Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-05-28

From the New Orleans Bulletin Extra, 18th INST
LATER AND IMPORTANT NEWS
FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
March Of General Taylor from Point
Isabel toavards his Camp opposite
Matam0ras-Batt1e avath the Me1-
acG7aS.
The New Orleans papers Of the 10Th con-
tain accounts brought by the arrival of the U.
s. schr. Fliri, which left Brazos Santiago on The
6lh Gen. Taylor set out from Point Isabel,
on his return TO the entrerched camp, opposite
Maiamoras, on the 7th instant, at o'clock, P.
NJ, with about two thousand men, escorlng a
large supply Of provisions.
The Firt left port at The same hour, and dur
ing the evening, brisk canonade was heard,
seemingly at distance Of about eight or nine
miles from Point Isabel, which continued until
she was too far on her way to hear more. In
The course Of the night, the Flirl fell in with
Commodore Conner's squadron, consisting of
the Cumberland ag-ship,) Rarilan, Potomac,
John Adams and Somers.
These vessels were then on their way 10
Brazos Santiago, to afford assistance 10 Gen.
Taylor, the Commodore having heard at Vera
Cruz that hos,ilities had commenced. The
Flrt was directed TO return TO Brazos SANTA
go with the squadron, for the purpose of taking
important dispatches 10 New Orleans, which
Com Conner was desirous of sending.
She remained at Brazos until O'Clock, A.
NJ, the next day, when she set sail hither with
the dispatches. The noise of artillery contn-
ued TO be heard the whole of the morning of the
Srh, and as ii gradually became less distinct, il
was believed that the Mexicans were retreat
ing before the American army. During the
evening the noise was heard by the Flirt at
sea, and after dark, signs of contlagra,ion
leo.
General Taylor lef, Point Isabel fully conf
den, that he would be able TO force his way to
the camp, in spite of any opposition the Mexi-
cans could make. The officers and men under
his command, were in the very best spirits and
highly elaled a, The prospect of battle with
the enemy. In conversation with one of the
officers Of the Flirt, General Taylor stated that
from all the information he could obtain, the
whole Mexican force, on both sides of the riv-
er, did not exceed from 1000 TO 10000.
Nothing further has been heard from the
camp since the departure Of the New York
General Taylor, however, expressed himself a,
all times certain tha, Maj. Brown, with the five
hundred men left under his command, would
be able 10 hold the Mexicans at bay, if not re-
pulse them, as the position of the camp was ma
lurally easy Of defence, and no labor had been
spared TO forufy lis assalable points.
What were the causes of these fires is, of
course, matter of conjecture. The first smoke
seen, it is deemed possible, arose from the
burning of Barrita, small town On the Mexl-
can side of the Rio Grande, which it was said
Gen. Taylor designed firing on his march up
10 the camp. The second is generally sup
posed by the officers Of the Flir, TO have pro-
ceeded from The confagra,on of Maamoras
Maj. Brown whom General Taylor had left in
command at The camp had attempted on the
! first day he was attacked, TO fire Maamoras
bu, failed, as he could no, hea, his shot suffi
ciently. 1t was said that he contemplated
again attempting it, and it is this ,ha, gives pro.
liability TO the supposirion.
Com. Conner, Immediately Oh arriving al the
| Brazos, communicated with Gen. Taylor, and
informed him Of his readiness TO land 1000 10
1000 men, sailors and marines, should they be
required.
The ST. Mary's was expected soon to join
the squadron al the Brazos
A steamer was seen by the Fhrt, going in
the Brazos with troops as she left, which in all
probability was the Augusta. The F1irt also
saw on the 18th the James L. Day and the
Telegraph, about 200 miles west of The BaIize
Crediiable information had been received thai
The American Consul, and all The American cit.
izens al Matamoras, had been arrested and sem
TO SalIilo, small town about 80 miles back