Alonzo Cushing’s Gettysburg stand that earned the Medal of Honor

Oct 02 , 2025

Alonzo Cushing’s Gettysburg stand that earned the Medal of Honor

The thunder never stopped. Smoke choked the air, mingling with the screams of dying men. Amid the chaos, a young artillery officer stood alone, refusing to let his guns fall silent. Blood poured from his wounds—yet his finger never left the lanyard of his cannon. Alonzo Cushing held his ground while the earth burned beneath him.

A Soldier Molded by Conviction

Born into a life tied to service and sacrifice, Alonzo H. Cushing grew up in a family where honor was a birthright and duty was a daily discipline. West Point shaped the man—steeled his nerves and sharpened his resolve. Faith ran deep in his bones; he carried a Bible, not just as a symbol, but as his compass.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts,” he would have echoed silently under his breath in the darkest moments. His personal creed was clear: fight steadfastly, serve selflessly, and face death without flinching.

The Battle That Defined Him

July 3, 1863—Gettysburg, the turning point of a nation torn. The Union line held high ground at Cemetery Ridge. In the furnace of Pickett’s Charge, hundreds surged like a tidal wave toward Cushing’s artillery battery.

With guns roaring fury, Cushing refused orders to fall back, despite twice taking mortal wounds. His command wasn’t just a tactical necessity—it was a stand for every man under his leadership. When his staff officers urged him to seek safety, he reportedly spat blood and shook his head.

His last act was to raise his saber, signaling his men to keep firing. The Confederate advance broke upon that defiant wall of iron and powder. As he lay dying, comrades found him still clutching the lanyard, eyes fixed on the battlefield, unwavering in his sacrifice.

Honors Etched in Valor

Nearly 150 years passed before the full weight of Cushing’s courage was publicly honored. On November 6, 2014, President Barack Obama awarded Alonzo Cushing the Medal of Honor—posthumously, a testament to valor unforgotten.

His citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty … although suffering multiple wounds, Lieutenant Cushing refused to leave his post.”

Union officers spoke of him as unstoppable. General Winfield Scott Hancock, a fellow hero at Gettysburg, described Cushing’s stand as “one of the bravest acts I ever witnessed.”

Legacy Written in Blood and Faith

Alonzo Cushing’s story is carved into the bedrock of American heroism—not because he survived, but because he stood firm when the world was collapsing around him. His bravery echoes beyond glory. It is a solemn reminder of what sacrifice demands.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) His life refuses to let us forget the cost of freedom.

In today’s fractured world, Cushing’s unwavering commitment to duty and faith pierces through the noise. His scars are eternal proof that courage is not the absence of fear—it is the persistence to fight on, wounded but unyielded.

This was a warrior who did not choose glory. He chose sacrifice. His legacy is our call to remember the price paid on every battlefield, in every generation.

Sources:

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (M-Z) 2. National Park Service, Gettysburg Battlefield Unit History 3. Obama White House Archives, Remarks on Awarding Medal of Honor to Lt. Alonzo Cushing 4. “Alonzo Cushing: Hero of Gettysburg” by Jennifer E. Murray, Civil War Times