Dec 24 , 2025
Alonzo Cushing’s Valor at Gettysburg and His Lasting Legacy
The roar was deafening. Smoke choked the air.
Cushing’s gun crew was gone. His hands were stained crimson. Yet, Alonzo Cushing stayed at his post, cranking the wheel, firing the cannon against the Confederate tide. Bullets whistled past. Bones shattered. The ground shook beneath relentless assault.
Death was inches away—but he did not quit.
The Man Behind the Gun
Born in 1841, Alonzo Herbert Cushing came from a family steeped in service. West Point shaped more than his military skill—it forged a sacred duty. Steely resolve wrapped in tender patriotism.
Raised in Wisconsin, Cushing’s faith anchored his courage. He carried a Bible in his pocket, a quiet reminder of God’s hand in the chaos. His letter home reflected the crucible of belief:
"I cannot give up the post which God has assigned me..."
His honor code was simple: Protect your men. Hold the line. Faith and duty were intertwined.
The Battle That Defined Him
July 3, 1863. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The war’s turning point.
Cushing commanded Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, atop Cemetery Ridge. Confederate forces prepared for Pickett’s Charge—their last desperate push.
Despite withering fire, Alonzo refused to abandon his cannon.
Early in the battle, a Confederate bullet shattered his left arm. He bound it with a handkerchief, grimacing through pain.
Not long after, a second wound tore into his chest.
Still, he ordered the gun crew to fire, refusing aid. As bursts cracked overhead and men faltered, Cushing’s voice remained firm, rallying the artillery.
Two of his men later recalled his calm amid hell:
“Lieutenant Cushing called out, ‘Never give up the battery!’ as bullets ripped past him.”
When the enemy closed, he raised the flag with one wounded arm, steady and unyielding. His final act was a prayer—a plea for strength and protection.
Alonzo Cushing died on that ridge, a few hours later. Twenty-two years old.
A Medal Decades in the Making
The nation honored many heroes after Gettysburg, but Cushing’s valor was overlooked for nearly 150 years.
In 2014, the Medal of Honor was finally awarded posthumously. President Barack Obama praised Cushing’s steadfast bravery:
“His unyielding dedication helped turn the tide of the Battle of Gettysburg...”
The citation detailed his relentless defense under fierce assault, citing his extraordinary courage beyond the call of duty.
Survivors and historians painted him as a symbol of sacrifice and duty—willing to die at his post rather than falter.
The Lasting Legacy of Alonzo Cushing
Cushing’s story is not just about one man’s battle. It is about the sacred duty carried by every soldier locked in hellish crucibles. The scars etched on their bodies, the weight they bear invisibly.
Faith in action; courage in the face of death.
His sacrifice reminds us: true valor is not measured by medals alone, but by the moment you decide to stand, wounded and weary, and fight for something greater than yourself.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7
That is Alonzo Cushing—the warrior who held the line, not for glory, but for country, comrades, and conscience.
His legacy calls veterans to remember their purpose beyond the warzone. Civilians, to see the cost behind freedom’s price.
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