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George Sykes
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George Sykes in uniform.

Credit: Library of Congress

Known as "Tardy George" in his West Point days, George Sykes (1822-1880) kept that reputation in the Regular Army, where he was known to have a case of "the slows." Just three days before the battle of Gettysburg, Sykes, now a major general, took command of the Fifth Corps after Meade became commander of the Army of the Potomac. While his performance at Gettysburg was steady, by the fall campaign he was more like the "Tardy George" of old. In 1864, Sykes lost command of his corps and was transferred west to finish out the war in Kansas.

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