James and William Jennings, brothers, Natives of remote Lancaster, Skillful surgeons by profession, Cast their fortunes in the balance, In the trembling Southern balance. One survived the toil and peril, One was sacrificed to rapine. On the scattered army records Of the "Dixie Boys" of Garrard, Captain H. Clay Myers is written, And Captain Jack W. Adams: Also S. F. McKee, another Scion of a race of soldiers, Claims a place within my canto, In the "grey" and "faded" columns. Major Baxter Smith was foremost, In events of risk and danger, Was a son of brave Lancaster, Served the South in many battles. Morgan's men were soon recruited, By Confederates[8] from Garrard; History furnishes already, Stormy raids and dashing charges, Led within the fruitful borders Of Kentucky's fair dominion. Thrilling incidents unnumbered, Mark the story of the struggle, Mark the hideous distortion Of the nation's sunny temper, Tell the sad and fatal meaning Of this Cain and Abel quarrel, When the slain in myriad numbers, Filled the "furrows" in "God's Acre." When the "seed" of Death's "rude plowshare" Yielded bounteous "human harvests." Each forgot the sacred lesson, Thou art still thy brother's keeper; Each essayed in vain to smother In the ground the cries of bloodshed. Family feuds are wounds that fester, Home dissensions breed sore anguish, Yet the love that binds the members, Spreads the mantle of forgiveness; And from every wound that severs Parent stems and sturdy branches, Springs a shoot of vital growing, Flows a blessed balm of healing. Thus may North and South uniting, Soothe the pangs of heartstrings broken, Leave the fierce and naming fires, In the crucible to smoulder. Let the ashes crumble, crumble, To the dust of buried vengeance. Let no moon wax o'er Lancaster, But may shed her beams in gladness; Let no moon wane o'er the city, But illumes with love and pardon. [5]Stephen Hedger, while Postmaster at Lancaster in 1874, was shot and killed by Ebenezer Best. [6]Dead. [7]Deceased. [8]See Appendix. CANTO XI. 1865-1874. CHANGE.