George Sykes: Difference between revisions
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At the outbreak of the Civil War, Sykes was assigned as a [[Major (United States)| major]] in the [[U.S. 14th Infantry Regiment|14th U.S. Infantry]]. At the [[First Battle of Bull Run]], he commanded the Regular Infantry [[Battalion]], a collection of eight [[Regular Army (United States)| regular army]] companies from different regiments, the only regulars on the field. He continued his association with regulars in the early defensive positions around [[Washington, D.C.]], and then as a division commander of regulars in the [[Peninsula Campaign]], the 2nd Division of the [[V Corps (ACW)|V Corps]]. His men, who often referred to themselves as "Sykes' Regulars," distinguished themselves defending their position at [[Battle of Gaines' Mill| Gaines' Mill]] during the [[Seven Days Battles]], before the Union line broke elsewhere.<ref name=Tagg82>Tagg, p. 82.</ref> |
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Sykes was assigned as a [[Major (United States)| major]] in the [[U.S. 14th Infantry Regiment|14th U.S. Infantry]]. At the [[First Battle of Bull Run]], he commanded the Regular Infantry [[Battalion]], a collection of eight [[Regular Army (United States)| regular army]] companies from different regiments, the only regulars on the field. He continued his association with regulars in the early defensive positions around [[Washington, D.C.]], and then as a division commander of regulars in the [[Peninsula Campaign]], the 2nd Division of the [[V Corps (ACW)|V Corps]]. His men, who often referred to themselves as "Sykes' Regulars," distinguished themselves defending their position at [[Battle of Gaines' Mill| Gaines' Mill]] during the [[Seven Days Battles]], before the Union line broke elsewhere.<ref name=Tagg82>Tagg, p. 82.</ref> |
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Sykes continued as a division commander through the battles of [[Second Bull Run]], [[Battle of Antietam|Antietam]] (in reserve), and [[Battle of Fredericksburg|Fredericksburg]]. At [[Battle of Chancellorsville|Chancellorsville]], his regulars led the advance into the Confederate rear at the start of the battle. As they ran into strong Confederate resistance, the army commander, Maj. Gen. [[Joseph Hooker]], nervously recalled his advance to a defensive position and Sykes' men were not used for the remainder of the campaign.<ref name=Tagg82/> Sykes was promoted to [[Major General#United States| major general]] after Antietam, on [[November 29]], [[1862]]. None of these battles demonstrated any aggressive or unique offensive capabilities on his part. He was known to his colleagues by the nicknames "Tardy George" and "Slow Trot" Sykes. When corps commander Maj. Gen. [[George G. Meade]] was promoted to lead the [[Army of the Potomac]] on [[June 28]], [[1863]], Sykes assumed command of the V Corps. |
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[[Image:Potomac Staff.jpg|thumb|Commanders of the [[Army of the Potomac]], [[Gouverneur K. Warren]], [[William H. French]], [[George Meade|George G. Meade]], [[Henry Jackson Hunt|Henry J. Hunt]], [[Andrew A. Humphreys]] and George Sykes in September 1863.]] |
[[Image:Potomac Staff.jpg|thumb|Commanders of the [[Army of the Potomac]], [[Gouverneur K. Warren]], [[William H. French]], [[George Meade|George G. Meade]], [[Henry Jackson Hunt|Henry J. Hunt]], [[Andrew A. Humphreys]] and George Sykes in September 1863.]] |
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Revision as of 05:12, 7 October 2008
George Sykes | |
|---|---|
 General George Sykes | |
| Nickname(s) | Tardy George Slow Trot Sykes |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Years of service | 1842–80 |
| Rank | Brevet Captain (Mexican-American War) Major General (Civil War) Colonel (Post Civil War) |
| Commands held | 2nd Division, V Corps, Army of the Potomac |
| Battles/wars | Second Seminole War Mexican-American War American Civil War |
George Sykes (October 9, 1822 – February 8, 1880) was a career United States Army officer and a Union General during the American Civil War.
Early life
He was born in Dover, Delaware. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1842 and was commissioned as a brevet second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Infantry. He served in the Mexican-American War and Seminole War and was brevetted as a captain for actions at the Battle of Cerro Gordo .
Civil War
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Sykes was assigned as a major in the 14th U.S. Infantry. At the First Battle of Bull Run, he commanded the Regular Infantry Battalion, a collection of eight regular army companies from different regiments, the only regulars on the field. He continued his association with regulars in the early defensive positions around Washington, D.C., and then as a division commander of regulars in the Peninsula Campaign, the 2nd Division of the V Corps. His men, who often referred to themselves as "Sykes' Regulars," distinguished themselves defending their position at Gaines' Mill during the Seven Days Battles, before the Union line broke elsewhere.[1]
Sykes continued as a division commander through the battles of Second Bull Run, Antietam (in reserve), and Fredericksburg. At Chancellorsville, his regulars led the advance into the Confederate rear at the start of the battle. As they ran into strong Confederate resistance, the army commander, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, nervously recalled his advance to a defensive position and Sykes' men were not used for the remainder of the campaign.[1] Sykes was promoted to major general after Antietam, on November 29, 1862. None of these battles demonstrated any aggressive or unique offensive capabilities on his part. He was known to his colleagues by the nicknames "Tardy George" and "Slow Trot" Sykes. When corps commander Maj. Gen. George G. Meade was promoted to lead the Army of the Potomac on June 28, 1863, Sykes assumed command of the V Corps.
At the Battle of Gettysburg, Sykes' corps fought in support of the beleaguered III Corps on the Union left flank. In his 1st Division (Brig. Gen. James Barnes), the fabled defense of Little Round Top was led by brigade commander Col. Strong Vincent and the 20th Maine Infantry under Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. His 3rd Division, the Pennsylvania Reserves, led by Brig. Gen. Samuel W. Crawford, attacked from Little Round Top, drove the Confederates across the "Valley of Death" and ended the deadly fighting in the Wheatfield. But there is little in the historical record that highlights any personal contribution made by Sykes.
In the Mine Run Campaign in the fall of 1863, Meade complained of Sykes' lackluster performance. Meade and general-in-chief Ulysses S. Grant agreed that Sykes was not a good choice for the upcoming Overland Campaign in May 1864, so when the Army of the Potomac was reorganized that spring, Sykes lost his corps and was sent to uneventful duty in the Department of Kansas. During Price's Raid in 1864, he was replaced with James G. Blunt.
Postbellum
After the war, in 1866, Sykes was reverted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served under the 5th U.S. Infantry and later as colonel in the 20th. He commanded at a number of duty stations from Minnesota to Texas until his death at Fort Brown in Texas. He was interred in West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York.
See also
References
- Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
- Tagg, Larry, The Generals of Gettysburg, Savas Publishing, 1998, ISBN 1-882810-30-9.
- Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders, Louisiana State University Press, 1964, ISBN 0-8071-0822-7.