U. S. FLAG-SHIP MINNESOTA, Hampton Roads, Va., May 4, 1862.

Major General G. B. McCLELLAN,

Commanding Army of the Potomac, &c., Near Yorktown, Va.:

With may whole part I do most cavalry congratulate you on your brilliant and important achievement. The gun-boats shall accompany you up York River.

L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH,

Flag-Officer.

[11.]

HEADQUARTERES ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, May 4, 1862.

General FRANKLIN:

The general commanding desires you to get around to Yorktown this evening, if possible. Every hour is important.

R. B. MARCY,

Chief of Staff.

[11.]

GENERAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS OF DIVISION, No. 48.
On Board Steamer Mystic, May 4, 1862.

The division will re-embark on board the transports at once. the artillery will go on board the boats prepared for it.

By order of Brigadier-General Franklin:

E. SPARROW PURDY,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[11.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, May 4, 1862.

Hon. E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

A colored man came in to-day from the other side of the river and represented himself as Jeff. Davis' coachman, and from my examination of him I am satisfied he was so. He reports scraps of conversation overheard by him while driving Mr. and Mrs. Davis in the carriage, and between Mr. Davis and those who came to see him. Mr. Davis and General J. E. Johnston had some heated discussion about the latter's retreat from Manassas; Mr. Davis disapproving of it and ordering a stand to be made at Gordonsville, which Johnston declined to do, and offered to resign, and was even indisposed to go to Yorktown. Mrs. Davis said she thought this very bad in him to be unwilling to go and help General Magruder. The coachman overheard the conversation between Johnston and Davis' wife, the former saying if he had not left Manassas when he did that McClellan would have come out against him and cut him all to pieces. Mrs. Davis read an article in the Richmond Examiner to her husband, saying that it was part of the Yankees' plans that General Blanks and McDowell were to form a junction in Louisa or Carolina Counties and move down on Richmond. Davis remarked that he thought that was so, but that his generals would take care of them. On the same subject he overheard a conversation between Davis and Doctor Gwin, former U. S. Senator from California. Davis said that he had sent General J. R. Anderson from