Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-05-09
From washington.

WAsHINoToN, May 5.-Tbe following
statement, dated yesterday, on the Kappa
hammock, has reached Washington: A col
ored man came in to-day from the other
side Of the river, and represented himself as
JEFF. Davis coachman. From an exsmina-
ton Of him this is probably the truth. He
reports scraps Of conversations overheard
whilst driving Mr.. and Mrs. Davis in the
carriage, and between Mr.. Davis and those
who came to SEQ him Mr.. Davis and Gen.
j. Z. johnson, had some heated discussions
about the atter's retreat from Manassas
Davis disapprcved of it, and ordered john
son TO make stand at Gordsonville, John
son declined to do this, and offered to resign,
and was even indisposed to go to Yorktown.
Mrs. Davis said she thought this very bad
in him, (Johnson) to be unwilling to 60 and
help Gen. Magruder. The coacbman over
heard a conversation between Johnson and
the wife Of Davis, the former saying, if be
had not left Manassas, Mcclellan would
have come out against him and cut him to
pieces. Mrs. Davis read an article 10 the
Richmond Examiner to her husband, saying
that it was part of the Yankees plans that
Gen. Banks and Mcdowell were to form a
junction in Louisa or Carolina county and
move down on Richmond, Davis remark
cd he thought that was so, but bis generals
would take care Of them. The coachman
overheard conversation between Davis and
DR.. Gwip, formerly, U. s. Senator from
California, Davis said that he had sent j.
Il. Anderson, from North Carolina, to re-
sist The March of the Federals from Fred
ricksburg, and to delay them long enough
; for him to see the probable rcsul, Of tht
5 contest before Yorktown: so that if that wa
t unsuccessful he could have time to extricat,
: his army from tho peninsula and get then
into Richmond, and out of Virginia; tha
otherwise they would all be caught. The
coachman represents that Mrs. Davis sale
that the Confederacy was about played out
and that if New OrieaIs was really taken
she bad no longeE any interest in the war
all she had was there; that it was a gres
pity they had ever attempted 10 hold Vir
ginia, and the other non.growing cotton
States, and that she said to Mrs. d. r
; Jones, daughter Of Col. Jas. Taylor u. S
T Commissary General Of Subsistence, VIII,
was very anxious to get to Washihglon
. where she has one Of her children, not I,
. give herself any trouble but only 70 stal
J. where she Was and when the Yankees eam'
TO Richmond she could 90. The eoaehmaI
says Mr.. and Mrs. Davis have all thei
= books, clothing and pictures packed up
; ready 10 move off; that there Is much out
spoken Union feeling in Richmond; tina
. having been waiter in a hotel there b,
4 knows all Union men OF the place, and tba
. the Yankees are looked for with mucI
. pleasure, more by the whites than even th
colored people.
/. Confederate money Is not taken when
! can be avoided. Mrs. Davis herself wa
}, refused when she offered q ten dollaF Coz
4 fedeFate note. ilual 3i a no sd
Many Of she Richmond people wish ID
: Union troops to como as thoy arc half sial
we'd out. The Bank and Government prop
. srty is all packed up for removal to Dan
e vile, near the Moth Caroline line.
8 Gen. johnson did NOT think they woul'
: succeed at yorktown. 9t
The eoachman overheard the gebel OH
|, eers say, Il they failed At Yorktown an
Z New Orleans, they would leave Vifgi6ia.