From The War

On the lst January, Oen. laylorsent forward Col. May lo examine the mountain passes between Montemorelos and Labradores. On his return be iook another pass leading to Linares and was attacked by a large body of the enemy nnd his main guard cut off by rolling stones into the pass, wh'ch wasscarcely wide enough for a single horseman. - Co!. May managed to gei through with the main body of his forcé, and marched toa spot where he was enabled to dismoun and return to succor the rear guard, bu t was too late, as the enemy had retreatec with their prisoncrs. At one time Col May's dragoons were nlmostatthe mercy of the enemy, hnd the laUer dischargec iheir pieces with accuracy, from the posi tion they occupied directly over the beac ofour troops. Col. May's losa liad no been ascertained, nor whether he hac any men killed. There can bo no doubt, howcver, of some of his men hav !ng fallen. Generáis Taylor, Twiggs, Patterson andPillow, were at Victoria, with a largp force. Gen. Shields, with 650 men, march ed from Tampico on the lOth, toward Altamira, wilh the supposed intention o opening ccommunication with Gen. Tay lor, at Victoria. From 2000 to 3000 Mexican troops were between Tampico and Victoria.wiü which it is supposed General Shields may have an engagement. The N. O. Picayune, extra, of Feb. 3, contains accounts from Anton Lizardo to Jan. 28. The Mexican Corgress, on the 9th Jan., afier a stormy session ap proved of a proposition of the Gov ernment for a loan of fifieén millions to besecured by the hypothecation or sale of certain church property. Santa Anna, it is said, was opposed to this, and it is rumored that this so ex asperated thesoldiers thnt thfcyshothim The report requires confirmaticn, bu many circumstances render it probable.- The Mexican Congress and Mexican press every where are thoroughly ar- oused. The Mexican Army is said to bo in great distress. The passage of the loan law created great excitement in Mexico Thechurches were all closed, and ev ery indication of mourning and resistanc evinced by those who supported th e reli gious establishment. Brazos dates to the 3 lst ultimo have been received and report the arrival o Gen. Worth on the 18ih uit., by the way of Camargo. Scott and Worth command the troops concentrated at Tam pico, or some other place in the neighbor hood. Gen. Wool is in command at Saltillo and the neighborhood with 3,000 men. - Gen. Worth is very unwell. Gen. Pat terson arrived at Tampico on the 28th with 4,500 men. Gen. Taylor returned lo Monterey, which he occupied, by order of General Scott, the chief in com mand. Advices from Washington from Mexi co, are not so late as those by the Pic ayune Extra. They report Santa Anna withdrawn from San Luis Potos!, with 15, 000 men, mattersof importance requiring his immediate presence at the capital o: Mexico. The steamer Cincinnati was lost on the night of the 22d uit., about 25 miles }o the northward of Tampico. She hac on board two companies of troops and two nine pounders, and was bound on an exhibition ngainst Soto la, Marina. Two soldiers and the two pieces ofartillery were lost. The vessel was sold as she lay high and dry for $50.