Alonzo Cushing's Valor at Gettysburg and the Medal of Honor

Jun 06 , 2026

Alonzo Cushing's Valor at Gettysburg and the Medal of Honor

Alonzo Cushing gripped the cold barrel of his cannon as Confederate fire ripped through the field. Blood was seeping freely from a wound churning his guts. But the guns did not fall silent. Not while he could still hold a breath. Not while the enemy stormed Cemetery Ridge.

He kept firing until death claimed him.

The Young Artillery Officer and His Unshakable Faith

Alonzo Herser Cushing was born into a lineage of service—West Point polished, duty-bound, and steeped in a stoic Christian faith that shaped his warrior’s heart. Raised in Wisconsin and schooled in self-discipline, Cushing saw life as a test of endurance framed by God’s will.

“I know that I am in God’s hands,” he reportedly embraced long before 1863’s hellfire. His faith wasn’t ornamental. It was the armor beneath his uniform. The scripture that grounded him:

“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 conviction crafted the man who would stand alone against a tidal wave of rebel muskets.

The Battle That Defined Him: July 3, 1863, Gettysburg

Cushing commanded Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, atop the lower slopes of Cemetery Ridge. The afternoon thundered with cannon blast and shrieking minie balls. Pickett’s Charge—a wave of Confederate soldiers, nearly 12,500 strong—pressed in relentless fury.

Cushing was struck three times. His leg shattered. His arm mangled. His body slumped against the wooden wheel of his ordnance.

Pain shattered his vision. But silence never came. He ordered his men to keep the guns firing. Even when his aides begged him to retreat, to save himself, he refused. “Don’t let them silence that battery,” he growled.

Witnesses recall how, with a scarf pressed to his chest to slow arterial bleeding, Alonzo manned a cannon’s breech himself, loading and firing while clinging to life.

Nearby soldiers later remembered seeing him wave off retreat, a ghost in a blood-soaked uniform, a living testament to grit beyond pain. He fell only when the last round exploded from his piece—declared dead hours later.

Recognition: Decades Delayed, Justice Rendered

For decades, Alonzo Cushing’s courage was obscured in the fog of Gettysburg’s countless heroes. It wasn’t until 2014—a staggering 151 years later—that President Barack Obama awarded Cushing the Medal of Honor, underscoring the unwavering valor he displayed under fire.[1]

The award citation doesn’t waste words:

For gallantry above and beyond the call of duty on 3 July 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg. Despite multiple grievous wounds, Cushing continued directing his artillery fire against attacking Confederate forces. His actions played a crucial role in repelling Pickett’s Charge.

Brig. Gen. J. Howard Caldwell, Cushing’s commanding officer, famously said in the aftermath:

“Lieutenant Cushing’s battery was an important factor in the success of our line.”

A soldier’s medal etched in history, earned in seeped sweat and crimson sacrifice.

Legacy Carved in Blood and Bravery

Alonzo Cushing’s story is not about glory or medals. It is a stark reminder that the line between life and death is often held by those willing to bear pain and persevere. His sacrifice shaped the course of the battle—and arguably the war—yet it was his faith and unyielding resolve that left a mark deeper than any battlefield could.

“Greater love hath no man than this,” echoes through his story. Not just survival. Not just victory. But the willingness to stand and fight when the world crumbles around you.

In today’s noise, many forget the cost of standing firm. Cushing reminds us that courage is forged not from invincibility, but from sacrifice. That real heroes bleed but do not break.

His legacy whispers to every veteran who has trudged through hell: your scars are not shame. They are badges of a brotherhood forged in fire. And for those who watch from the sidelines, it asks—what will you do when your moment arrives?

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16

Alonzo Cushing’s cannon quieted at Gettysburg, but his resolve shakes the earth still.

Sources

1. White House Press Release, “Medal of Honor Ceremony for Alonzo Cushing,” 2014. 2. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Alonzo Cushing Medal of Honor Citation.” 3. Wert, Jeffry D., Cavalryman of the Lost Cause: A Biography of J.E.B. Stuart, Simon & Schuster, 2008. 4. McPherson, James M., Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford University Press, 1988.