Dec 10 , 2025

Alonzo Cushing’s Last Stand at Gettysburg Forged in Faith

The smoke choked the air, the earth beneath soaked with blood and ash. Amidst the hail of bullets and cannon fire, Alonzo Cushing stood firm—his hands steady on the artillery piece, refusing to yield as flesh tore and bone shattered. He kept firing the guns until death claimed him on July 3, 1863, at Gettysburg. That final act of valor carved his name into eternity.

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Born of Valor and Faith

Alonzo Herndon Cushing came from privilege, West Point’s halls echoing with promise and discipline. But his strength grew not only in technique—it was forged in the fires of conviction and faith. Raised in a family steeped in Christian devotion, his journal reflected a solemn pact: to serve with honor, no matter the cost. The Code of a soldier wasn’t mere protocol—it was a covenant. Church and battlefield blurred into one: where courage and grace met.

Before the cannons roared, he wrote in quiet determination, “Let me stand firmly in God’s will.” His was a warrior’s prayer, not for glory, but for the strength to carry the burden he knew lay ahead.

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The Battle That Defined Him

Gettysburg—July 3, 1863. The sun rose on a three-day hell that would define a nation and test every ounce of human endurance. Lieutenant Cushing, a 23-year-old artillery officer, manned Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, atop Cemetery Ridge. Confederate forces surged—Pickett’s Charge was coming.

When the Confederate infantry advanced in volleys, Cushing’s battery became a lynchpin in the Union line. Despite a shattered leg—one that should have forced him to the rear—he refused aid and kept firing. His men called him “fearless to the point of recklessness.” His actions held the artillery line against overwhelming odds.

Witnesses recalled how he ordered his gunnery crew to adjust aim, shouting over the thunder of cannons and screams of dying men. Musket balls tore through his body. Blood soaked his uniform. Still, he would not relinquish command.

Sergeant Michael Plunkett said decades later, “I saw Lieutenant Cushing fall again and again... but always get back up and fire the gun. We couldn’t leave him behind. He was the heartbeat of our battery.”

Minutes turned to hours. Cushing’s guns blazed furiously until a final mortal shot ended his struggle. In those moments, the artillery was the deadliest weapon on the field—and Cushing its relentless hand. His sacrifice sealed the Union position and helped turn the tide.

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Recognition Earned in Blood

Medal of Honor? That award wasn’t bestowed until 2014—over 150 years after the guns silenced. The delay spoke as much to the politics and bureaucracy of history as to the chaotic aftermath of war. But the citation, when it came, was unambiguous:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania… while bravely maintaining the artillery fire despite being mortally wounded.”

Officially, Cushing’s name joined the ranks of America’s highest military heroes, long overdue but no less deserved[^1].

General Alexander Webb, who survived Pickett’s Charge, praised Cushing:

“His fortitude under fire inspired all who witnessed it... He was a beacon of unwavering courage.”

His men remembered his kindness, leadership, and fierce commitment to their survival and mission—an example etched in memory like scars carved deep.

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Legacy Written in Blood and Faith

Alonzo Cushing’s story endures beyond medals and monuments. His final stand teaches what valor truly means—not just facing death, but owning it to save others. There is a profound spiritual weight in that sacrifice, a brotherhood sealed with blood.

Psalm 34:18 echoes through his story:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Cushing’s wounds speak of battle—but also redemption, purpose, and the cost of liberty paid in full.

Today’s veterans bear that same fire: scars seen and unseen, duty that never fades. Cushing’s legacy charges us all to live with that fierce fidelity—to our oaths, to those beside us, and to the nation for which we bleed.

He fought, he bled, he died—but never surrendered.

That is our eternal call.

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[^1]: U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (A–F)”; U.S. War Department, Official Report of Gettysburg, 1863.

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