Lt alonzo cushings defiant standard

The New York Times. ISSN Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on March 15, Civil War soldier is approved for Medal of Honor". Associated Press. Archived from the original on US Army News Service. Retrieved 7 June ISBN Cushing at Gettysburg National Military Park". References [ edit ]. Further reading [ edit ].

External links [ edit ]. Wikiquote has quotations related to Alonzo Cushing. Gettysburg figures. Lee Alexander R. Anderson G. Jones W. Lee W. Steuart J. Stuart Thomas Trimble J. Walker R. Walker Wilcox Wofford Wright. Authority control databases.

Lt alonzo cushings defiant standard: Nobody doubts the incredible bravery

That is my personal opinion. Did he have a point? Much of this debate centers on our conception of courage. Undoubtedly, courage in combat is the hardest of all emotions to judge, and I know that I am no expert in it. However, the most shocking thing about this award is that, in awarding it, we are attempting to hold a 19th Century officer up to 21 st Century standards of courage.

None of the 1, other Civil War Medal of Honor winners had to meet these demands. Perhaps it sounds strange, but this thought irks me just a bit. The same principle might also be applied to courage. Are standards of courage from two different centuries even compatible? Are we really awarding Cushing the Medal of Honor as he would have understood it, or are we honoring him with a meaningless commendation based on a conception of courage that only we can truly appreciate?

Maybe it is a moot point. Modern criteria for winning the Medal of Honor are far harsher than they were in During the Civil War, soldiers received Medals of Honor for relatively unassuming activities. Consider the Battle of Gettysburg, the same action for which Cushing has been nominated. Sixty-three soldiers have, to this point, received Medals of Honor for action at that engagement.

Twenty-four of them received medals for the capture of enemy battle flags. Certainly, I do not mean to say that capturing an enemy flag is an easy thing. Some of the Medal of Honor winners—Corporal Francis Waller, for instance—captured a flag by ripping it from the hands of its color bearer. Unquestioningly, that took guts.

Lt alonzo cushings defiant standard: LT Alonzo Cushing commanded six guns

However, many other soldiers won the Medal without similar trouble. Veterans from the 19 th Maine asserted that they, not Horan, had been responsible for killing the Confederate color bearer. A sergeant from the 19 th Maine explained:. Just as we were ordered back, our attention was attracted by loud cheering in the rear. It was a portion of the Excelsior Brigade which had followed us about one-third of the distance we had charged and had come up to the Eighth Florida flag, lying upon the ground.

These New York men were waving that Rebel flag and cheering wildly. The other Rebel flag over which we had charged was also picked up and some of the cannon from which the Nineteenth had driven the Rebels were hauled back as trophies of the valor of the Third Corps. Our honors were rapidly disappearing. The trophies of our victory, so dearly earned, were borne away by the men following in our footsteps, far behind.

When Hogan picked up the flag in question there was not a live Rebel soldier within half a mile of him, unless such Rebel soldier was a prisoner of war. Instead, Horan had simply done what any ordinary soldier would do; he picked up an enemy battle flag when he saw it lying in his path. The U. Army never launched a thorough investigation. Once Horan provided proof of the capture in the form of sworn affidavits, the War Department issued him a Medal on April 5, To say that Horan and others like him hoodwinked the War Department would be a stretch.

Though he began his military career in the artillery during the Civil War, he became known as "The Custer of Arizona" while fighting the Indian Wars. Alonzo Cushing was present at several major battles during the first years of the war.

Lt alonzo cushings defiant standard: Cushing distinguished himself by acts of

He saw limited action at First Manassasbut was cited for "gallant and meritorious services" at the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsvillereceiving brevet promotions following each. Aside from his skill as an artillery officer, he was well loved by his subordinates and superiors. They noted his poise under fire, radiant grin, and infectious smile, which all gave a soothing effect during the chaos of battle.

On July 3,he suffered his first wound well before the Rebel infantry began their attack. A searing hot piece of shrapnel ripped open both his thighs and stomach. While other artillery units withdrew from Cemetery Ridge due to the heavy Rebel bombardment, Cushing refused to yield. He ordered his remaining 3-inch ordnance rifles to be wheeled directly up against the stone wall at the Angle in preparation for the onslaught.

Cushing remained resolute to the very end. Right before a Confederate bullet struck Cushing in the head, he gave his final order. Though several hundred Virginians under the command of General Lewis Armistead breached the wall where Cushing fell, they were quickly repulsed, and hurled back from whence they came. During the Confederate cannonade, he was wounded in the abdomen, as well as the right shoulder.

Refusing to evacuate, despite his severe wounds, he directed the operation of his two remaining guns -- firing in the face of the enemy. When the rebels were less than yards from his position, Cushing was shot in the head, and died instantly. His actions materially aided the Union Army's successful repulse of the Confederate assault.

History shows that the Confederacy would be on the defensive from this point forward, and never again mount a major offensive. James Longstreet's Assault on July 3, In this segment of the cyclorama, Cushing is pictured in the center, leaning against the left side of the canon. Fought over the first three days of Julythe Battle of Gettysburg Pennsylvania was one of the most crucial battles of the Civil War.

The fate of the nation literally hung in the balance that summer ofwhen Gen. Robert E.