Alonzo Cushing's Final Stand at Gettysburg Earned Medal of Honor

Jan 17 , 2026

Alonzo Cushing's Final Stand at Gettysburg Earned Medal of Honor

Alonzo Cushing’s hands trembled, gripping the artillery lanyard with a soldier’s last breath in his lungs. Bullets tore past him. Blood pooled around broken bones. The smoke thickened, swallowing the guns and men alike, but he kept firing—one more round—to hold the line. The roar of Union and Confederate rifles was deafening, but his heart burned louder. Here, amid hell’s thunder, Cushing stood alone, refusing to yield.

Born Into Duty: Faith and Formation

Alonzo Cushing came from a line forged in honor and faith. Born in 1841, West Point shaped him—not just as an officer but as a man bound to a higher code. His family believed in duty to God and country, in sacrifice as a calling. “I trust in the Lord,” he reportedly wrote in letters home, a steady light in a world darkened by conflict. The values he carried into battle were formed long before Gettysburg’s fields ran red: courage, perseverance, and an unshakable code of morality drawn from a faith that promised grace beyond the carnage.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

For Cushing, this wasn’t just scripture—it was a battle hymn.

The Battle That Defined Him

July 3, 1863. The third day of Gettysburg. The cannonade rattled the hills as the Army of the Potomac faced the Confederate onslaught. Lieutenant Colonel Cushing commanded Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery—a key point on Cemetery Ridge. As Confederate forces advanced, waves of troops surged forward, intent on breaking the Union center.

Under blistering fire, Cushing’s battery held firm. When several gunners fell, he moved from gun to gun, issuing orders and loading shells himself. Wounded three times—in his arm, chest, and abdomen—he refused evacuation. His fingers, stained with blood, still pulled triggers.

He shouted commands over the chaos, adapting swiftly. His battery inflicted brutal damage on enemy ranks, blunting Pickett’s Charge. Even as mortal wounds drained his strength, Cushing’s resolve never faltered.

Witnesses described him limping across the field, manning the guns alone by the end. One fellow officer testified later, “He stayed as long as the guns were firing, until he fell dead over his gun.” Another said, “His stand saved that part of the line.”

Recognition Carved in Blood

Alonzo Cushing died on that field, July 3, 1863, at age 22. His valor remained largely unrecognized for decades.

In 2014—over 150 years later—he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The citation confirmed what survivors relayed: “Throughout the furious combat and under severe fire, he maintained his position at his gun, inspiring those around him until he was mortally wounded.”

The long-delayed accolade echoed the truth that bravery, though it can be buried by time, never dies.

General Gordon R. Sullivan, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, said, “Cushing’s courage helps us remember that leadership is measured in sacrifice.”

Legacy of a Fallen Hero

Alonzo Cushing’s story is raw and searing—a reminder that valor is never free. Blood and grit bought every yard held on Cemetery Ridge. His final stand embodies the brutal calculus of combat: the choice to fight not for glory, but for the man next to you.

His faith in God and in country carried him beyond the threshold of death toward an enduring legacy. In a world quick to forget the fallen, Cushing teaches us that sacrifice is immortal, echoing in the rifles, boots, and prayers of every combat veteran thereafter.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13

Through Cushing's story, we remember the true cost of freedom—not just on the battlefield but in the hearts of those who stand guard so others might not have to. His scarred hands still grip the truths of courage and redemption. Battle may claim the body, but honor claims eternity.

Sources

1. United States Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (A–F)” 2. "Alonzo Cushing: Hero of Gettysburg," Civil War Trust 3. U.S. Congress Medal of Honor citation archives 4. General Gordon R. Sullivan, interview, The Legacy of Gettysburg Commanders