Dec 19 , 2025

Alonzo Cushing at Gettysburg — The Captain Who Stayed at His Gun

The cannon roared beneath the heavy sky. Smoke choked the air. Blood slicked the earth. But there stood Alonzo Cushing — gritting teeth, shattered bone, refusing to quit.

The artillery captain’s final volleys blazed amid mounting Confederate fire on July 3, 1863. Mortally wounded three times, he stayed at his gun until death claimed him. No orders needed. No retreat given.

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The Blood They Call Valor

Alonzo Cushing was born to a proud military family in Delafield, Wisconsin, in 1841. West Point molded him, graduating in 1861 as the Civil War tore the nation apart. Steeped in discipline and honor, Cushing’s faith was quiet but steady, grounded in a belief that duty transcended self.

He carried the weight of command like a cross—the artillery was not just firepower. It was a shield for infantry, a hammer striking the enemy, and a symbol of unwavering resolve.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” — Matthew 5:9

For Cushing, peace was forged in fire. His prayers were whispered between battle orders, his faith a lifeline amid chaos.

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The Battle That Defined Him

Gettysburg was the world’s crucible in July 1863. On the ridge of Cemetery Hill, Captain Cushing commanded Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery. The Confederates hurled desperate assaults sending shockwaves through Union lines. His guns became the thin angel’s edge holding back a flood of death.

At 2:30 p.m., Pickett’s Charge thundered against the Union center. Cushing’s battery, positioned dangerously on the hill’s slant, came under ferocious attack. His men fell one by one, shattered by musket balls and rifle fire.

Severely wounded in the thigh, shoulder, and chest, Cushing refused evacuation. From his crippled position, he called fire, adjusted range, and kept cannons singing. His last order was for “more grape and canister” to shred the enemy ranks.

“I think a little shelling will drive them off,” he said with grim resolve, ignoring his fading strength.

Witnesses said his stubborn courage saved the hill. Major General Winfield Scott Hancock later wrote:

“Captain Cushing’s conduct was heroic in the highest degree... inspiring all ranks by the example of a fearless soldier and a devoted patriot.”

Cushing died at 3:00 p.m., mere minutes after refusing to fall back. His final act was not just defiance—it was sacrifice carved in lead and blood.

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Recognition Beyond Life

For decades, Cushing’s heroism was honored quietly. The Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously in 2014—151 years after his death—finally acknowledged his extraordinary valor.

His citation states:

“Throughout the battle, though desperately wounded, he continued to serve his guns until he fell.”

Fellow veterans remembered a man who embodied every weight a combat leader can bear: duty, honor, pain, and selfless courage. His family legacy and his name became synonymous with steadfastness under fire.

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The Scars That Teach

Alonzo Cushing’s story is not ancient history. It is a call to remember what it means to fight—not just against an enemy, but for a cause greater than yourself.

The battlefield leaves no room for half-measures. Action is raw, brutal, and absolute. Pain is a visitor. Faith is armor. Courage is thunder carved into silence by a dying man’s breath.

Cushing didn’t choose glory. He chose his post—his duty—until the last breath. And in that, he found redemption not just for a divided nation but for all warriors standing in the gap across time.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13

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Remember Alonzo Cushing when the battle feels too heavy. The cannon’s echo still calls. Stand fast. Fight on. Die well.

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Sources

1. United States Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (A–L) 2. Eric J. Wittenberg, The Battle of Gettysburg: July 1 (Osprey Publishing, 1997) 3. Walter H. Taylor, Four Years with General Lee (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1900) 4. Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Volume 27, Part 2 (U.S. Government Printing Office, 1889) 5. Letters and citations compiled at the Alonzo Cushing Medal of Honor Ceremony, U.S. Army Archives, 2014

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