The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-18
Communicated.
a TasRpacO.

Communicated
interesting Incident. relative to the Capture OF
is generally known TO the American public that the
CITY OF one q the most important points the
coast q the Gulf Of Mexico was taken not only without
Loss OF Diood but without single discharge OF artillery
But is not generally known to whom indebted
ior THIS cheap and easy conquest 1t is not generally
kn4wn tns1 me nsrolsm and prudence OF single woman
acnsved TINS brilliant result wi give you the facts as
On the 10th Of May, 1885, decree issued by Pa
citizens to depart Immediately from the ports Of Mexico
OF to retire twenty leagues from the coast and deliver
themselves up as Mexican hostages In consequence of
this decree Mr. Chase who, for many years. had ably
and satisfactorily discharged the duties of American con-
sui at Tampco, where he was at the same time, carry
ing on lucrative mercantile business, obliged i'm
medately 10 abandon his post and leave everything at
the mercy OF the Mexcans He knew too wen the ma
tue of that people, and the character of their official
pledges, to trust himself in their hands hostage He
had experienced something OF their intense hatred to eve
ryhing American after the disaster of Thornton
Matamoras. A mob, headed by some Of the most re-
with stones the United States placed over the door,
and threatened to drag the consul to the plaza and s
crifce him to their vengeance
Under these circumstances, Mr. Chase was Obliged to
quit Tampco without being able to do ANYTHING for the
protection of his property there except such as could be
afforded BY leaving his heroic wife behind defend
ted States ship St. Marys, Mr. Chase found refuge on
board that ship where he remaiAed nearly three months
AS soon as it was ascertained by the Mexican author
ines that ne was on board that vessel which was then
blockadng the port Of Tampico, their jealousy i'm
mediatey reused lest his wife should hold communica
tons with him. and thus aid the enemy in their attempts
upon the place. This, with womans ready wit, she
had conved to do Notwithstanding their utmost watch
fnlness. Not week passed that she did not furnish
him. by some we-devised straagem, full account OF
all that occurred in the city, and general report of
Mexican affairs The means by which some of these
letters were conveyed would cast into the shade
They cannot for obvious reasons, be made public now,
but may, perhaps, become the subject of future
communication from Mrs. Chase She had all the means
of doing good services her husband, previous to his
Departure had placed all the archives of the consulate in
her hands, with the necessary instructions how act
comforting upon her full authority to act his agent in
all cases
So jealous were the authorities of Mrs. Chase, that
they repeatedly refused to give her permission to send an
open note to her husband They treated her applications
board the blockadg squadron he would be regarded as
IN arms against Mexico, and that she consequently,
could not expect either protection courtesy With be-
coming SPIRIT she replied, that they had driven her hus
band away at moments notice in direct violation OF the
terms OF their treaty. and compelled him to take shelter
under the flag Of his own country. AS he was not
criminal he had right to choose his residence As
Tor their courtesy to her, she did not expect desire
and as for protection, she would find means to protect
herself
From this time Mrs. Chase was subject to all possible
annoyances. Every effort made to procure her ban
ishment. But as she was not American born, and had
citizen, she could be touched by Paredess de-
cree OF expulsion She informed that her privileges
the wife of the American CONSUL had ceased and that
she must Immediately abandon her house, as it was want
ed for garrison Its position high and command
ing overlooking the greater part of the city and the river
and commanding the main plaza. 1t had also battle.
mented wall nearly five feet above the roof which would
have served good purpose breastwork for defence
To this she replied :" single and alone in this
conflict You may take my house; but will defend it to
the DEATH Unless you arrest and con6ne me, you
not pass the threshold without rampling my corpse.
My husbands is my cause; his country is my
country and, with all womans zeal and fidelity, and
a m will
and defend to the last extremity, and to the loss of all
things"
the British steamer Midway, off the bar at the mouth Of
the river Panuco Tampco being situated six miles up
that river Here he solicited interview with his wife
probably, that she would come back In an open
boat, under the pl0tage OF two Indians she performed
this adventurous trip leaving home at three o'clock in
the morning, and returning in the evening She had no
other assistant or companion at this time than small
orphan girl, who resided with her. The male servants
had all been taken away by the supreme government for
soldiers
While on board the Midway Mrs Chase unfoIded to
her husband the details of plan by which she proposed
made arrangements Tor more easy communication with
the squadron.
Soon after her return to the city, she ascertaned that
Mexican clerk employed in the store had committed very
extensive depredahons upon the property When she
charged him with it, he coolly replied that she only
shng him. while he had friends in the Mexican govern
ment to protect him.
On the taking of Monterey by General Taylor, the first
brought TO Tampico was that the Americans had
been defeated, and General Worth, with fifteen hundred
men, killed, wounded, and prisoners In the fury OF their
savage exuation at this news the mob assaulted the
consulate sacked the sore and carried off destroyed
immense amount of property. The proper authorities
duly notified of this outrage by the British consul;
but no restitution or redress afforded.
Meanwhile, Mrs Chase was busily engaged in pre-
pang full and accurate survey of the city, with all its
approaches Notifications &c., &C. 10 be sent to Commo-
dore Conner. She had obtained an old survey of the
river with the soundngs, sc. To this she added full
plan OF the city with its forts, the number position, and
weight of the guns posted at different places the number
and position Of the troops and all the other details OF
the defence She also sketched the face of the country
for distance around and accompanied the whole
with minute explanations
Finding herself narrowly watched by two spies, who
visited her daily under petence of friendship and
so ocous in their attentions greatly embaass her
movements, Mrs Chase conceived the idea of making
them conhdants in her pan the hope that they would
make such report of would alarm and embarrass
the Mexicans She accordingly, with great seeming
caution and secrecy spread out her daught of the city,
telling them that its capture destruction certain
that immense number of would be against
attack every side; that fifty surf boats would be
landed through the surf the north side of the bar
attack the rear while hota, with five six thousand
would thus be placed between two fires; that her
main garrison and facing the river she had been fur
nshed with due notice of the coming events in order
that she might retire seasonably from the place She
also gave them to understand that in addition to the
forces sent against the city, there would be of
eight ten thousand men stationed on the south side