The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-25

uafr.. From the Commercial Bulletin. May To-
IMPORTANT FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
March of General Taylor from Point Isabel to,pard his
camp opposite Mafamoras. Battle Nth the .deri-
cans. . .. ..
The United States schooner Flirt, A. Sinclair,
lieutenant commanding, has just arrived from the
Braxos ST. Jago, which place she left on the 9th
i:;.,ant. two days after the New York; bringing
important though not definite intelligence from the
sest Of war. We learn from her polite and inelli-
gent officers that Gen. Taylor marched from Point
1sabsl on the 7th, at or o'clock in the afternoon,
for his camp, at the head Of about two thousand
men, carrying with him large supply of Provs-
ions. .a5sag.g4 at sr.ras## #.. .r...-
The Flirt sailed on the same day at about o'clock,
for New Orleans, and during the whole afternoon,
the firing Of artillery was heard, as was supposed
within eight or nine miles of Point Isabel which
continued until the vessel was beyond hearing dis.
lance. During the evening the Flrt was met by
Commodore Conner, with the frgates Cumberland,
(Aag ship,) Raritan, and Potomac, sloop, John
Adams, and brig Somers, the commodore having
heard some rumors at Vera Cruz that hosties had
commenced on the Rio Grande, and that Gen. Tay-
lor was in difficulty, be immediately sailed for the
Brazos TO furnish such aid as was in his power,
on meeting the Flirt, he requested Lieut.. Com
nanding Sinclair to accompany him back to the
Brazos and bring important dispatches which he
wished to be carried TO New Orleans. Accordingly,
the Fiirt was turned about accompanied the squad
ros, back aud remained at the Brazos until about
d. m. the next day, when she again sailed for New
Orleans with the commodere's dispatches. During
the whole of that morning (the 6th) heavy canon
ading heard in the direction OF the camp and as
the sound was gradually becoming less distinct up
10 the time the Fir lc there is reason to believe
thstGtnerai Taylor wns driving the Mexicans be-
fore him. f..t
The cannonading j~as also heard during the az
ternoon, until the Firt was considerable distance
ON II seu. About dark her officers saw smoke OF
rather light color, arising as II from hre
about midway between the camp and Point Isabel
and again, late at night, an immense volume OF
denseiy black smoke was seen in the direction OF
Matamoras. 81 sE r p.
What were the causes of these fires is, of course,
matter Of conjecture. The first smoke seen 1t Is
deemed possible arose from the burning Of BarIta,
smuII town on the Mexican side Of the Rio Grande,
which il was said Gen. Taylor designed firing on his
march up TO the camp. The second ia generally
supposed by the officers Of the Flirt to have pro-
ceoded from the conhagration Of Matamoras Maj.
Brown, whom Gen. Taylor had left in command at
the camp, had attempted, on the first day he
was attacked, to FIRE Matamoras, but failed, as
he could not heat his shot sufficiently. IL was said
that he contemplated again attempting II, and IT is
this that gives probability to the superstition.
Gen. Taylor left Point Isabel fully confident that
he would be able to force his way to the camp, IN
spite of any opposition the Mexicans could make
The officers and men under his command were in
the very best spirits, and highly elated at the pros
peet Of a battle with the enemy In conversation
with one Of the officers Of the Flrt, Gen. Taylor
stated that from all the information he could obtain,
the whole Mexican force, both sides Of the river,
did not exceed from 1000 to 10000 men.
Nothing further has been heard from the camp
since the departure Of the New York Gen. Tay-
Tor, however, expressed himself at all times certain
that Major Brown, with the FIVE hundred men LEFT
under his command, would be able to hold the Mex
leans at bay, IL not repuse them, the position OF
the camp was naturally easy OF defence, and no la.
Dor had been spared to fortify its assaable points
Commodore Conner, Immediately on arriving at
tns Brszos communicated with Gen. Taylor, and in.
formed him q his readiness to land 900 or 1000
men, sailors and Marines should they be required.
me 81 Mary's was expected soon to join the
squadron at the Brazos.