Alonso Cushing image from Antietam

[frontrank2]

This photo was posted by the Civil War Trust today on Facebook. It was announced yesterday that he will receive the Medal of Honor for his valor at Gettysburg. This image was taken around the time of Antietam.

He is the officer standing in the center.

 

[kevikens]

I believe this man is the brother of Richard Cushing, the gallant USN officer whose assault sank a Confederate ironclad. If so, was he ever awarded this medal? That would be something for two bothers to get this medal.

 

[frontrank2]

I believe this man is the brother of Richard Cushing, the gallant USN officer whose assault sank a Confederate ironclad. If so, was he ever awarded this medal? That would be something for two bothers to get this medal.

There was a Cushing brother named William who fits your description. He is credited with the sinking of the CSN Albermale, but no Medal of Honor. Just the " Thanks of Congress."
wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Cushing

 

[ErnieMac]

Another brother, Lieutenant Howard Bass Cushing, was killed fighting against the Apache in Arizona in 1871.

 

[tmh10]

There was a Cushing brother named William who fits your description. He is credited with the sinking of the CSN Albermale, but no Medal of Honor. Just the " Thanks of Congress."
wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Cushing

That mission was one of the great feats of the war. Too bad he had mental issues after the war. I did not know he was the brother of Alonso.

 

[28thNewYork]

William, Howard and Alonzo were brothers. The picture of Alonzo included on most websites carrying the story resembles more the individual standing on the right in the image shown in post #1 on this thread, but that may just be my sad old eyes.

 

[rpkennedy]

William, Howard and Alonzo were brothers. The picture of Alonzo included on most websites carrying the story resembles more the individual standing on the right in the image shown in post #1 on this thread, but that may just be my sad old eyes.

I would've agreed except that the guy standing on the far right is a 2nd Lt. while Cushing was promoted to 1st Lt. when he graduated from West Point.

R

 

[DixieRifles]

I also heard the news about the Medal of Honor being approved. I find that amazing after so many years. Would like to hear more details of the effort it took to get this approved.

 

[Northern Light]

That mission was one of the great feats of the war. Too bad he had mental issues after the war. I did not know he was the brother of Alonso.

I understood that he had severe pain from back issues. I had heard nothing of mental issues. Can you elaborate?

 

[tmh10]

Expired Image Removed

On Thanksgiving Day, William, Kate and his mother went to church in the morning. That night, the pain in Cushing's back was worse than it had ever been and he could not sleep. The following Monday he dragged himself to the Navy Yard. Kate sent Lieutenant Hutchins, once of the Wyoming and now Cushing's aide, to bring his superior home. She feared that he wouldn't last the day. True to his nature, Cushing stayed at the yard until after nightfall, and went right to bed when he got home. He would not rise again. The pain was constant and terrible. He was given injections of morphine but they only dulled the pain a little.

On 8 December 1874, it became impossible to care for Cushing at home, and he was removed to the Government Hospital for the Insane. His family visited him often, but he seldom recognized them. Cushing died on 17 December 1874 in the presence of his wife and mother. He was buried on 8 January 1875 at Bluff Point, at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Cushing

 

[Northern Light]

Expired Image Removed

On Thanksgiving Day, William, Kate and his mother went to church in the morning. That night, the pain in Cushing's back was worse than it had ever been and he could not sleep. The following Monday he dragged himself to the Navy Yard. Kate sent Lieutenant Hutchins, once of the Wyoming and now Cushing's aide, to bring his superior home. She feared that he wouldn't last the day. True to his nature, Cushing stayed at the yard until after nightfall, and went right to bed when he got home. He would not rise again. The pain was constant and terrible. He was given injections of morphine but they only dulled the pain a little.

On 8 December 1874, it became impossible to care for Cushing at home, and he was removed to the Government Hospital for the Insane. His family visited him often, but he seldom recognized them. Cushing died on 17 December 1874 in the presence of his wife and mother. He was buried on 8 January 1875 at Bluff Point, at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Cushing[/QUOTE

Hmm............Severe back pain and a morphine addiction. Poor guy!