While
Burnside's forces in
east Tennessee were concentrating at
Knoxville (q. v.), they had many encounters with the
Confederates.
One of these occurred at
Blue Springs, not far from
Bull's Gap.
There the
Confederates had gathered in considerable force.
A brigade of National cavalry, supported by a small force of infantry, was then at
Bull's Gap.
The cavalry pressed forward to
Blue Springs, where the
Confederates were commanded by
Gen. S. Jones.
After a desultory fight for about twenty-four hours (Oct. 10 and 11, 1863) the
Confederates broke and fled, leaving their dead on the field.
They were pursued and struck from time to time by
General Shackleford and his cavalry, and driven out of the
State.
The pursuers penetrated
Virginia 10 miles beyond
Bristol.
In the
battle of Blue Springs the Nationals lost about 100 men in killed and wounded.
The Confederate loss was a little greater.