Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-16
WAR ITEMS.

WAR ITEMS.
One Of the released prisoners from Rich
mond states that, short time ago a squad
ron Of rebel cavalry made a descent upon a
Dunkard settlement in the valley of Rock
ingham county, Va. They captured about 20
OF these Woodworking, snuff colorado coated
and long bearded inofensiye non-combative
people, and carried them 20 Richmond At
ter keeping them in confinement for some
time, the rebel government agreed to release
them on condition that each captive should
pay into the treasury $500 in silver. 1t was
finally determined that one among them-a
clergyman of their peculiar religious faith
should be permitted to return home for the
purpose of raising the amount Of ransom.
After an absence, he returned back to Rich
mond, and paid over to the rebel government
S22 500 in hard silver for the ransom Of the
larger portion of his friends The unfortu-
mates, who could not raise the money, were
detailed to duty among the negro teamsters.
JEFF. DAVIS CoAcHMAN.--Jeff. Davis
fugitive coachman is pure African. He can
read and write, and talks as well as a member
Of Congress. After examination and cross
examination by Gems. Mcdowell and King
and several newspaper correspondents, not
flaw could be detected is his story He is
now employed as a body servant to Gen. Nc
Dowell He says jeff. Davis, since the bat
tie Of Shiloh, has been pale and haggard,
and talks but little. When he does open his
lips, it is but to curse and blame his generals
He adds that Davis remarked after the battle
OF shiloh that he planHed all the advance
movements, but that his generals executed
the retreat.
recent letter from Gen. Banks division
says: AT Harrisonburgh a whole company
of cavalry refused to 90 on, and were only
persuaded by Ashby with difficulty to stay
His new recruits were very hard to take care
OF, and have to have separate guard. One
OF them, who had managed to escape, told
me that they were kept together and as care
fully guarded as if they were prisoners. One
hundred of them escaped last week in one
night through carelessness Of the guard, and
are now in the mountains
Accounts from Nashville state that many
Tennesseeans, hitherto disloyal, are daily
coming forward and taking the oath of allegi-
ance, and that the reaction is going on with
as much rapidity as could be expected The
/ loyal common council OF Nashville, acting un-
| der the protection OF Gov. johnson, have
made a sweeping reform in the schools Of the
| city, IN which secessionist teachers have been
employed. Hereafter all teachers must take
the oath of allegiance or resign their po-
/ alton
/ Rev. Mr. Green, colored local Methodist
/ preacher, was five years ago sentenced to ten
years Imprisonment in Maryland, for having
in his possession copy of Uncle Toms
Cabin. Numerous efforts have been made to
secure his pardon, but without success until
I a few days since, when Gov. Bradford set
him at liberty. He is required, however, to
leave the state, and is already on his way to
/ Carada.
Flag-otficer Farragut, who is in command
OF the Mississippi squadron, is a Tenuesseean
! by birth, and is doubtless anxious to visit
Memphis. He married in Norfolk but cut loose
all his social connections there when Virginia
! passed the ordinance Of secession, saving to
his ffiends that he had argued with them so
long as argument could avail, and now, hav-
ing to choose between them and his country,
should bid them farewell
Intelligent fugitive blacks who have come
within Gen. McDowel's lines assert that the
rebels some time sinop seriously considered
the proprety of arming the slaves, but con-
cluded not to do So for the reason that they
were not sure whom they would shoot. Col
one of the loyal negroes who heard this state
ment.
The negroes from the near counties of Ma
ryland steal their masters stock and wagons
TO come into Baltimore, and parties in Mary
land have frequently stopped them to search
the wagons for contrabands A negro.
driving wagon to town few days ago, was
thus stopped, when he said /" No use look
IN IN this wagon, massa, hain't got any
concubnes dar."
There are at present eight full regiments of
East Iennesseeans in the United States ser
wee, and about five Thousand fugitiyes from
mat state, on account Of their loyalty. There
is general desire on the part of Unonists
IN Washington that President Lincoln shall
appoint VIM. q. Brownlow a brigadier gener
al, to lead portion Of our army into Knox
Vile
Gov. Wise has threatened, If JEFF Davis
does not treat him better, to resume editorial
control of the Richmond Enquirer and turn
ITS batteries against bis rebel excellency.-l
This, says the Charleston Msrcury. would
leave Davis without organ or an advocate in
the Richmond press
owing to the American war, preparations
have already been made in England and Scot |
land to SOW ten times the breadth of fax
that ever wassown before. and it is said that
ireland will have fourth of its surface COW
cred with fax this year.
The Richmond papers ridicule the efforts
OF our officials To keep news from the North /
ern people, which the rebels have as soon as 4
the Unlonists