Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-05-10
From Washington.-May 5.

The following sta ement, dated yesterday, on
the Rappohaunock, has reached Washington
A colored man came in TO day from the
other side of the river, aud represented him
self as JEFF Davis's coachman. From an
examination, this is probably the truth
He reports scraps of conversation. over
heard while driving Mr. and Mrs. Davis in
their carriage, and betweeG Mr.. D. and
those who came TO see him. Mr.. Davis
and Gen. j. E. Johnston bad some heated
discussions about the latter's retreat from
Manassas. Davis disOpproved Of this, aud
ordered johnson TO make q stand at Cord
onsvile. Johnston declined to do this,
and offered to resign, and was even indiS-
posed to go TO Yorktown. Mrs. Davis said
she thought this very bad in him-Juhn-
son to be unwilling to go and help General
Magruder
The coachmen overheard q conversation
between johnson and the wife of Davis, the
former saying if he had not left Manassas,
Mcclellan would have come out against
him and cut him to pieces.
Mrs Davis read an article in the Rich
moud Examiner to her husband, saying that
it was part of the Yankees plans that Gems.
Banks and Mcdowell were to form a june
ton in Louisa or Carolina county, and move
down on Richmond. Davis remarked that
he thought that was so, but bis Generals
wouli take care of them.
The coachmen overheard conversation
between Davis and DR.. Gwin, formerly U.
S. Senator from California. Davis said
that he had sent Gen j r. Anderson from
| North Carolina TO resist the march Of the
! Federals frcm Fredericksburg, and to de-
lay them long enough for him to see the
probable result of the contest before York
| town, so that if that was likely unsuccessful
! he would have time to eXtrcate his army
from the Peninsula, and get them into Rich
mond, and out of Virginia-otherwise they
would be caught.
The coachmen represents that Mrs Da
Wis said that the Cunfederacy was abou
PLAYED ont, and that if New Orleans Wa
really taken she had no longer any inteles
in it, as all she had was there, and that i
was great pity they had attempted Il
hold Virginia and the other non-growinI
cotton States.
Mrs. Davis said to Mrs. D II. Jones
daughter of Col James Taylor, U. S. Com
missary General of subsistence, who wa
very anxious to get to Washington, whcr
she has one of her children, not to give hel
: self any trouble, but only to stay where sh
was and when the Yankees came to Rich
! mond she could go.
. The conchmen says that Mr. and Mr.
e Davis have all their books, clothing an
a pictures packed up and ready to move off
5 that there is much outspokeu feeling
Richmond that having been waiter in
hotel there, he knew all the men of Il
place, aud that the Yankees are looked fC
e with much pleasure, more by the whi
e than even by the black people.
l. Confederate money is not taken when
: can be avoided. Mrs. Davis herself was T
q fused when she offered a ten dollar COME
:, ate note.
= Many of the Richmond people wish Il
: Union troops to come, as they are h'
=! starved.
le The bank and government property is
packed mp for removal to Danville, near
i. North Carolina line.
# Gen. johnson did not believe they won
$. succeed at yorktown.
,e The coachmen overheard the rebel Office
10 say if they failed at yorktown and M
Il. Orleans they would leave Virginia.
|" MRs. LIYcoLN's BROTHER DEAD.-A
~ Samuel b. Todd, brother Of Mrs. Linco
~ dted on the baLtle field of Shiloh of