Washington telegraph., 1864-09-21
s~ The following-is somewhat old

| OAPIURE OF IWO STEAHBOATS,-
Vicksburg, August 10th.-The steamers
Atlantic No. = and NJ II. Cheek, that
cleared from here about five days since
for Yazoo river, are reported captured il,
Sunhower river by rebel force under
Liddell. All the information | have
been enabled to obtain concerning this
affair, will endeavor to give AZ briefly
and comcisely as possible;
The owners of large lot OF cotton
! near the Iazoo river, aud below where
the Sunhower enpties into it, wished to
exchange the same for l.. s. Treasury
notes, and obtained the written permis-
sion Of Gen. Writ Adams, in whose jur-
lsdiction the cotton was. to allow certain
Yankee traders to come and unmolested
take the staple away, after its value id
"greenbacks" had been paid.
This grand and novel arrangement Of
the rebel cotton holders was Immediately
communicated to the above Yankee cot
ton traders, who were tho owners of the
steamers Atlantic No. and NJ. r. Check
The gentlemen Immediately proceeded
to obtain regular custom-house clear
ances Tor their steamers to 60 on this
cotton and private expedition up the
1azoo river, and within the enemy's
lines. The Nicksburs custom house
gave the clearances, and Gen. Slocumb,
understand, approved them. What
there Is in the trade regulations, Or in
existing military orders, to justify the
issuance of such clearances, when tie
object is well known for private specula-
ton, beyond our lines, | have as vet
been unable to learn, and furthermore, ]
believe 1t cannot be adduced. That
these cleRrances are given, as above
shown, to go considerable distance up
the Yazoo river, is matter that properly
requires an investigation and official
hearing by superior authority.
The Atlantic No. . and ~ r. Check
thus provided with papers approved by
both custom-house and military authori-
ties at Nicksburg. entered Nazoo river
and proceeded up stream 10 the cotton
pile OF their rebel correspondents, which
was, probably, very soon taken OF board.
1t was only Il short distance from this
place to the mouth of the Snnnower
river, and, as the cotton traders had still
plenty Of " grcenbacks," and their boats
were not vet fully freighted with the
precious staple, there was no reason why
they should not 20 little further and
purchase more Of it. Confident of find
ing immense amounts OF cotton On the
! banks Of the Suntiower, which has h;th-
, orto been und s,urbcd by Our forces, ana
relying on their arrangement fur protrc-
iion made by their correspondent with
/ Writ Adams, .hey ventured To ~ beyond
the limits prescribed by their clcarances.
They entered tho Sunilowcr river, the
mouth OF which Is seventy miles, Mia the
lazoo, from Nicksburg, and passed up
it twelve miles, when they were hailed
by party of Col. Liddrll's command
and captured, the mon IA prisoners of
war, and the boats a. properly belonging
TO the enemy.
Tho spectators then urged q an ob
lection TO this arbitrary proceeding their
papers of protection from Writ Adams,
when their captors said they could not
see it," that they willingly left his iur-
isdiction and came within the district
commanded by their superior officer, one
Col. Litidell. His orders were supreme
there, and Writ Adams had no conr i
over their Colonel. The prisoners now
"saw it, and reluctantly submitted to
the ruling in their case. The steamers,
crews and cargoes, We're then taken down
that river and up the lazoo to Satartia,
where the Atlantic No. . and NJ. II.
Cheek were moored at last accounts.
These steamers will make valuable
transports for the rebels oil THE Yazoo
river and its many nsvigablc tributaries.
That they started at all Oh the ill-fatcd
expedition is to be- lamented; but 4 por-
ton of the blame should fall upon those
who, on the part of the Government, had
the power TO prevent tho clearing and
departure of the steamers.
CHARLESTON AND FoRT SUMTER-An
Englishman writes homo the following
account of recent visit TO Fort Sum
ter:
Charleston will hereafter rank i'm his
tory as one of the finest military cities
in ,hc world, and will furnish lesson Of
defence hitherto unknown. Onthcmorn-
ing of my arrival, | went prnmenadns
at leisure over that portion of the town
which was the scene of tile late fire, but