Alonzo Cushing Holds Little Round Top Under Fire at Gettysburg

Nov 15 , 2025

Alonzo Cushing Holds Little Round Top Under Fire at Gettysburg

His cannon roared under a storm of musket fire. Blood welled in his chest, but Alonzo Cushing did not falter. The guns had to keep firing. Death was at his shoulder, but the fight demanded every ounce of iron in his soul. This was Gettysburg, July 3, 1863—Pickett’s Charge—and a young artillery officer stood his ground, broken but unbowed.

The Making of a Warrior

Alonzo Cushing was born into legacy and duty. West Point, 1861, and the outbreak of the Civil War marked the beginning of a crucible that would test his mettle. Raised in Wisconsin with a lineage of public servants and military men, Cushing’s faith was quietly fierce—shaped by a deep sense of responsibility and conviction.

He carried more than orders onto the battlefield. Scripture guided him as much as strategy:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Faith and honor welded together every decision he made. His code was clear: serve with courage, protect comrades, never surrender.

Holding Little Round Top

At Gettysburg, Cushing commanded Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, positioned on Little Round Top. This ridge was a keystone of the Union line, a position of immense strategic value. Confederate forces moved to silence his guns, knowing if they failed, the entire Confederate assault might crumble.

Cushing’s artillery crew operated under brutal pressure. Enemy sharpshooters picked off men; cannonballs tore the earth around them. Amid the chaos, Cushing was struck multiple times. Reports say he sustained a shattered shoulder and a chest wound—but he refused to abandon his post.

Witnesses describe him dragging himself from one gun to another, issuing orders, directing fire, and rallying his men. His voice, ragged yet resolute, became the last line of defense against the overwhelming assault.

“I shall never give up this hill if I can help it,” Cushing reportedly said.

His guns devastated Confederate ranks during Pickett’s Charge. Each round that fired sealed the fate of thousands, denying the enemy the high ground and buying time for Union reinforcements.

Honors Won in Blood

Alonzo Cushing died moments after the battle, shot through the chest while manning his battery. His sacrifice remained largely forgotten for over a century.

In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded Cushing the Medal of Honor posthumously—over 150 years after Gettysburg. The citation called his actions “above and beyond the call of duty.” It recognized how, despite mortal wounds, he “maintained continuous firing on the enemy” and “assumed command of the artillery on the hill.”

General Gouverneur K. Warren, who arrived later at Little Round Top, remarked on Cushing’s stand:

"He did his duty so well and so nobly that I hope his country will not forget him."

Finally, the warrior’s valor was etched into history, not as a footnote, but as a blazing testament to selflessness under fire[1].

The Spirit of Sacrifice and Redemption

Alonzo Cushing’s story is a raw lesson written in bullet and blood. The cost of holding the line is often unseen until medals arrive decades later. His courage speaks through the centuries, reminding those who wear the uniform and those who watch from home what valor truly means.

War takes everything—brothers, limbs, and futures. But faith and purpose can forge a legacy beyond the grave.

His stand at Little Round Top is more than a chapter in Civil War history. It is a call to all who face impossible odds: Hold fast. Stand firm. Fight with honor.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

Alonzo Cushing gave everything on a battlefield stained with sacrifice so generations could breathe freer. His spirit endures, a silent sentinel watching over every fight for freedom that has come since.

Sources

1. National Archives + Medal of Honor Citation for Alonzo Cushing 2. "A Hero Once Forgotten: The Story of Alonzo Cushing and Little Round Top" by Dwight G. Hughes 3. Library of Congress + Battle of Gettysburg Unit Histories