Class of 1855

William Woods Averell: Born Nov. 5, 1832, Cameron, NY.

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1851, to July 1, 1855, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Bvt. Second Lieut. of Mounted Rifle­men, July 1, 1855.

Served: in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1855‑56; at the Cavalry

(Second Lieut., Mounted Rifle­men, Aug. 16, 1855)

School for Practice, Carlisle, Pa., 1856‑57; on frontier duty in command of Escort to Commanding General of the Department of New Mexico, 1857, — Ft. Craig, N. M., 1857, — Scouting, 1857, being engaged against Kiowa Indians in a Skirmish near Ft. Craig, N. M., Dec. 7, 1857, — Ft. Craig, N. M., 1857‑58, — Scouting, 1858, — and Ft. Defiance, N. M., 1858; on Navajo Expedition, 1858, being engaged in a Skirmish in Chusca Valley, Sep. 29, 1859, — Skirmish with Ky‑a‑tano's band, Oct. 1, 1858, — and Skirmish at the Puerco of the West, Oct. 8, 1858, where he was severely wounded in a Night Attack on our camp; on frontier duty at Ft. Craig, N. M., 1859; and on sick leave of absence, 1859‑61.

Military History. — Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑65: as Bearer of Dispatches to Colonel Emory at Ft. Arbuckle, I. T., and returning to Washington, Apr. 17 to May 30, 1861; on Mustering duty at

(First Lieut., 3d Cavalry, May 14, 1861: Declined)

(First Lieut., Mounted Rifle­men, May 14, 1861: 3d Cavalry, Aug. 3, 1861)

Elmira, N. Y., June 7 to July 2, 1861; as Acting Asst. Adjutant-General to General A. Porter, July 5 to Oct. 9, 1861, in the Manassas Campaign of July, 1861, participating in the Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, — and on Provost duty at Washington, D. C., July 30 to Oct. 9, 1861; in

(Colonel, 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry Volunteers, Aug. 23, 1861)

command of Cavalry Brigade in front of the Defenses of Washington, D. C., Oct., 1861, to Mar., 1862, and led the Advance on Manassas, Mar. 9‑10, 1862; in the Virginia Peninsular Campaign (Army of the Potomac), Mar. to Aug., 1862, being engaged in the Siege of Yorktown, Apr. 5 to May 4, 1862, — Battle of Williamsburg, May 4‑5, 1862, Battle of Fair Oaks, June 1, 1862, — Battle of Malvern Hill, July 1,

(Captain, 3d Cavalry, July 17, 1862)

1862, — and Skirmishes at Sycamore Church, Aug. 2, and at White Oak Swamp, Aug. 5, 1862; on sick leave of absence, Sep. 5‑24, 1862; in the

(Brig.‑General, U. S. Volunteers, Sep. 26, 1862)

Maryland Campaign (Army of the Potomac), Oct.‑Nov., 1862, being engaged in Scouting and Skirmishes on Upper Potomac, Oct. 5‑31, 1862, — and March to Falmouth, Va., Nov., 1862, participating in Skirmishes along the Blue Ridge at Upperville, Markham, Corbin's and Gaines's Cross-roads, and Amissville, Nov. 2‑10, 1862; in the Rappahannock Campaign (Army of the Potomac), Dec., 1862, to May, 1863, being engaged in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, — in command of 2d Cavalry Division, Feb. 22 to May 4, 1863, — Skirmish at Hartwood, Feb. 25, 1863, — Action of Kelly's Ford (in command), Mar. 17, 1863, —

(Bvt. Major, Mar. 17, 1863,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of Kelly's Ford, Va.)

and on "Stoneman's Raid" toward Richmond, Apr. 29 to May 8, 1863, participating in several Skirmishes; in West Virginia Operations, commanding 4th Separate Brigade, May 16, 1863, to Apr. 26, 1864, being engaged in the Action at Beverly, July 4, 1863, — Skirmish at Hedgeville, July 19, and at Moorfield, Aug. 7, 1863, — Combat of Rocky Gap, near  p631 White Sulphur Springs (in command), Aug. 26, 1863, — Action of Droop Mountain (in command), Nov. 6, 1863, — Pursuit of enemy, Nov. 6‑18,

(Bvt. Lieut.‑Col., Nov. 6, 1863,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services in the Action of Droop Mountain, Va.)

1863, — and Salem Raid to Tennessee Railroad (in command), destroying Railroad and General Longstreet's supplies, Dec. 8‑25, 1863; on sick

(Bvt. Colonel, Dec. 15, 1863,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services during the Salem Expedition in Virginia)

leave of absence, Jan. 17 to Feb. 7, 1864; in West Virginia Operations, commanding 2d Cavalry Division, Apr. 26, 1864, to May 18, 1865, being engaged (in command) in the Action at Cove Gap, near Wytheville, May 10, 1864, where he was wounded, — Destruction of Tennessee Railroad from New River to La­fayette, May 12, 1864, — March across the Alleghany Mountains to Staunton, joining Expedition against Lynchburg, June, 1864, participating in several Skirmishes, — March to Kanawha and Shenandoah Valley, June‑July, 1864, defeating Ramseur's division at Carter's Farm, July 20, 1864, — Combat at Winchester, July 24, 1864, — Pursuit of McCausland's Raiders, July 31 to Aug. 7, 1864, — Combat of Moorfield (in command), Aug. 8, 1864, — Skirmishes at Bunker Hill, Martinsburg, etc., Aug. 18 to Sep. 18, 1864, — Battle of Opequan, Sep. 19, 1864, — Battle of Fisher's Hill, Sep. 22, 1864, — and Action at Mount Jackson, Sep. 23, 1864.

Bvt. Brig.‑General, U. S. Army, Mar. 13, 1865,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services in the Field during the Rebellion.

Bvt. Maj.‑General, U. S. Army, Mar. 13, 1865,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of Moorfield, Va.

Resigned, May 18, 1865.

Civil History. — United States Consul General to British North America, 1866‑69. Civil Engineer, 1869‑88.

Military History. — Re-appointed by Act of Congress of Aug. 1, 1888,

Captain, U. S. Army, Aug. 17, 1888, and Retired, Aug. 31, 1888.

Served as Asst. Inspector-General of Soldiers' Home, Bath, N. Y., since 1888.