Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-08
RICH MOND, VA.
Friday Morning, January 9, is4'
A MODERN JOAN D'ARC.

an ,be narrative as a stirring piece OF romance
Rn, Ibis ease corroborates the saying that 'tru'
;s stranger Than fiction" II has been maue'
wonder why the Mexicans, without apparent iee
son. evacuated town which was SO strongly "'
Tended as Tampico The mystery we no" NJ
solved by The lorilude, courage Peise's'a ~.
and remarkable diplomacy ol wo",@"
Tor her devices and cool seli-possession, the '''
tant post OF Tampico could moi nave uee" '"" :,
without a loss Of American me. lh'ous" -
skill and courage OF this brave, generous woman
the town Tell into our possession without o'o"
In many respects there is striking paia"'
between Mrs. Chase and The famous "Maio
Orleans" In fearless perseverance anu h's'
spirited intrepidi,y Of soul, they much resel'0'
one another. Bul, in many particulars, the pa
rallel does no, run. The latter filled The humo'
situation OF maid in the inn OF her native villaS'
AMI her nerves had become strengthened anu ne
frame hardened by the active duties OF her lie
and especially by The management ofhorses' wh'c
she rode with grace and ease. In her eyes, more
over The peculiar character oil Charles "the VIC
,orous,o who was so strongly inclined 10 friend
shin and affection, naturally rendered him I'M
nero OF that sex whose generous minds place III
lie hounds 10 their enthusiasm. Above ALL sh'
nislook the impulses OF passion for heavenly IN
spiralion, and, declared that she had seen visions
and heard voices exhoiting her 10 re-esiablsh IN
throne OF France.
Mrs. Chase, on The other hand, is lady deli
caely brought up and educated in The accom-
nli.hmep,s which soften the character. She was
insnired by no supernatural visions, bur was ani
mated 10 her fearless deeds BY her love OF coun'
trv and her contempt, and disgust for the lalhles>
Mexicans.
loan t'Arc was surrounded BY her friends IN
The fortified city of Orleans, who encouraged aud
cheercd her on. Armed cap PIC ana nouh'e'
ON horseback she was ,riumphanlly presented io
the people as The messenger Of Heaven, anu car
rvins in her hand consecrated banner sailed
forth agains, the English assailanls. In tbs en-
oaoement she was wounded ~ an arrow in III
neck.
Mrs Chase was alone in the midst OF her enc
mics, and yet she, too raised The "consecfalen
star-spansed banner OF her county, and hailed
the American forces. Though closely watched
By The subtle Mexicans and threatened By them
in various ways, she euded their designs and
succeeded in placing an important Town in lie
hands or the Americans.
The death Of Joan dare was the rcsnl, OF the
cruel. ,reacherous conduct OF those whom she had
50 heloically served. Mrs. Chase YET lives 10 Ie-
.eive the praise and honois from grateful coun-
nv. What more fitting tribute TO The gallant
deeds OF this noble woman, than that Congress
should place in one Of the inches Of the Cario
some representation Of this lady standing by The
A american co!ols, in defiance Of the hostile popu.
aiion OF Tamplco
Bul we shall moi detain our readers from tie
narrative. Much as We all respect
and idoiz. the softer sex, our appreciation o. the
rare mels OF this generous woman must servr
% heiah,en our admiration and love Tor these all
GELS in human form:
From. the y. y. Ncrsmry]
THE HEROINE OF TAMPlCO.-All re-
collect that, previous 10 the taking u Tampicr,
Mrs Chase. the wife OF our Consul al ha, place,
sent 10 Com Conner an exact plan OF the entire
own harbor and forts oil Tainpico. with iniorma-
lion OF The exac; stfeng h 81 The place; and that,
m receiving the documents oil Mrs. Chase, the
Immediately sci sail tor Tampico,
and took the place without opposition, owing his
success entirely 10 the information sent him Nv
lhat accomplished and patriotic lady. We give
below a letter, for which we are indebted 10 The
kindness OF our friend, Mr.. b. NJ. Norman, 10
whom il was addressed, written by Mrs. Chase
herself. giving, somewhat in detail the taking Of
Tamnico and the part she had in il. Much less
nraise. we think has been bestowed on The noble
conduct OF this courageous and patriotic lady
Than she deserves and we trust that our Govern.
menl in consideration OF the very distinguished
services which she has rendered, Al The peril d
her life. will unhesilaingly reward her with EN-
during honors.
We doub, whether there is letter on record
written by a female hand, breathing purer pa
,rioiism, noble aIdor 4 more courageous heart
Than that of Mrs. Chase, which we give below
She is noble example amcng our counirywo
men. and her name will descend, on the pages o
our history, winning the admiration OF luln!e ages
II Will be seen that hy her siiliul management
nal would have done honor 10 The most shTewt
general, she succeeded, before sending lnloIma
lion TO Com Conner, III 50 terrifying The Mex
can troops that they evacuated Tampico VIII
precipitation, after iniuwlnS INTO Inc river So
huudied stand vi arn. aud one bundled quintai
Of powder. We give the letter entire il being lh'
most authentic account that can De FURNISHED
She writes what she saw and did.
To estimate rightly The value Of Mrs. CHASE
services 10 The country, we must consider ina
she has pIac.d in The hands OF our government
a city iha, otherwise would have cost us, proba
biz. many valuable lives and great expense
The dexlerous manner in which she dupet
The Mexican authorities and soldiers Ci lh'
place, rendered lis taking an easy and bloodles
TASK: while, had she no. caused It's evacuation
and furnished exact plans OF The place and IL
delences, il is not al all probable that we won {
have taken The town without desperate slrus
Gle. The entire conduct OF Mrs Chase exhi
bits genuine heroism, and most ardent ant
devoted patriotism, for which she will receive
the admiration u the whole country, and, vi
trust, from Congress not only complete in
Identification for all her pecuniary losses, bu
a unanimous vote OF thanks.
This letter, which we lake the liberty of quo
Ting, was only intended for The eyes Of III
friends 10 whom il is addressed, and il was onl,
through much persuasion that VIC were enables
10 obtain a copy Tor the press But the heroi
acts OF Mrs &. were Tor her country amt he
country ought 10 know ol them, and in no Wa
csn this be the case 81 we'll as through her Owl
perspicuous and interesting narrative.
"TAMPIco, Dec. IA, 1916.
"My esteemed friend A great change la
come Ger the spir, Of my dream-al leas
within the last monlh-so that almost dout
the evidence OF my own senses, we having a
this moment some twenty sail OF vessels in III
river Panuco-sleamers passing and repassns
the sight Of which pays me, in pan, Tor my
six months solitude and suffering. am mol
believer in Purgatory. bur think have pass
ed through that ordeal BY residing in an enc
mys country alone, not only hostile in teelin:
tu, subtle and unprnciped.
My dear friend, scarcely know how 10 re
ply TO your friendly solicitude toward me an,
mine especially. In beginning my impehec
narrative, one grea, misfortune seems 10 accom-
rapy me-my pen can never keep pace with m,
feelings. You will have been aware Of Mr.
Chase's expulsion, agTeeably 10 the decree OF lh
18th Of May last; and in compliance with lha
act he had only tweniy-iour hours notice 10 EN-
bark, or eight days 10 retire twenty leagues int,
the interior. He prudently chose the forme', ant
embarked forthwith on board of The St Mary's
the blockading vessel of The Bar of Tampico
al, nt, tho,, nd d.,lIo