Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-06
Night Dispatches.


WAsHINGToN, May 5.-The following state
ment dated yesterday on the Rappahannock has
reached Washington.
A colored man came in to-day from the other
side of the river and represented himself as jeff
Daviss coachman From an examination OF
him, this is probably the truth. He reports scraps
OF conversation overheard whilst driving Mr..
aud Mrs Davis in the carriage and between MIR.
Davis and those who came TO see him.
Mr. Davis and General j. L. Johnson. had
some heated discussions about the latter's ct
fran Manassas. Davis disapproved of it and or
dered johnson to make stand at Gordonsville.
johnson declined TO do this and offered 10 resign,
and was even indisposed to 90 to Yorktown.
Mrs Davis said she thought this very bad in him,
(Johnson,) to be unwilling to go and help Gen.
Magruder.
The coachman overheard a conversation be-
tween Johnson aud the wife of Davis, the for
mer saying if he had not left Manassas, McClel-
Ian would have come out against him and cut
him to pieces.
Mrs Davis read an article in the Richmond
Examiner to her husband, saying that it was part
of the Yankees plans that Gems. Banks and Nc
Dowell were to form Junction in Louisa or
Caroline counties, and moev down on Richmond.
Davis remarked that he thought that was so, but
his Generals would take care of them.
The coachman overheard conversation be-
tween Davis and Mr.. Gwin formerly u. s. Sen
ator from Ca litornia. Davis said he had sent
Gen. j II. Anderson from North Carolina to re
sist the march of the Federals from Fredericks-
burg and to delay them long Enough for him to
the probable result of the contest before York
town, so that if that likely to be unsuccessful,
he would have time to extricate his army from
the peninsula, and get them into Richmond and
out of Virginia, that otherwise they would all be
caught.
The coachman represents that Mrs. Davis said
the Contederacy was played out; that If New
Orleans was really taken, she no longer had any
interest in the matter as all she had was there
that it was great pity they had ever attempted
to hold Virginia and the other non cotton grow
ing States and that she said to Mrs d. r. Jones
daughter of James Taylor, United States Com
mssary General of Subsistence, who was very
anxious to get to Washington, where she has one
of her children, not to give herself any trouble
but only TO stay where she was, and when the
Yankees came to Richmond she could co.
The coachman said that Mr.. and Mrs. Davis
have their books, clothing and pictures packed w
ready TO move off, that there is much out spoken
Union feeling in Richmond; that having been q
waiter in a hotel there, he knows all the UnlOI
men OF the place, and that the Yankees are look
ed for with much pleasure, more by the white thar
the colored people. Confederate money is moi
taken when it can be avoided. Mrs. Davis her
self was refused when she offered SO Conied
crate note.
Many of the Richmond people wish the Union
troops to come as they are half starvea out. The
Bank and Government property is all packed W
for removal to Danville, near the North Carolins
line.
Gen. Johnston did not think they would succeed
at Yorktown.
The coachman overheard the rebel officers say
if they failed at Yorktown and New Orleans they
would leave Virginia.
HEADQUARrER ARMY OF THE PoToMAcl
May A. r. NJ.
To E. NJ. Stanton Secretary of War:
Our cavalry and horse artillery came up with
the enemy's guard in their ntrenchments
about two miles this side of Williamsburg.
brisk fight ensned. Just as my aid LETT, Smith
division of infantry the ground, and
presume carried his works. though have not We
heard. The enemys is Strong, but have
force enough up there TO answer all purposes. Al
along the lines their works prove to have beer
most formidable, and am now fully satisfied o.
the correctness OF the course which | have pur
sued
The success is brilliant, and you may rest as
sured its effect will be of the greatest importance
There shall be no delay in following the rebels.
The rebels have been guilty OF the most muir
derous and barbarous conduct in placing torpe
does within the abandoned works wells aDs
springs and near flag stalls, magazines, TELEGRAPH
Office carpet bags barrels of -four, &c. Fortu
nately have not lost many men in this man
ner-some four or five killed and perhaps dozeI
wounded. | shall make the prisoners remov,
them at their own peril.
[Signedl G. b. MCCLELLAN, Maj. Gen.