The Mosheim Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Wednesday voted unanimously to "dissolve" the Battle of Blue Springs Committee.

That and other actions taken Wednesday effectively eliminated planning for reenacting the 1863 Civil War battle either this year or in 2011.

Until last year, the town had underwritten reenacting the battle reenactment for 16 years.

The board's action came in response to a Feb. 22 e-mail from Jim "Pudden" Allen, the battle's executive director, to Mosheim Mayor Billy Myers.

In that letter, Allen stated, "I would like permission to formally dissolve the Battle of Blue Springs Committee, since there are no future plans for the event to be solely hosted by the Town of Mosheim."

Alderman Tommy Gregg said he agreed with Allen about the need to dissolve the committee, if no plans exist for holding the battle.

"I can see dissolving the committee if there are no future plans for the event to be held solely by the town," Gregg said.

The town voted in late 2008 not to hold the reenactment in 2009, primarily because Allen had accepted a promotion with the Wellmont hospital system that would not allow him to take two weeks off in October to work on the battle, as he had done for the past several years.

The Town of Mosheim was the principal sponsor of the reenactment weekend for 16 years in a row, until last year.

A number of businesses, industries and individuals have supported various aspects at various levels, especially the "Education Day" on the Friday before the weekend's battle reenctments.

The Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Areas, based at Middle Tennessee State University, had been a strong supporter of the event.

However, the battle has never been able to attract an ongoing sponsor.

Alderman Gregg noted that Allen had expressed interest in trying to have a "scaled down Education Day" in 2011.

"I guess what (Allen is) asking, is; what are our intentions?" Gregg said.

Several aldermen and Mayor Billy Myers said they do not believe the town of Mosheim can afford to support the reenactment in view of the condition of the economy, and the likelihood of a long recovery once improvement begins.

"I think it's going to take years," said Alderman Harold Smith. Mayor Myers agreed.

"We ought to let them dissolve the whole thing (the reenactment and related efforts) until things get better," Smith said, adding, "Nobody knows how long it will be."
Alderman Claude Weems Jr., who is also a member of the county school board and a strong advocate for the battle's educational side, said, "One of these days there will be another reenactment, but it needs to involve a lot more than the town of Mosheim."

Gregg made a motion that the town give Allen "permission to dissolve the committee at this time. Then, in the event of future economic improvements," the town can "look into the possibility" of resuming the event.

Alderman Smith agreed, and seconded the motion. "We can have a vote to resume it again, sometime."

The vote was unanimous.

Allen, reached by telephone this morning, said, "The writing has been on the wall for some time," because of the poor national and local economies.

Allen said the Mosheim Board of Mayor and Aldermen should be commended for sponsoring the reenactment for 16 years, and for making the Battle of Blue Springs a success that is recognized nationally in the reenacting hobby.

"The town has made its decision based on fiscal responsibility and I respect that," Allen said.

He said many of the larger Civil War reenacting units held a national planning meeting in Chattanooga in January, looking ahead to the battle of Bull Run next year, and especially to the four-year sesquicentennial anniversary of the Civil War that will begin in 2011 and continue through 2015.

In addition to the economy, Allen said that this upcoming anniversary period is forcing reenactor units to "pick and choose and save their money, and decide which battles they will participate in."

Larger battle re-enactments are getting more attention.

Locally, Allen said, his own efforts have focused more on a reenacting organization called the "Tennessee Civil War Campaigns," a not-for-profit organization which has the same educational and historical promotion goals as the battle.

The Mosheim Board also voted to pay the 79th New York Infantry $400 it is owed for restoring a horse-drawn wagon that belongs to the town and is used for the reenactment.

Allen also mentioned this in his letter.

This morning he said the town sent the reenacting unit a check several years ago, but it was never cashed, and he wanted to tie up that loose end.

The town also voted to stop paying the cost of maintaining the Battle of Blue Springs Web site, which has cost the town $600 annually.

Smith noted that Allen has maintained the site himself.

Smith's motion to stop paying the cost of the Web site was made "until they get ready to go again."

More information about Wednesday's Mosheim Board meeting will be reported later in the week. - Eds.