A soldier who died at Gettysburg 147 years ago is finally in line to receive the US's highest military decoration.

First Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing of Delafield, Wisconsin, died in the American Civil War battle of Gettysburg in 1863 at the age of 22.

Even though he was wounded, he led his men to a valiant last stand, one that repelled a Confederate thrust.

Descendants and Civil War buffs took up Cushing's cause and have been trying to get the US army to take the rare step of bestowing the medal upon him after all these years.

It last happened for a Civil War soldier nine years ago.

The secretary of the army approved Cushing's medal earlier this year, leaving a few formal steps before the award is expected to become official this summer.

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