First Lieutenant Alonzo H. Cushing was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama for his actions during the Civil War, 151 years ago. Cushing took part in Pickett's Charge, also known as Longstreet's Assault.
Pickett's Charge took place on July 3, 1863, when Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee ordered an attack on Union forces headed by Major Gen. George Meade, at Cemetery Hill in Pennsylvania. Cushing's battery faced fierce fighting from advancing Southern forces. The first lieutenant was the last person manning his gun, the lone serviceable weapon of its type in the area available to Union forces.
"During the advance, he was wounded in the abdomen as well as in the right shoulder. Refusing to evacuate to the rear despite his severe wounds, he directed the operation of his lone field piece, continuing to fire. With the Confederate forces within 100 yards of his position, Cushing was shot and killed during this heroic stand. His actions made it possible for the Union Army to successfully repulse the assault," White House officials report.
At the height of his one-man assault, the 22-year-old Cushing faced 13,000 Confederate troops. The native of Wisconsin commanded 110 men and six cannons during the Battle of Gettysburg.
The Battle of Gettysburg, during which Pickett's Charge took place, was the deadliest single battle of the entire war. Northern forces saw 3,155 of their soldiers die, and 14,351 injures. An additional 5,369 Union soldiers remained missing after the battle. Southern forces fared even worse, experiencing 4,708 dead, 12,693 wounded, and 5,830 missing in action.
This hard-fought Union victory is considered to be a turning point in the war by many historians. The victory by the North also provided President Abraham Lincoln with an opportunity to deliver the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves held in captured Southern territory. Before Gettysburg, the White House believed such an announcement would be seen as a sign of desperation by the chief executive.
Helen Loring Ensign, a 95-year-old woman living in California, accepted the award for conspicuous gallantry on behalf of the fallen soldier. Cushing had no children, nor did any of his brothers, making it challenging to find his closest living relative. Ensign is a first cousin, twice removed, to the Civil War soldier.
"No matter how long it takes, it is never too late to do the right thing," the White House reported President Obama as saying during the ceremony.
The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military honor, awarded to those soldiers who performed well-above the call of duty. Three versions of the award are presented -- one each for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Marines and members of the Coast Guard are awarded the Navy version.
