p. m. he had
formed Gen. Ferrerro's Division for the
attack. When the order to advance was
given this division moved forward in the
most dashing manner, driving the enemy
from his first line.
During the night he retreated, and we
pursued early In the morning, driving him
again beyond the Watauga River, beyond
which point our cavalry was directed to
hold him. Col. Fosters Brigade, which
had been sent out to cut off his retreat,
met with serious difficulty In the way of
rough roads, so that he did not reach the
point on the enemy's line Of retreat in
time to make the necessary preparations
to check him until our pursuing forces
came up.
Col Hoskins's Brigade of Infantry was
left at Jonesboro in support Of the cavalry
in the advance and Gen. Wilcox at Green
vile. The Ninth Corps returned to Knox
ville.-A. e. BURNSIDE, Major General.