Now a heavy cloud of sorrow Overshadows fair Lancaster, Shadows all the hillside city, In the swift-revolving cycle. When the great and vexing question (See the hist'ry of the country) Of the Texas annexation Called for volunteers to aid her, Called the Union to assist her, In her daring revolution, In her independent parting From the rule of Santa Anna, Then the city on the hillside, Sent up wails of grief and mourning. For the farewells to the brothers, To the sons and gallant soldiers, Who took up their line of marching, For the distant, unknown countries. On the sunny fourth of June, in Eighteen hundred six and forty, They led out their willing chargers, They arrayed in mounted columns, Down the streets that lead to northward, From the entrance to the city. And the mothers and the sisters, All along the sidewalks weeping, Waved adieux and sighs heart-rending, To the precious forms and faces, To the buoyant, untried soldiers, Moving on in martial phalanx To the Mexicana struggles, To the fights in foreign places, To the fatal Buena Vista. Some alas! were gone forever, When the bending road concealed them, Some were hid till time eternal, From the strained gaze that sought them. I append the list in measures, In the numbers of my canto; Sing the names of sons and brothers, Whose dear lives were put in peril. Johnson Price, the chosen captain, A renowned Militia hero, Serving well his post of honor, Was, in after days of freedom, In eighteen hundred nine and forty, Sent, a delegate from Garrard, Sent to represent the county, In the noted State Convention, In the council of the rulers, Met to change the Constitution. Then out in the land to westward, In the land of California, He adorned his grave profession, Was a healer of diseases, Till the Master called him homeward, In this distant land of strangers. L. F. Dunlap, First Lieutenant, Was elected by the people, Eighteen hundred eight and forty, To the Frankfort legislature; Then away in California, Where he served with judge and jury, In the lawyer's hard vocation, Where again he was elected To the legislative body, He was stricken in his vigor, In the flush and prime of manhood, In his youthful life of promise, By a fearful epidemic; Fell a victim to his friendship, Fell beside the sick and dying. And Lieutenant George F. Sartain Cast his future lot in Texas. Left the soil he represented In the Mexicana battles. S. McKee went out First Sergeant, And returned among his people, Filling prominent positions, In the long years coming after Horace Smith, the Second Sergeant, Also served his native city In the halls of Legislature, In eighteen hundred forty-seven; Then removed to California, Where he practiced jurisprudence, Was the Mayor of Sacramento, And he died some years thereafter, In this thriving western city.