Gideon Johnson Pillow (June 8, 1806 – October 8, 1878) was a wealthy and influential American lawyer, politician, landowner and speculator, slaveowner, United States Army major general of volunteers during the Mexican-American War and Confederate brigadier general in the American Civil War. Pillow had several disputes and rivalries with fellow officers during both wars.Pillow received the Thanks of the Confederate Congress for driving off the Union force at the 1861 Battle of Belmont, Missouri.