William Woods Averell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 5, 1832 Cameron, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1900 (aged 67) Bath, New York, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1855–1865 |
| Rank |  Brevet Major General |
| Commands | 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Other work | U.S. Consul General Inventor |
| Signature |  |
William Woods Averell (November 5, 1832 – February 3, 1900) was a career United States Army officer and a cavalry general in the American Civil War. He was the only Union general to achieve a major victory against the Confederates in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 prior to the arrival of Philip Sheridan, at the Battle of Rutherford's (Carter's) Farm and at the Battle of Moorefield.
After the war, Averell was appointed by President Andrew Johnson as a diplomat to British North America, serving 1866 to 1869. Also an entrepreneur and inventor with interests in the coal, steel and related infrastructure industry, Averell became wealthy by inventing an improved technique for laying asphalt pavement.
He co-wrote a history of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, Sixtieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War years; it was published in 1905. He wrote a memoir of his Army years from 1851-1862 but did not publish it and the manuscript was lost for a time. It was discovered in the late 20th century and published in an annotated edition in 1978.