General Burr

Burr upon reaching his defensive position took it upon himself to evaluate and inspect his troops and their ability to defend the position. Burr completed a report and submitted it to General Putnam advising him that his men were not capable of defending their position and provided a solution to the problem. Burr’s solution was to press the attack on the enemy quarters to disrupt their ability to wage combat and this request was denied by General Putnam due to his orders were to hold a defensive posture. Burr repeatedly pressed his command to retreat from the pending engagement with the British due to their superiority in numbers and equipment over the Continentals. General Putnam and Burr would eventually have to retreat back into New …show more content…
General Knox during the retreat of New York City was cut off from the main Continental Army and moved his troops into Bunker’s Hill to wait for orders and the events to play out. Major Burr rode up to their position and in complete confidence challenged General Knox’s decision to stay and risk his troops to becoming prisoners of war. Ignoring a superior officer, Burr turned to General Knox’s men and addressed them directly and challenged their own General’s order to stay and defend their position. Burr urged General Knox’s men to defy their General and accept Burr as their commander and he would lead them out of the city and they accepted him as their commander. Burr successfully led General Knox’s brigade out of enemy territory and linked up with friendly forces in Harlem Heights. Aaron Burr was unofficially credited with saving the Brigade from their capture or total …show more content…
Burr’s strong sense of determination secured his admission to Princeton at the age of thirteen as a junior and went on to graduate at the age of sixteen. Burr continued his studies and enjoyed reading about military history and as a result of colonial unrest in 1774, he took an interest in Constitutional Law. Burr had a promising career in practicing law until he learned of the Battle of Lexington and how the British shed the blood of his fellow countrymen. Burr had an overwhelming desire to do his part and serve in the Continental Army. Aaron Burr’s military career began and would be filled with defeat, victories and disappointment in his fellow officers and commanders. Burr was on General Washington’s headquarters staff for a short time, but due to professional differences he was not afraid to express he was quickly transferred to General Putnam’s staff and promoted to Major. In the following years, Burr was involved in the Battle of Long Island and the evacuation of New York City. During the evacuation he was credited to saving General Knox’s brigade from complete destruction or capture by overall command of the brigade and leading them through hostile territory to safety. In June of 1777, Burr was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to “Malcolm’s Regiment” where