Daniel B. Lucas
Encyclopedia
Daniel Bedinger Lucas was a poet and lawyer from West Virginia
. He was the son of United States Senator William Lucas
.
Daniel Lucas graduated from the University of Virginia
and earned his law diploma from Washington College
and graduated in 1856. He studied under Judge John W. Brockenbrough of Lexington
and was admitted to the bar in 1859. He served with General Henry A. Wise
during the Civil War
in the Kanawha
campaign of 1861. Late in the war he escaped a blockade of Virginia to aid his college friend John Yates Beall
, who had been arrested as a spy. He left Richmond on January 1, 1865, and crossed the Potomac River through the ice in a small skiff. He was not allowed to assist in the defense of Beall by General Dix, and resided in Canada some months.
Beall was executed on Governor's Island in New York on February 24, 1865. Unable to return to Virginia, Lucas composed his most famous poem The Land Where We Were Dreaming, shortly after the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox
. His work often earned him the epithet "The Poet Laureate of the Lost Cause", an honor he shared with several other Southern writers. When he returned to West Virginia
the proscription on ex-Confederates in the practice of law prevented him from resuming his career until 1870, when restrictions were lifted. He returned to his law practice and was elected to the West Virginia Legislature
from 1884 to 1887.
In 1887, he strongly opposed Johnson N. Camden
, whom he considered an ally of Standard Oil
. This led Governor Emanuel Willis Wilson
to appoint Daniel Lucas to the United States Senate
. The legislature, however, decided instead to elect Charles J. Faulkner
. Governor Wilson appointed Lucas to the Supreme Court of Appeals
on December 11, 1889. Lucas also served as President of the Court during his service.
His first collection of poems was published in 1869 as The Wreath of Eglantine. This volume also included other poetry inspired by the Lost Cause such as Jefferson Davis, Song of the South, The Virginians Sit and Weep, as well as The Land Where We Were Dreaming. His work on this theme resulted in frequent requests for memorial poems for dedications, such as the consecration of the Stonewall Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia
in 1866, and the dedication of the Confederate Monument in Charlestown, West Virginia in 1871. Further works included such poems as Jackson's Grave and A.P.Hill.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. He was the son of United States Senator William Lucas
William Lucas (politician)
William Lucas was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia. He was the brother of Edward Lucas....
.
Daniel Lucas graduated from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and earned his law diploma from Washington College
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
and graduated in 1856. He studied under Judge John W. Brockenbrough of Lexington
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
and was admitted to the bar in 1859. He served with General Henry A. Wise
Henry A. Wise
Henry Alexander Wise was an American politician and governor of Virginia, as well as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in the Kanawha
Kanawha
Kanawha may refer to:Several places in the United States:* Kanawha, California, former town* Kanawha, Iowa, city* Kanawha County, West Virginia* Kanawha River in West Virginia** Kanawha River Valley AVA, West Virginia wine region...
campaign of 1861. Late in the war he escaped a blockade of Virginia to aid his college friend John Yates Beall
John Yates Beall
John Yates Beall was a Confederate privateer in the American Civil War who was arrested as a spy in New York and executed at Governors Island, New York....
, who had been arrested as a spy. He left Richmond on January 1, 1865, and crossed the Potomac River through the ice in a small skiff. He was not allowed to assist in the defense of Beall by General Dix, and resided in Canada some months.
Beall was executed on Governor's Island in New York on February 24, 1865. Unable to return to Virginia, Lucas composed his most famous poem The Land Where We Were Dreaming, shortly after the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox
Appomattox
Appomattox may refer to:*Appomattox, Virginia, a town*Appomattox County, Virginia* Appomattox Basin, a name for the Tri-Cities, Virginia region*Appomattox Court House, a court house in Virginia...
. His work often earned him the epithet "The Poet Laureate of the Lost Cause", an honor he shared with several other Southern writers. When he returned to West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
the proscription on ex-Confederates in the practice of law prevented him from resuming his career until 1870, when restrictions were lifted. He returned to his law practice and was elected to the West Virginia Legislature
West Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
from 1884 to 1887.
In 1887, he strongly opposed Johnson N. Camden
Johnson N. Camden
Johnson Newlon Camden was a United States Senator from West Virginia. Born in Collins Settlement, Virginia , he attended school in Sutton. He was appointed as a cadet to the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1846 until 1848, when he resigned...
, whom he considered an ally of Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
. This led Governor Emanuel Willis Wilson
Emanuel Willis Wilson
Emanuel Willis Wilson was the seventh Governor of West Virginia in 1884. He was married to Henrietta Cotton.When the Legislature disputed the Election of 1888, both Governor Wilson and State Senate President Robert S. Carr claimed the right to sit as Governor until the dispute was resolved...
to appoint Daniel Lucas to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. The legislature, however, decided instead to elect Charles J. Faulkner
Charles J. Faulkner
Charles James Faulkner was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia and West Virginia. He was the father of Charles James Faulkner....
. Governor Wilson appointed Lucas to the Supreme Court of Appeals
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. It is located in the state capital, Charleston....
on December 11, 1889. Lucas also served as President of the Court during his service.
Poetry
The Land Where We Were Dreaming was first published in the Montreal Gazette and was reprinted widely in the United States and England. It was dated "Chambly, June 1865".His first collection of poems was published in 1869 as The Wreath of Eglantine. This volume also included other poetry inspired by the Lost Cause such as Jefferson Davis, Song of the South, The Virginians Sit and Weep, as well as The Land Where We Were Dreaming. His work on this theme resulted in frequent requests for memorial poems for dedications, such as the consecration of the Stonewall Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
in 1866, and the dedication of the Confederate Monument in Charlestown, West Virginia in 1871. Further works included such poems as Jackson's Grave and A.P.Hill.
- The Wreath of Eglantine, and Other Poems (Baltimore: Kelly, Piet & Company, 1869)
- The Maid of Northumberland: A Dramatic Poem (New York: G.P. Putman's Sons, 1879)
- Ballads and Madrigals (New York: Pollard & Moss, 1884)
- The Land Where We Were Dreaming (Boston: Roger G. Badger/Gorham Press, 1913)
Prose
- Memoir of John Yates BeallJohn Yates BeallJohn Yates Beall was a Confederate privateer in the American Civil War who was arrested as a spy in New York and executed at Governors Island, New York....
: His Life; Trial; Correspondence; Diary; and Private Manuscript Found among His Papers, including his own account of the raid on Lake Erie (Montreal: J. Lovell, 1865) - Nicaragua: War of the Filibusters (Richmond: B. F. Johnson Publishing Co., 1896)