Wilmot Gibbes de Saussure

Wilmot Gibbes de Saussure
Born(1822-07-23)July 23, 1822
DiedFebruary 1, 1886(1886-02-01) (aged 63)
Buried
Allegiance Confederate States of America
Branch South Carolina militia
Service years1861–1865
Rank Brigadier General
ConflictsAmerican Civil War
RelationsHarriette Kershaw Leiding (granddaughter)
Other workLawyer, historian

Wilmot Gibbes de Saussure (July 23, 1822  – February 1, 1886) was a brigadier general in the South Carolina militia, who served along with the Confederate States Army in South Carolina at various times during the American Civil War. As a colonel, he led his regiment in the occupation of Fort Moultrie and the bombardment of Fort Sumter at the beginning of the war. He was appointed brigadier general as well as adjutant general and inspector general of South Carolina militia in 1862. He commanded part of the Charleston defenses during the Union siege of the city in 1863. He also led his men in opposition to Major General William T. Sherman's march through the Carolinas.

De Saussure served five two-year terms in the South Carolina General Assembly in 1848–1849, 1854–1857 and 1860–1863. He also served as South Carolina Secretary of the Treasury from the summer of 1861 to April 11, 1862. After the war, de Saussure was a prominent lawyer and was active in civic affairs. He wrote several works of South Carolina history and was a grand master of Freemasons and president of the Huguenot Society, the Cincinnati Society and other civic organizations.