Marriage starts bride down aisle to misery; Once-lauded hostess dies in poverty.(SATURDAY)(THE CIVIL WAR) From: The Washington Times | Date: July 13, 2002 | COPYRIGHT 2002 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Byline: John M. Taylor, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Official Washington took time out from the war for a long-awaited social extravaganza on a crisp November evening in 1863. The occasion was the wedding of the daughter of Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase to Sen. William Sprague of Rhode Island, one of the richest men in America.

Although the bridegroom was a U.S. senator, Kate Chase was the one who attracted attention. The first daughter of a pol...