Career
He was honored with the award on 21 April 1892. Burke was born in New Haven, Connecticut on 22 April 1841. He enlisted into the Army from Connecticut in June 1858.
On 20 September 1862 Burke"s unit had retreated across the Potomac during the Battle of Shepherdstown.
Upon learning that a piece of artillery remained unspiked and accessible to the enemy, Burke returned in order to spike the gun. Burke was subsequently commissioned a second lieutenant in 1862 with the date of rank being 18 July 1862 and then first lieutenant in July 1863.
At the time of his retirement from the army on 21 October 1899 he was a brigadier general. He died on 29 May 1911 and his remains are interred at the Arlington National Cemetery.