A Delaware native and West Pointer (1842) George Sykes was a veteran of infantry service in both the Seminole and Mexican wars, earning a brevet in the latter.  At first Bull Run he commanded the only regular army infantry on the field-an eight company battalion from various regiments-and was highly effective in slowing the rout of the volunteers.  He then commanded the regulars near Washington and in the midst of the Peninsula Campaign was give charge of a division composed mostly of regular army units.  He had already fought at Yorktown and in divisional command participated in the Seven Days fighting.  He was at 2nd Bull Run and in reserve at Antietam.  Given a second star in the volunteer service, he fought at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville before taking charge of the 5th Corps just prior to Gettysburg.  There he fought in support of the hard-pressed 3rd Corps on the Second Day.  A competent commander his name will always be remembered in association with the United States Regulars.