The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-04-23
An Army in the Potomac.

THE STAMPEDE THAT FOLLOWED THE
BATTLE OF BALLS BLUFF.
At this moment the hostile lines
we're within stone's throw and both pd-
vanciug. The Federals, seeing the fall
of their leader, halted. Some soldiers
seized Bakers body and IAN with ii
rearward. This started the rest; and a
general retreat took place, though sew
efal brave &liows moved so slowly that
hand TO hand fights ranged across tho
line during the next ten minutes. Many
of the Southerners also stopped at the
cannon, which they wheeled around and
endeavorsd TO Gre upon their late
owners, but could not succeed. After.
| ward one of the guns was found to have
the ball put in before the powder-a
very good reason for its refusal to ex-
plede when solicited Tbs Temporary
failure TO pursue enabled Col. Cog'well
nov in command--to rally portion
Of the survivors on the brow of tho bluff,
but he was himself bleeding from q
wsdhdl; Oil Delehs was. iplke eonds
tion all regimental order was lost, and
the hudding Of the mcp, on the hill
rendered the Confederate fire. which
was rapidly closing in on all sides, so
much the more fatal.
Suddenly thh SeveqieenthiMississippi
came in on the flank with terrific VOL
loy aud endod the battle. Then en-
sued an awful spectacle! A kind of
sbiver ran through the huddled mass
UPON the brow of the cliff; it gave away;
rushed few steps then. in ore wild,
panic.stricken herd, rolled, leapcd and
tumbled over the precipice The de-
scent is nearly perpendicular, with rag
ged, jutting crags, with wator'lavcd
base. Screams of pain and terror filled
the air. Men seemed suddenly bereft
of reason they leaped over the bluff
with muskets still in their clutch, threw
themselves into the river without divest-
ing themselves of their heavy accoutfe-
ments-henoc went to tue bottom like
lead. Others sprang down upon the
heads and bayonets Of those below. A
gray haired private Of the First Cali
foruia was found with his head mashed
between two rocks by the heavy boots of
ponderous "Tammuny" man, who had
broken his own neak by the fall ! The
side of the bluff was worn smooth by
tho number sliding down.
All the afternoon a steady stream Of
wounded men had been painfully work.
ing down the zig-zag path which led to
the narrow beach. where the boats
touched to convey them across to flar-
rison's Island. The large batteaux had
already secured full load when the
rout began. The rowers showed Of, but
a great wave Of fugitives rolled in upon
them, and hardly had the boat reached
mid.current than all went down, and
scores of human beings, previously
crippled, were swept away to unknown
graves The surface of the river seem.
ed full! of heads. Man clutched at man.
and the strong, who might have escap-
cd: were dragged down By the weaker.
Voices that strove to shout for help were
stiAed by the turbid, sullcn waters of
the swollen river and died away in gur-
giles. 1t is strange how persons about
to drown turn to their fellows for
strength they may be in md-ocean,
with no chance for any yet will they
grasp one another anl sink in pairs.
Captain Otter, of the First California
Gan opposite name for swimmer), was
found after the battle with two men OF
his company clutching his neckband;
Had he attempted to save them, or had
they seized and dragged him down !!
One off GER was found With sl26 in gold
in his pocket it had cost his life. Col
onel Devens escaped by swimming his
borse ncposs to the island, though both
uoro el;1htly ynnndnd