As a student at King's College (now [[Columbia University]]), Hamilton took a major role in the political debates over independence. Hamilton raised a company of artillery and was selected captain. Fighting the British invasion of [[New York City]] in late 1776, he came to the attention of [[George Washington]], commander in chief of the [[Continental Army]]. Washington promoted Hamilton to colonel and made him his senior aide—in effect the chief of staff (although that title was not in use). Hamilton had a combat command at the [[Battle of Yorktown]] that ended the war in 1781. Hamilton may have alerted General Washington to the existence of the Newburgh Conspiracy, in which disgruntled officers might have become a threat to civilian government. Washington prevented that. | As a student at King's College (now [[Columbia University]]), Hamilton took a major role in the political debates over independence. Hamilton raised a company of artillery and was selected captain. Fighting the British invasion of [[New York City]] in late 1776, he came to the attention of [[George Washington]], commander in chief of the [[Continental Army]]. Washington promoted Hamilton to colonel and made him his senior aide—in effect the chief of staff (although that title was not in use). Hamilton had a combat command at the [[Battle of Yorktown]] that ended the war in 1781. Hamilton may have alerted General Washington to the existence of the Newburgh Conspiracy, in which disgruntled officers might have become a threat to civilian government. Washington prevented that. |