Alonzo Cushing's Gettysburg Stand and Posthumous Medal of Honor

Feb 12 , 2026

Alonzo Cushing's Gettysburg Stand and Posthumous Medal of Honor

The cannon roared beneath a blood-red sky. Amid screams and thunder, Alonzo Cushing gripped the limber chains with broken hands. Wounds opened, pain flared, but still the guns fired. Every shot was a prayer. Every breath a defiance against death itself. He held the line at Gettysburg when all else teetered on collapse—refusing to surrender ground or hope.

Roots in Honor and Faith

Born 1841 in Wisconsin, Alonzo Cushing was steeped in a legacy of discipline and conviction. West Point shaped him, but faith forged his soul. Raised in a family tied to service and sacrifice, he carried the weight of duty like armor. His father, a judge and U.S. Representative, taught him that truth and justice demanded action—even under fire.

Cushing’s uncle, William B. Cushing, earned renown as a daring naval officer, yet Alonzo developed his own iron resolve through quiet, steadfast belief. Amid smoke and chaos, his faith was more than solace—it was a compass.

“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

That promise anchored him in the worst hours.

The Battle That Defined Him

July 3, 1863. The third day of Gettysburg. Confederate forces—under Longstreet—crashed forward aiming to shatter Union lines. Cushing commanded Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, posted on Cemetery Ridge. The artillery’s place was pivotal. If lost, the entire Union center could crumble.

Shells screamed. Horses died beneath men. Musket fire stitched the air with deadly intent. Despite grievous wounds—piercing his shoulder and chest—Cushing stayed at the limber. He directed his guns to fire relentlessly on the advancing rebels. His horse fell, crushed beneath him, yet he rose to continue issuing orders.

Witnesses saw him collapse again and again. His final moments came in command, pistol drawn, refusing to yield. He died propped against his cannon, a sentinel to the last breath.

Col. William McKelvey, in command of the brigade, described Cushing’s stand:

“Lieutenant Cushing remained at his post, though mortally wounded, and in the face of an overwhelming assault, he bravely maintained the fire of his battery.”

Battlefield valor like this didn't just halt a charge—it stilled the tide of a nation’s bloodletting.

Medal of Honor and Recognition

Yet recognition was slow, a delayed echo of the fiery day. The Medal of Honor, America’s highest award for valor, wasn't bestowed until 2014—151 years after his sacrifice.

The citation reads:

“For extraordinary heroism on 3 July 1863, while serving with Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lt. Cushing, though desperately wounded, continued to fight his battery against the attacking Confederate forces.”

President Barack Obama presented the medal posthumously to Cushing’s descendants, finally honoring a soldier who had given everything—without falter, without thought of glory.

Historian and author Earl J. Hess wrote:

“Cushing’s refusal to relinquish his guns inspired the men to hold their ground at a moment when the entire battle line might have been broken.”

The Legacy of Sacrifice and Redemption

Alonzo Cushing’s story is a wound and a balm. A signal flare in history’s darkest hour, reminding us what courage demands: Absolute commitment, even beyond life itself.

His final stand was more than military strategy—it was a testament to human spirit. His scars are etched into the nation’s skeleton, a call to remember the brothers who take fire for their country and never step back.

In a world quick to forget sacrifice, Cushing’s legacy presses us to hold fast—to each other, to purpose, and to faith. For every soldier who stands between chaos and hope, his story whispers: You are not alone.

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

The cannons have quieted at Gettysburg, but the echo of Alonzo Cushing’s defiance still sounds. It will not fade.

Sources

1. United States Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Citation: Lt. Alonzo Cushing 2. Hess, Earl J., Custer and the Battle of Gettysburg, University Press of Kansas 3. National Park Service, Gettysburg Battlefield Units and Commanders 4. Obama White House Archives, Medal of Honor Presentation Ceremony