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 was not allowed to assist in the defense of Beall by General John Adams Dix, and resided in Canada some months.

[3] 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.

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.

[8] His poems from that book, and his published and unpublished poetry, were edited and republished by Charles W. Kent, then of the University of Virginia, in 1913.