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Civil War Soldiers - Sykes
| Sykes, George, major-general, U.S.
Army, was born in Dover, Del., Oct. 9, 1822. He was graduated at the
United States military academy in 1842, assigned to the 3d infantry,
participated in the latter part of the war with the Seminoles and
afterward served in the West. On Sept. 21, 1846, he was promoted first
lieutenant, engaged in the Mexican war, was present at Monterey, Vera
Cruz, Cerro Gordo (where he earned the brevet of captain), Contreras,
Churubusco and the capture of Mexico city. He served as commissary
under Gen. Twiggs, then on frontier and garrison duty, took part in
the Apache warfare of 1854 and the Navajo expedition of 1859, and
attained the rank of captain Sept. 30, 1855. He became major of the
14th infantry May 14, 1861, was present at the first battle of Bull
Run, and received the commission of brigadier-general of volunteers on
Sept. 28, 1861. He joined the Peninsular campaign as leader of the
regulars in Gen. Fitz John Porter's corps, was brevetted colonel after
Gaines' mill, was appointed major-general of volunteers Nov. 29, 1862,
and given command of the 5th corps after the battle of
Chancellorsville, holding the same until he was sent to Kansas April
20, 1864. At the end of the war he received the brevet of brigadier-
general, U. S. A., for services at Gettysburg, and major-general, U.
S. A., for gallant and meritorious services throughout the war. He had
been promoted lieutenant-colonel in the regular army Oct. 16, 1863,
and on Jan. 12, 1868, he became colonel of the 20th infantry. After
1877 he was in command at Fort Brown, Tex., where he died on Feb. 9,
1880. Congress afterward appropriated $1,000, on motion of Gen.
Burnside, for the transfer of his remains to the cemetery at West
Point, and to further the erection there of the fine monument which
now stands to his memory. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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