793. GEORGE SYKES (1822-1880) Union major general who led a division at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. He commanded the V corps at Gettysburg. Choice war-date A.E.S. "Approved Geo. Sykes M.G. Comdg.," on the verso of a manuscript D.S. by Levi B.C. York 146th N.Y. Vols, 1p, tall folio, [in the field], November 6, 1863. A "Special Requisition-For the use of Amb[ulance] Corps 2nd Division, 5th Corps", written during the nearly month-long Mine Run Campaign, when the Ambulance Corps badly needed to replenish their depleted supplies. York, in his capacity as "1st Lieut, Chief of Amb. 2nd Division, 3rd Corps...," requests a variety of medical provisions, including, in part "...Six Pounds 'Alum'...Half Pound 'Opium'...Two Pounds 'Liquor Ammonia'...One Pound 'Calomel'...Four Pounds 'Copperas'...Eight ounces 'Arnica'...Two dozen 'Mustang Liniment'...One gallon 'Spirits of Nitre'...One dozed 'Mercurial Ointment' and One Quart Oil'...". Boldly endorsed on verso by Sykes along with "Approved James A. Bates Capt. Chief of Ambulances 5th Corps". In very good condition. The Ambulance Corps, a relatively new innovation to field medicine, was not officially sanctioned by the War Department at this time. Only after the successes it had at Gettysburg, and the persistence of the Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac, Jonathan Letterman, was the Ambulance Corps generally accepted. $350-450