Officer, Soldier · Confederate

Thomas A. Huguenin

The last Confederate commander of Fort Sumter, and twice the last man out of a well-defended post.

Charleston

Huguenin commanded Fort Sumter from 20 July 1864 to 17 February 1865, the last Confederate officer to hold it. He had already been the last man out of Battery Wagner in September 1863. On the night of 17 February 1865 he relieved the sentinels of Fort Sumter himself, walked the whole work with his engineer and his adjutant, cast off the lines and stepped aboard.

Life

A graduate of the State Military Academy in 1859. Johnson's note on him is that twice it had fallen to Huguenin to be the last man out of a well-defended post.

Service

  1. Captaincommissioned1st South Carolina Infantry, infantry · Confederate armyuntil 7 September 1863Battery WagnerJohnson 1890
  2. Captaincommissioned1st South Carolina Infantry, infantry · Confederate army20 July 1864 to 17 February 1865Fort SumterJohnson 1890

Each rank is the rank held at the time described. A later promotion is shown only in its own dated entry.

Places

  • Stationed at Battery Wagner

    until 7 September 1863 · confirmed

    EvidenceNamed by Johnson as the last man out of the work at its evacuation on the night of 6-7 September 1863.

    Johnson 1890

  • Commanded from Fort Sumter

    20 July 1864 to 17 February 1865 · confirmed

    TodayFort Sumter National Historical Park, Charleston Harbor, SC
    EvidenceThe last Confederate commander of the fort; he relieved the sentinels himself on the night of 17 February 1865 and was the last man aboard.

    Johnson 1890

Burial

Not yet documented.

What is established, and on whose authority

  • verifiedCaptain, 1st South Carolina Infantry; commanded Fort Sumter from 20 July 1864 to 17 February 1865.Johnson 1890
  • verifiedGraduated from the State Military Academy in 1859.Johnson 1890
  • verifiedWas the last man out of Battery Wagner at its evacuation in September 1863, and the last man out of Fort Sumter on the night of 17 February 1865.Johnson 1890
  • not establishedDates of birth and death.no source
  • not establishedBurial place.no source

Identity: verified. Last checked 31 August 2026.

Corrections to this record are welcome through the publisher.