Sep 30 , 2025
Alonzo Cushing's Gettysburg Last Stand Helped Repel Pickett's Charge
There was a smoke-choked ridge at Gettysburg where no man should have stood. But Alonzo Cushing, Captain of Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, held that line. Despite a torrent of lead tearing through bone and muscle, he remained. The battle's blood and fury soaked into his uniform. He ordered his guns to fire until his dying breath—until silence claimed him.
The Battle That Defined Him
July 3, 1863. The third day of Gettysburg—the bloodiest clash in American history. Confederate forces surged in what would be called Pickett’s Charge. On the Union right flank, Cushing’s battery anchored the precarious angle of Cemetery Ridge.
Heavy artillery fire ripped through the air. Bullets and artillery rounds shredded men and horses alike. Cushing, perched beside his cannon, took a bullet through the leg. Still, he refused evacuation. When another shot blew away his left arm, the order to leave was ignored once more.
“Captain Cushing refused to relinquish command despite mortal wounds,” his men recalled. Holding a limp sword in his remaining fist, he barked orders. His battery’s cannons roared again and again. Witnesses later said the battery’s fire broke the momentum of the Confederate assault in that sector.
He collapsed under the hailstorm of bullets. The last man breathing in his position. Mortally wounded, but steadfast. His sacrifice was paid in full.
A Soldier’s Faith and Forge
Born in 1841, Alonzo was the youngest son of a family steeped in military tradition and faith. Raised in Wisconsin and trained at West Point, his life was shaped by discipline and duty.
A man of deep Christian conviction, Cushing carried a Bible into battle. His letters home spoke often of Providence and purpose. “To stand with honor,” he wrote before Gettysburg, “is the true measure of a soldier’s soul.”
His creed was simple: hold ground, protect brothers, serve something greater than self. The violent chaos of war was his crucible.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” — Philippians 4:13
The Firefight and Final Stand
July 3rd was not just another clash; it was the crucible at which Cushing proved his mettle. Battery A was strategically placed to enfilade the Confederate brigades marching up the ridge.
Enemy infantry advanced in tight formation, confident in breaking Union lines once and for all. Cannon smoke clogged the air. Cushing, despite agonizing wounds, remained standing beside his guns. His voice was ragged but commanding.
“Fire when ready!” he ordered. Cannons blasted, cutting down waves of enemy troops. Men nearby shielded him from collapses and debris. Legend says even after losing an arm, he grabbed the reins of his horses with his teeth to steady the battery.
When the line buckled and retreat became imminent, Cushing refused to yield. Minutes later, he collapsed, pierced by multiple layers of enemy fire. He died that day — a soldier, a warrior, a guardian of his post amid the hail.
Honors Hard-Earned in Blood
Cushing’s heroism was recognized decades later. In 2014, nearly 151 years after his sacrifice, he was awarded the Medal of Honor—the highest military decoration.
The citation reads:
“For extraordinary heroism on July 3, 1863, while serving as commanding officer of Battery A… Captain Cushing, although badly wounded, courageously maintained his battery’s position and opened fire on the advancing enemy, materially contributing to the repulse of the Confederate attack.”
Generals and comrades alike acknowledged his valor. Lieutenant General George Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, said of Cushing:
“His defense was critical at a moment when the enemy pressed hard. There is no higher example of selfless service.”
Legacy of Sacrifice, Courage, and Redemption
Alonzo Cushing’s story is woven into the fabric of America’s blood-scarred soil. His sacrifice speaks to the warrior’s eternal struggle—to hold the ground, defend the fallen, and answer the call no matter the cost.
Sacrifice is not simply falling; it is choosing to stand when the world demands retreat.
His story is not just history but a living testament. To veterans, his courage echoes through the years, a reminder that valor is forged in the bitter heat of trial, sealed by faith and purpose. To civilians, it offers a window—however raw—into the price of freedom.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13
The soil of Gettysburg still holds Captain Alonzo Cushing’s blood, but his spirit rises eternal. From the roar of cannon to the hush of memory, his fight remains a clarion call to all who bear scars and remember why they stand.
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