From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)

Lancaster was born a slave in Anderson County about 1844. He remained a slave into adulthood; President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in states openly hostile toward the Union. Late in the war, however, the government called for the enlistment of colored regiments, and all who answered the call were granted immediate freedom.

Henry Lancaster therefore made his way to Camp Nelson to enlist, and on September 10, 1864 became a private in Company E of the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry Regiment. At that time he testified he was born in Anderson County, KY, about 1844.

Although not at the full complement of men, those enrolled in the regiment at the end of September were assigned to take part in Burbridge's Campaign into southwest Virginia, which was  active at the First Battle of Saltville on October 2, 1864. In December, another attempt was made to destroy the salt works, and the 5th was part of Stoneman's Raid. On December 17-18, 1864, the Battle of Marion was fought and the Confederate lead mines were captured. On December 20-21, the Federals captured and destroyed the salt works after the 2nd Battle of Saltville.

In January 1865, Company E of the 5th Regiment was detailed to escort a herd of cattle from Camp Nelson to Louisville. As this column passed through Mercer and Anderson Counties, its progress was closely monitored by Confederate partisans operating in the area. On January 25, 1865, just outside Simpsonville in Shelby County, a band of Confederate guerrillas under Captain Isaiah "Zay" Coalter caught the colored troops completely off guard, and after a fifteen minute action all 35 men of the rear guard were down, either dead or left for dead, resulting in a complete massacre.

Local citizens gathered up the dead troops and buried them in a mass grave, while the wounded were taken to Louisville. Although Henry was certainly assigned to this detail, he was not listed among the casualties, most likely among those further along the trail.

Throughout the spring and early summer of 1865 the regiment saw duty at various posts in central Kentucky until August 1865, when it was transferred to the Department of Arkansas. The regiment was engaged in that state against renegade groups until March 1866. It was mustered out of the service at Helena, Arkansas on March 20, 1866.