Alonzo Cushing's Gettysburg Valor and Medal of Honor Story

Apr 16 , 2026

Alonzo Cushing's Gettysburg Valor and Medal of Honor Story

Blood in the Clay, Cannon Smoke in His Eyes

July 3, 1863. The sun scorched Gettysburg’s crimson fields. Union lines buckled under rebel fire. Amidst the chaos, young Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing manned his artillery battery like a man possessed. Wounded twice. Bleeding profusely. He refused to fall. His cannon roared defiance over the thunderous charge. Every squeeze of the lanyard pushed fear and pain aside. He held the line. Until his last breath.

The Soldier Forged by Duty and Faith

Alonzo Cushing came from a Pennsylvania family shaped by education and service. West Point bore down on his convictions, sharpening a resolve tempered by discipline and prayer. Faith was his armor as much as his uniform, a steady hand in the blood-drenched swirl of war.

A devout Christian, Cushing carried scripture close even in battle. His moral code was anchored in sacrifice and steadfastness, a doctrine lived in moments no sermon could capture. His courage wasn’t born from bravado but from a deep-seated belief in duty to country and to God.

Gettysburg: The Crucible of Valor

By July 3rd, 1863, Pickett’s Charge loomed—a suicidal Confederate gamble to break Union lines. Cushing, 23 years old, commanded Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, positioned at the Angle near the famous "copse of trees." This spot was the linchpin of Cemetery Ridge.

Enemy infantry surged in waves. Artillery shells screamed overhead. Cushing’s battery was targeted viciously. Shrapnel tore his legs; a bullet shattered his right arm. Yet, he kept correcting firing coordinates, calling for ammunition, urging men to reload. Even as blood poured freely, he gritted out orders—his voice a tether holding the line.

Witnesses described a horrid scene: Cushing collapsed but dragged himself upright, directing fire with one hand, clutching a bloody stump. His men fought to keep him upright.

“He died with the lanyard in his hand,” recalled Sergeant Frederick Weikert. “He stayed at his gun until he could stay no longer.”

His tenacity bought Union troops critical seconds to repel the Confederate charge, arguably saving the Union’s hold on Cemetery Ridge.

Recognition Late but Earned

Alonzo Cushing died on that field, July 3, 1863—murdered by the carnage he sought to repel. He earned no immediate medal. The Medal of Honor process in the Civil War era was chaotic, and artillery officers rarely received it for actions under fire.

It wasn’t until December 2014, 151 years later, that President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Cushing the Medal of Honor for “gallantry above and beyond the call of duty” at Gettysburg, citing his indomitable spirit amidst mortal wounds^[1].

His citation reads:

“Lieutenant Cushing maintained control of his guns and fought against overwhelming odds despite multiple wounds, demonstrating conspicuous gallantry, courage, and devotion to duty.”

General James Longstreet called the fighting at that ridge the “cruelest portion of the battle.” Yet, Cushing’s valor carved a lasting name on that brutal day.

Legacy Written in Blood and Honor

Alonzo Cushing’s story is not just Civil War history—it’s the eternal tale of sacrifice under fire. His wounds symbolize every combat vet’s scars, both seen and unseen. His refusal to yield reminds us courage is born from commitment, not comfort.

From West Point halls to the Gettysburg bloodbath, Cushing’s legacy beckons all who bear the weight of duty to persevere. Redemption is not found in glory but in the refusal to surrender purpose when pain demands it.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

His faith fueled his fight. His fight fuels ours.

In every generation, warriors stand at the breach. They bleed. They sacrifice. They hold the line. Like Alonzo Cushing, they remind us freedom demands a price—and that price is never cheap.

Sources

1. West Point Association of Graduates + “Medal of Honor: Alonzo Cushing” 2. U.S. Army Center of Military History + Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War 3. C. Harvey, The Last Stand at Gettysburg (2019) 4. National Park Service + Battle of Gettysburg Overview