, 1863-09-26
FROM MEMPHIS AND BELOW. !.
Burning Of a Mississippi Steamer.
Gen. Steele Reported Falling Back,
JefT. Davis Offers to Release State Prison Con.
vitts II They will join the Army.

{Speclal Dispatch to the Chicago Trlbuue.]
CA1Ho, Sept. Is, 1863.
Memphis papers received per steamer
Platte Valley, from Memphis and st. Louis,
give an account Of the burning OF the steamer
Champion, that took place on Tuesday, the
22.d inst. She #as just from New Orleans
uith fine trip, bound for st. Louis. On
arriving at this point she was seized by the
Government to transport stores and troops.
She h.d discharged the freight she brought
up, and was taking Government freight. 4
large quantity Lad already been stored, and
Eteam was up to drop ttill further down
stream. She also had about $50 cattle aboard.
She vas one cf the largest ard most commo-
dlous packets in the trade, and wns worth
about C0,000. The cattle and army stores
she WAS fteishted With we're north abont as
u.uch more.
Fire was discovered about eight o'clock on
the evening Of the ed, coming out Of tho
after hatchway. She was lying at the Gov
ernment warf, her hold being filled with hay.
The flames spread with frightful rapldity, SO
that in very few moments she WAS perfectly
wrapped In O sheet Of flame. The boats'
crew aud passengers barely escaped, aud the
clerk Of the boat managed by extraordinary
exertioDs to save the books and papers, but
! none of his private wardrobe.
Soon the boat began to DRIFT down stream
| with her living freight, whose almost human
| groans Of agony were heart-rendiog. Just
below lay the Lancaster, No. I, and Ohio
Belle, the latter loaded with ammunition and
ordnance stores of every kind. While Pass
| Ing great anxiety was manifested, for fear the
| flames would communicate to them. She
passed however, without firing any Of them.
-Four persons are reported lost on her, viz:
The doctor, two guards and negro, names
unknown. The doctor Is reported to hail
| from st. Louis. So great WAS tile light, that
| passengers on the Emma, No. 2, twenty-dye
| miles up stream, saw 1t distinctly. The fire
was undoubtedly the work of an incen-
diary.
Rumors from below report that Gen.
Steele is falling back on Helena. No cause
is assigned for the movement. He had LETT
garrison ut Little Rock.
jeff Davis had ordered the release Of all
| criminals in state prisons provided they join
the Confederate army. If they acquiese 1t
will add about 5000 to their ranks Of the very
worat description of cut throats and outcasts.
1t takes $3.50 in Confederate money to
buy 81 In gold. Mississippi has only four
b1igades; one at Brandon, two at Newton.
sixty miles east Of Jackson, and one running
after conscripts. M1saisslppians say If the
war continues two months longcr starvation
IS inevitable. ......
A great Union movement ID being made In
West Tennessee By loyal men.
Nothing later from Vickshurg or New Or
leans.
{specia, Dispatch to tho Chicago Tribune:,l
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Sept. n, 1853.
The steamer Luminary from New OrleanI
last night, brought but q fem T,assengers
She brings no further news of the state o
at1hirs In Texas, except to confirm the repor
that the further prosecution Of the Te1a
campaign Is abandoned.
| 4The LunlnarY Haa bonr. I'd for st. Louis, bu
vas seized BY the miD|- |-ary authorities her
last night, to carry atores down the rive1
Every other boat ut the landing was take
last evening for tEhe ssme purpose. Only or
boat was alloY ed to 60 up the river.
The rebels are out In marahes and awamI