Alonzo Cushing's Gettysburg stand and posthumous Medal of Honor

Feb 06 , 2026

Alonzo Cushing's Gettysburg stand and posthumous Medal of Honor

Blood burns hot, and the earth drinks it deeper every second. July 3, 1863. The roar of cannon fire shakes the world at Gettysburg. Amidst that hellfire, a young artillery officer refused to fall silent. With a bullet ripping through his knee and mortal wounds in his side, Alonzo Cushing held his ground. His guns did not cease. Not for an instant.

The Blood Runs in His Veins

Born in Delafield, Wisconsin, 1841, Alonzo Cushing carried the weight of a strong military lineage. West Point grad, with a sharp mind and firmer resolve. Duty was his creed, faith his armor. Raised in a devout household, his character forged by discipline and belief—the unshakable conviction that honor and sacrifice extended beyond death.

His baptism in fire came early during the Civil War. Yet, it was not just the blue uniform he wore—it was the spirit beneath it. Scripture lingered in his heart:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6

The Battle That Defined Him

The third day at Gettysburg shattered lives on Cemetery Ridge. Cushing was captain of Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery. As Pickett's Charge thundered forward, the ground shook beneath him. Confederate infantry surged, the thunder of musket and cannon merging into one dreadful din.

Despite his artillery position being overrun, Cushing refused to retreat. A bullet shattered his right knee; blood poured freely. Yet, using his last strength, he directed his men to keep firing, repositioning guns under withering fire. Every shell sent downrange was a lifeline for the Union line.

Eyewitness reports show him ordering his battery forward, manning guns until his final breath. His assistant, Lieutenant Joseph Snider, kept working alongside him, passing orders to keep the cannons roaring. Cushing died kneeling beside the guns, soaked in blood but resolute in mission.

Recognition Long Overdue

It took over 130 years for the full measure of his valor to be recognized. On November 6, 2014, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Captain Alonzo Cushing the Medal of Honor.

His citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Captain Cushing continued to direct artillery fire despite being wounded, inspiring his men to hold the line against overwhelming odds.”

Military historians regard Cushing’s stand as pivotal, bolstering the Union defense that broke Pickett's Charge.

Senator Tammy Baldwin stated:

“Captain Cushing exemplifies the courage and selflessness we strive to honor in our nation’s heroes.”[^1]

Lessons Etched in Blood and Time

Alonzo Cushing’s story is not just one of battlefield bravery. It’s about unyielding faith, duty over comfort, and embracing sacrifice when the cost is everything.

He died at 23, but his legacy wrestles with time—a beacon for those who understand the weight of combat, the cost of holding fast when all falls apart. His scars are etched into our shared history, a reminder that courage demands a price paid in blood.

In the words of Hebrews 12:1—

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.”

Veterans know: sometimes, the fight doesn’t end on the battlefield. It lives on in every choice to stand, to lead, to fight for the next generation’s freedom.

Alonzo Cushing did not just fire a cannon downrange that July day—he fired a challenge at history itself. Stand fast. Fight on. Never forget.

Sources

[^1]: U.S. Senate Press Office, “Senator Tammy Baldwin on Alonzo Cushing’s Medal of Honor,” Official Senate Records, 2014. [^2]: U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War, 2014. [^3]: Sears, Stephen W., Gettysburg, Houghton Mifflin, 2003. [^4]: National Park Service, Battle of Gettysburg Unit Summaries, 2020.