The Daily Union

By this Evening's Southern Mail.
Later from the Army of General Taylor.
The steamship James L. Day, Captain Wood, arrived at a late hour last night from the Brazos, whence she sailed on the 18th instant. We are indebted to Captain Wood for the prompt delivery of papers.
Colonel Reuben Davis, of the 2d Mississippi riflemen, and Colonel S. R. Curtis, acting inspector general under General Wool, came passengers on the James L. Day. Colonel Curtis left the camp at Buena Vista on the 20th ult. He furnished to the American Flag of the 14th instant an outline of the news, which we give below. It is the most definite and interesting we have had for some time from the army of General Taylor.
From the Flag we learn that the schooner Equity, bound out from the mouth of the Rio Grande for New Orleans with a cargo of hides, grounded on the bar, where she remained thumping for two days. On the 6th inst. she came off at high tide, and went ashore at Boca Chica. Vessel supposed to be a total loss.
The Flag has some indefinite scandal about "two commissary's clerks" at the mouth of the river, and defalcations. Nothing tangible is given.
Papers from San Luis Potosi, to the 6th instant, have been received by the Mexicans at Matamoras. The news has not transpired, but is looked upon as favorable to the Mexicans. It was reported that General Scott had marched from Puebla, and then countermarched, upon learning the resistance to be offered him twenty-five miles from the capital. [We have no faith in news thus half disclosed and half kept back.]
Two teamsters, in the employ of the Quartermaster's Department, were drowned from on board the steamer Big Hatchee, on the night of the 10th instant, on her passage up from the mouth of the river. A collision took place between the Big Hatchee and the Lama, and the two men jumped or were knocked overboard. Capt. Hill, of the Hatchee, lowered his boat and made search for the men; but they were not to be found.
The U. S. steamship Telegraph left the Brazos one hour previous to the departure of the James L. Day, but was passed by the latter two hours out.
The U. S. steamship Fanny was at the Brazos, to leave at 4, p. m., same day, (18th.)
On Monday, at 12, m., in lat. 27 deg. 20 min., lon. 94 deg. 30 min., the James L. Day passed U. S. steamship Galveston, standing to westward.
The following is the news furnished the Flag by Col. Curtis:
Up to the time of his departure from Buena Vista everything had remained quiet in camp. The Mexican forces at San Luis were variously reported at from four to fourteen thousand. They are commanded by General Valencia. A march against General Wool had been determined upon, but appears to have fallen through. General Wool received timely notice of it on the 26th ultimo, and made arrangements for a hearty welcome. It was afterwards ascertained that the brigade of Gen. Minon, (commanded now by another officer,) forming the advance, had approached within sixty or eighty miles of Saltillo. Here the soldiers began to desert, and dissensions arose, which induced a countermarch; and rumor said that Gen. Valencia was en route from San Luis to join Santa Anna at the city of Mexico. [We can contradict this rumor upon the authority of San Luis papers received in this city within the last few days. These papers state Gen. Valencia to be still in San Luis, making preparations for the reception of Gen. Taylor. They mention that despatches ordering Gen. Taylor to form a junction with Gen. Scott, by the way of San Luis, had been captured, and they feel certain that Gen. Taylor will march upon that place. The regular troops under Valencia are stated at nine thousand, and strenuous appeals are made to the people to assist in the defence of the city.]
The troops at Buena Vista (2,900) are in good health, and, under Gen. Wool's command, progressing rapidly in the "school of a soldier."
General Taylor is still at Walnut Springs, quietly awaiting the arrival of those reinforcements so often promised, and always delayed. He desires to go forward or back; thinks he has a prospect of getting more reinforcements than necessary for mere garrison duty in this country; but not enough to prosecute hostile movements. He has 120,000 rations, 800 wagons, and 2,000 mules waiting ready to move forward.
The camp near Mier, designed as the headquarters of General Hopping and the "School of Instruction," has been selected at the Sulphur Spring, about three miles from Mier, at the junction of the Alamo river with the Rio Grande. It is said to be a delightful place; and some 1,500 troops are already collected there. Col. Belknap and Major Crossman started from Camargo on the 8th instant, on the Rough and Ready steamer, designing to try the navigation to the new camp. The river is still low, and but few boats ascend above Reynosa. A large quantity of public stores have accumulated at Reynosa and at San Francisco. These stores, designed for the army above, will be forwarded as fast as circumstances will allow.
It was rumored along the road that Urrea was on this side of the mountains, but it was not generally believed in Camargo or above there on the line; the country wore the appearance of perfect quiet, and there was no interest in either present or prospective operations.
At this place Mexican reports assume a more concise form, and we are forced to give credit to some of them. It is beyond doubt that Urrea is on this side of the mountains. We have positive information of his being in Victoria five days ago, and of his having arrested the governor of this State, and sent him under guard to the city of Mexico, charged with hatching treason against the Mexican government. It is also pretty certain that a nephew of Canales has been arrested and shot by his order—treasonable correspondence having been found in his possession. The department of Tamaulipas is put under contribution for a large sum of money, and Urrea is deputed to enforce its collection with the bayonet. There is a report that he has left Victoria with the design of attacking Tampico, in conjunction with troops from San Luis; but this rumor we cannot trace to any reliable source.
Carrajabal is reported moving about all over the country—here one day, there the next—letting few traders escape him, fleecing them even to their shirts.