At this site, the Battle of Blue Springs was fought for possession of the East Tennessee Railroad. Federal IX Corps under Gen. A.E. Burnside defeated Confederate Gen. J.S. Williams' army of 1,700, which lost 66 killed and wounded and 150 prisoners. The battle line extended 2 miles. Williams reported that the Federals had 15,000 Union troops. It was the last major battle in upper East Tennessee.