Tardy George: USA Maj. Gen. George Sykes

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. George Sykes (b. 1822, d. 1880) George Sykes’ greatest accomplishments in the Civil War were in command of U.S. Army regular forces. With these men, Sykes made the reputation which allowed him to climb all the way to major general and corps command in the Army of the Potomac. Sykes earned a reputation as a strong defensive commander, but was deemed too slow in offensive action. That earned him his nickname, “Tardy George” and led to his dismissal as commander of the V Corps. Born Oct. 9, 1822 in Dover, Delaware, Sykes was a member of the star-studded U.S. Military Academy Class of 1842 (he graduated 39th of 56) which contributed 12 corps or army commanders to the armies in the Civil War. After graduation, he saw action in Florida. After garrison duty in the south and west, he fought in the Mexico City Campaign of the Mexican War and earned a brevet promotion to captain. After that, he was posted on the frontier in Texas and New Mexico. When the Civil War broke out, he was made major of the 14th Infantry. At First Bull Run (July 21, 1861), Sykes commanded a battalion of regulars, which gave a positive performance while covering the panicked retreat. On Sept. 28, 1861, Sykes was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers, but his core force remained regular troops. During duty in the Washington, D.C. defenses, he had to arrest Brig. Gen. Charles Stone, who took the blame for the Ball’s Bluff fiasco. He commanded a brigade, and then a division, in the V Corps of Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter. Nine of his 11 regiments were U.S. Army regulars. During the Seven Days Campaign, Sykes’ command performed with distinction at Gaines’ Mill, July 27, 1862, and Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862. At Second Bull Run, Aug. 29-30, 1862, Sykes’ men fought hard, but not hard enough to save the corps commander, Porter, from being charged by Maj. Gen. John Pope. Sykes’ regulars were in reserve at Antietam (Sept. 17, 1862). Sykes received a promotion to major general Nov. 29, 1862. His command was spared from the meat grinder at Fredericksburg (Dec. 13, 1862). At Chancellorsville (May 3-4, 1863), Sykes command was not part of the rout of the Federal right and lost less than 300 men at that battle. When Maj. Gen. George Meade, V Corps Commander, was made head of the Army of the Potomac June 28, 1863, Sykes was boosted to V Corps commander. His first action in command took place a few days later. At the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863), V Corps played a key role in covering the III Corps of Maj. Gen. Daniel Sickles July 2. Troops from Sykes’ command also secured Little Round Top during the battle. For his defensive actions July 2, he received the rank of brigadier general in the regular army. However, Meade and Sykes disagreed whether V Corps was ordered to pursue the Confederates at the close of the battle or not. Sykes retained command through the Mine Run Campaign in November. However, after that, Sykes was deemed too slow and relieved of V Corps command by Meade in December of 1863. However, there always was a place for Sykes within the army (just not in command against the Confederates) and he was given command of the Department of Kansas April 20, 1864. He also commanded the District of South Kansas, operating against guerrillas in Indian Territory. He finished the war in Kansas. After the war, Sykes stayed in the U.S. Army, reverting to the rank of lieutenant colonel with the 5th Infantry. In 1868, he became colonel of the 20th Infantry and remained in charge through a number posts from Minnesota to Texas. Sykes was posted at Fort Brown in Brownsville, Texas, when he died Feb. 8, 1880. He was buried at West Point, New York.

[Gil R.]

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