Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

A Correspondent, writing of the battle of Somerset, says:

There is, indeed, retribution in history. The Ball's Bluff slaughter has been fully avenged, as now ascertained. A counterpart to its saddest feature — the drowning of our retiring troops in the Potomac — has been enacted by the retreating rebels. When they reached the bank of the river, after their precipitate flight from the battle-field, they rushed in crowds upon the flat-boat that, with a steamboat, formed their means of crossing. So great was the rush upon the former that many were pushed overboard. Others hung themselves in such numbers in the water, holding on to the sides of the boat, that they threatened to upset the boat, and compelled those upon it to loosen their hold by force. A large number rushed headlong into the river after the boats had stood off the bank, and tried to swim across. Over one hundred and fifty are thus supposed to have found a watery grave. The rebel cavalry dismounted on the bank and tried to swim their horses over, while crossing on the boats. The animals, however, all swam back to this side.