Jan 01 , 2026

Remembering Alonzo Cushing and the Valor at Little Round Top

Explosions tore the sky open. The Union line wavered under brutal pressure. Amid smoke and chaos, Alonzo Cushing stood firm—his limbs shattered—but his eyes burned like fire. The guns must not fall silent. Not today. Not ever.

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Born Into Duty: The Making of a Warrior

Alonzo Cushing was no stranger to sacrifice. Born in 1841 into a West Point family of soldiers, his path was carved early—etched by discipline, faith, and honor. Raised on biblical scripture and military rigor, Cushing’s moral compass pointed unwaveringly toward duty and sacrifice.

An Episcopalian by conviction, he carried a quiet faith into the thunder of battle, anchored by Psalm 23: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” His was a soul tempered in the fires of preparation and conviction.

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Hell at Gettysburg: The Battle That Defined Him

July 3, 1863—Cushing stood as Captain in command of Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery at Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Union flank was crumbling. Confederate forces, spearheaded by Texas and Alabama troops, surged like a living wall against the artillery positions. Cushing’s guns were the thin line between order and annihilation.

Despite multiple wounds from rifle fire and shell fragments, he refused to quit or surrender his artillery pieces. His command rang out above agony: directing gun crews, adjusting fire, rallying men. His right arm nearly useless, he ordered his lieutenant to bring him more ammunition, cradling the act like a lifeline. The bombardment went on.

He staggered, fell, rose again, and fought through excruciating pain. Witnesses told of his shaking, bloodied figure, shouting “Give 'em Hell, boys!” as Confederates closed. Cushing died at his cannon, slumped but defiant, a testament of iron will and selflessness.

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Medal of Honor: Valor Recognized a Century Later

Alonzo Cushing’s ultimate sacrifice went formally unrecognized for over a hundred years. Posthumous campaigns gained momentum in the late 20th century, culminating in President Obama awarding him the Medal of Honor in 2014—151 years after Gettysburg.

The citation noted “his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.” His steadfast defense of Little Round Top helped turn the tide of the battle and perhaps the war itself[1].

General Gouverneur K. Warren, often credited with holding the line, later said of Cushing, “No braver or more devoted officer ever fell at his post.” His artillery kept the Union’s foothold when all seemed lost.

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Bloodied But Unbroken: The Enduring Legacy

Alonzo Cushing embodies the warrior’s timeless truth: courage endures when everything around you crumbles. He understood that sacrifice is more than soldier’s duty—it is a holy covenant. His story offers a blueprint for veterans cloaked in scars and memories.

He fought not for glory, but for his brothers-in-arms. Not for medals, but for the sanctity of their stand. His life declares that valor is measured not only in victories but in the willingness to lay down life itself.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13 serves as solemn witness to his sacrifice, as it does to all who pay the highest price.

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The blood-soaked earth of Little Round Top still whispers his name. Cushing’s spirit challenges us all—to find courage in the dark, to hold fast when hope fades, and to remember that redemption often blooms through sacrifice.

Alonzo Cushing’s hands gripped a cold cannon as death crept near—but his heart fired forever in the annals of valor.

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Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, Alonzo Cushing Medal of Honor Citation

[2] Stephen W. Sears, Gettysburg (Houghton Mifflin, 2003)

[3] Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Honoring Alonzo Cushing

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