The obverse of this disc has a bust of President Lincoln at center surrounded by the wording “ABRAHAM LINCOLN-PRESIDENT U.S.-WAR OF 1861.” The reverse is stamped “LUCUS VANDERMARK CO. G, 5^TH N.Y. CAV. NICHOLS, N.Y.” The disc has a hole punched at top center for attaching to a string or chain. The disc has a nice dark patina in the low areas causing the lighter raised areas to stand out. Disc is highly readable.

Lucas Vandermark was born in New York in 1837. He first enlisted in Company C, 23^rd New York Infantry on May 16, 1861. While with this regiment Vandermark saw action at Fair Oaks, 2^nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. He was mustered out on May 22, 1863.

Vandermark next enlisted at Nichols, New York on December 24, 1863 as a Private in Company G, 5^th New York Cavalry. At the time he was described as a 24 year-old farmer standing 5’ 7 ¾ “ tall with a fair complexion, gray eyes and dark hair. The regiment was in numerous actions chasing Mosby’s Rangers but they were also present at the larger battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Winchester and Cedar Creek. On March 7 1865 while on a raid the regiment was called upon to charge some Confederate cavalry. In the course of this charge Private Vandermark’s horse fell and as he was falling off his horse Vandermark’s testicles got caught in the saddle or one of the reins. Severe pain and swelling followed but nothing could be done for him and he remained with his regiment. He was mustered out at Winchester, Virginia on July 19, 1865.

After the war he continued to work as a farmer but would suffer painful attacks from his injury for the rest of his life. His condition was called varicocele. During these attacks the pain would be such that he would turn pale and sweat and be debilitated for a few days. With old age his condition worsened and he eventually had a condition called double varicocele. Fortunately he received a pension from the government. He died on March 16, 1911 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Owego, New York.

Here was a poor old soldier whose injury in the service of his Country caused him years of pain. Despite his troubles he was still able to live a somewhat normal life, marry 3 times and father one child.

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