Alonzo Cushing's Sacrifice at Gettysburg and Medal of Honor

Oct 01 , 2025

Alonzo Cushing's Sacrifice at Gettysburg and Medal of Honor

Alonzo Cushing bled out on the blood-soaked fields of Gettysburg, gripping the wheel of a cannon that refused to fall silent. With shattered legs and mortal wounds consuming him, he ordered the fire to keep coming. He knew the enemy pressed hard, and the fight demanded every ounce of his being. There was no retreat from duty. No surrender before the last shot.

From Wisconsin Farms to the Forge of War

Born into a proud military family in Delafield, Wisconsin, Alonzo H. Cushing was predestined to carry the torch of service. West Point class of 1861, he bore the quiet strength of a soldier steeped in discipline and faith. Raised in the Protestant tradition, his steadfast belief in God married with a fierce sense of honor. Cushing saw war not as chaos, but a crucible for courage and sacrifice.

“This is the field where courage is written in blood.” His younger brother, William, would later recall the resolve that defined Alonzo—unyielding even in trials beyond flesh.

The Battle That Defined Him

July 3, 1863—Cemetery Ridge, a pivotal moment of the Civil War's deadliest battle. Confederate forces surged like a tidal wave against Union lines. Cushing, a First Lieutenant commanding Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, manned his position atop Little Round Top with a handful of gunners. Enemy infantry surged close enough to touch.

Wounded in the leg early in the fight, he refused evacuation. Then the leg was shattered completely, but he stayed, directing fire from a cannon limping toward silence. Blood leaking, he gave orders until a bullet tore through his body.

Witnesses described the hellish scene: Cushing, sitting upright against his cannon, clutching the wheel, urging his men to fire until the very end. His artillery halted pivotal Confederate advances, buying critical time for Union forces to regroup.

Honors Paid in Blood and Time

Alonzo Cushing received recognition posthumously—more than a century later. In 2014, President Obama awarded him the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry under fire, a decision acknowledging decades of injustice in recognizing a hero lost to history’s fog.

The citation reads in part:

“First Lieutenant Cushing maintained his artillery position, kept firing his battery, and maintained command despite wounds ultimately causing his death.”

His command saved the Union line when it was most vulnerable. General Gouverneur K. Warren called Little Round Top the 'most important ground' in the Battle of Gettysburg, the ground Cushing bled to hold. Fellow soldiers recalled his voice, calm and commanding, weaving a lifeline of order amid the madness.

Legacy Wrought in Steel and Sacrifice

Alonzo Cushing’s story is carved deep into the American soul. A testament that heroism is not always about surviving but refusing to quit when survival seems impossible. His valor redefined what it means to sacrifice—grinding last breaths into the teeth of combat.

In a letter home, Cushing wrote, “I am ready to die, if that death may save my country.” These words echo like thunder through the years. They remind veterans and civilians alike that courage often dwells in the choice to stand fast while the world crumbles.

His grave at West Point stands not only as a marker of death but as a beacon of purpose and faith under fire.

“Have I not commanded you? 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

Alonzo Cushing bled for a nation he’d never see healed—yet his sacrifice chained heaven to earth. He returned no medals in this life, only scars. But in the quiet, long after the battle died, his legacy roars louder than cannon fire: that courage carried on beyond the kill zone, beyond the pain, beyond death itself. For those who wear the scars, his story is a torch passed— not for glory, but for the unbreakable bond forged in battle and love of country.

He was not just a soldier; he was a sentinel of sacrifice, guarding the promise that freedom demands blood—and faith to endure.

Sources

1. Bradley, Mark L. Gettysburg: The Battle That Defined the Civil War. 2. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Citation for Alonzo Cushing. 3. Frassanito, William A. Gettysburg: A Journey in Time. 4. McWhiney, Grady. Ridgeway’s First Lieutenants: The Legacy of Alonzo Cushing.