The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-09
Correspondence Of the Tropic. ]
BRAssos Sr. IAGo. An

BRAssos ST. lAGo, April ".
BY the Augusta sent you some of the items now
Transporting around this interesting spot. The opin
ion is fast gaining ground here that the imbeciity Of
the Mexicans has been greatly overrated. This Is
the theatre Of real war--not paper squabbles-butH
the seat of the commencement of a sanguinary con-
fict and one, it is feared, of more importance and
longer duration than has been anticipated; but the
farce is at end and the curtain has risen bloody
with carnage-the opening of drama most unex.
pectedand our country already mourns the loss OF
some of her finest and bravcst officers. On Thurs,
day. the 23d, Gen. Taylor received information that
| body of the Mexican army had crossed the Rio
Grande some distance above the encampment. Ear
y the following morning, Capt. Thornton and Har,
dee, Of I'd light dragons, with a company "
men, were despatched by Gen. Taylor to reconnol'
tire above, and Capt Kerr, of the same regiment
with company TO reconnoitre below the encamP
ment The latter returned without having made
any discovery.
The former division fell in with what he consider
ed to be scouting party Of the enemy, but which
proved to be the advanced guard of strong body
Of the enemy, who held a situation in the chapart
Immediately in the rear of General Taylor's camp
Captain Thornton charged upon the guard, contrary
TO the advice of his Mexican guide; and on follow
ing the enemy, Captain Thornton found his com
mand surrounded by the enemy, who fired on him.
killing, as is supposed, Captain Thornton, Lieueh
|
men, and taking Captain Hardee and the remaipdef
Of the command prisoners.
The Mexican commander sent in cart TO Genera
Taylor's camp with soldier badly wounded, with
message that he had no travelling hospital with him.
and could not give HIM the assistance his situation
| required. There is no doubt the detachment Of the
enemy east of the Rio Grandc consists Of fully
1880 men, commanded by Colonies Carasco and
Carraabal, bold and intrepid officers of experene1
and ability; and were the whole army oficered b1
such men as Carasco, as know him personally, vi
should not be upon unequal footing. There is N
doubt their object IN TO cut off all communicable
with Point Isabel, this being the general depot q
provisions Tor the American army; they have suel
ceeded, and consequently placed the American arm|
in precarous situation. IL will be utterly impose
bic for General Taylor to force his way along teI
dreary chssparels in which the enemy are strong'|
posted. Ills command cannot exceed 2, 300 men
General Taylor has an excellent position IN h|
rear OF Matamoras, and can hold his posnol|
against the whole Mexican army combined and n|
batteries can range the city in an hour Most oil u|
citizens have left Matamoras and Gen. Taylor hS
said that when the regular soldiers Of Mexico wsr|
seen on the east side of the river he would destrc
the city. His batteries to be ready on the 2Iu|
complete. Gen. Taylor has in camp full ratons d|
Is days. which he thinks can be made to last 30, VI
which time he is in hopes to receive large reinforce
ments from the States of Texas and Louisianl
upon each Of which States he has made requstio'|
for the equipment and transmission to Point lsab'|
Of four full regiments of militia.
IL Is thought by the superior officers Of Gener
Tayor's army that 10000 men will be require
within very short period, as it is well known tn
the Mexican army is daily receiving large reinforce
ments from the interior. IL was supposed by vi
American officers that Gen. Arista reached Msp
moras on the evening of the 22d, with lsR'|
brigade, but up to the period Of my informant lea
ing the camp no communication had been receives
by Gen. Taylor from Gen. Arista. On the 22d Ger
Taylor received from Gen. Ampudia, by the mean
OF flag Of truce, communication in rey c6srnr'
terms, complaining Of having blockaded the KoI
Grande. To which he replied that he, Gen. An
pudis, had been the Of the blockade, he hay
ing expressly declared that UNLESS GENERAL