Artillery and rifle smoke lingered in the fall air Saturday and Sunday as cannons boomed, shots were fired, men on horseback fought each other with sabers, and soldiers were "mortally wounded" and "died" during two Civil War battle reenactments fought near Mosheim.

The Union soldiers defeated the Confederate troops in both the Battle of Blue Springs, which was reenacted on Saturday, and the Battle of Rheatown, dramatized on Sunday.

More than 2,000 people watched the one-hour, condensed reenactments of the two distinct Civil War battles.

On Saturday, approximately 1,200 people attended the reenactment of the Battle of Blue Springs, held near Mosheim on the farm of John I. Myers.

On Sunday, 900 people attended a reenactment of the Battle of Rheatown, also held on Myers' pasture land.

On Saturday evening, organizer Jim Allen said, "The feedback we have gotten is that today's was the best reenactment ever, for both participants (reenactors) and spectators."

Approximately 864 participants registered for the weekend battles, Allen said. That number included a relatively small contingent of vendors, he added.

Saturday's Battle of Blue Springs was "almost to the tee" an exact reenactment of the Civil War military skirmish that took place Oct. 10, 1863, according to Allen.

The actual Battle of Blue Springs took place a few miles away in an area now occupied by the Food Country supermarket and parking lot at 6766 West Andrew Johnson Highway, and where a row of apartments behind the market now stand.

The Battle of Rheatown took place near Rheatown, a small community located about four miles east of Greeneville.

The Union Army won both battles, both in 1863, and in 2008.

Michael Cheaves was the Federal cavalry commander who directed the Union troops on horseback in both weekend battles.

As the last few reenactors packed up their belongings and left the battle sites Sunday afternoon to return home, Cheaves, a Knox County deputy sheriff on most days, recalled his efforts in the weekend battles.

"We did a fantastic charge into the ranks of the enemy until they were ours," said Cheaves triumphantly.

He also stated, "The 1860's horse warrior was the finest evolution of that type of warfare (on horseback)" in U.S. military history.

Even Confederate General Robert E. Lee, portrayed by David Chaltas, was present during the reenactments.

Lee instructed the crowd, including many children, who were sitting alongside the battlefield in lawn chairs or on blankets, on the Confederates' battle strategy and what was taking place on the battlefield while the reenactments unfolded.

For Ellen Rodes, the reenactments were a family affair.

While she held her son, Matthew, who is four years old, Rodes said her husband and seven of her eight children came from their home town in Sneedville dressed up in period costumes for the day. One of her children was a soldier in the battle reenactments, she said.

"We always have a great time. It's nice, clean family fun," Rodes said. She added, "It's also great educational learning for homeschooling" her children.

The weather was clear and temperatures in the low 80's during both reenactments. However, gusty winds on Sunday, which did not affect the battle much, blew the tops off some of the tents in soldiers' campsites.

A total of 931 students, including some in public schools and some home-schooled, attended "Education Day" on Friday at the reenacted battle site, where they visited a variety of "living history stations."

On Saturday morning, hundreds of Cub, Boy and Girl Scouts took the Battle of Blue Springs Civil War Challenge, earning patches and advancing towards earning merit badges. Some of the male Scouts camped alongside the reenacted battlefield site with the reenactors.

The reenactment of the Battle of Blue Springs on Saturday was held exactly 145 years and one day after the real battle took place on Oct. 10, 1863.

On Sunday, the reenactment of the Battle of Rheatown was also held exactly 145 years and one day after the real battle was held on Oct. 11, 1863.

Local historian Dr. Bob Orr addressed spectators shortly before the battles began on each day in mid-afternoon of both weekend days.

He put the history of the battles in a historical context, and described each reenactment about to unfold.

"The reenactment today (the Battle of Blue Springs) is unusual in that it is an actual reenactment of the event, of what happened Oct. 10, 1863," Orr said Saturday.

After the Battle of Gettysburg (in Virginia) in the summer of 1863, a major part of the war between the North and South moved to East Tennessee, the historian explained.

Orr said, "A huge struggle for East Tennessee and the East Tennessee and Virginia railroad line in it took place (in the fall) ... The Confederacy had one last chance."

Said Orr, "The fall 1863 (war) campaign was one last struggle for who was going to win the (Civil) War... The Confederates were hoping to improve their status at forthcoming peace talks."

At the end of each reenactment, troops passed in review for the spectators.

A formal ball for the reenactors was held Saturday evening.

Both the Battle of Blue Springs and the Battle of Rheatown were commanded by Major General Ambrose E. Burnside on the Union side, and by Brigadier General John S. Williams on the Confederate side.

Said Allen, executive director of the reenactments, "Williams disengaged there (in Rheatown) and fell back into Virginia."

The Confederates never again launched a sustained drive to recapture East Tennessee, according to Orr.