George A. Porterfield
American military officer in the United States and Confederate armies
Years: 1822 - 1919
George Alexander Porterfield (November 24, 1822 – February 27, 1919) is a junior officer of United States forces in the Mexican–American War, colonel, in the Confederate States Army during the first year of the American Civil War and longtime banker in Charles Town, West Virginia after the war.
He is in command of Confederate forces at Philippi in northwestern Virginia, later West Virginia, when they are surprised and routed, though with only a few soldiers wounded or captured, by Union Army forces on June 3, 1861 near the beginning of the Civil War.
After serving in staff and temporary field positions for eleven more months, Porterfield resigns from the Confederate Army because he loses his position in a regimental election
In 1871 he helps found a bank at Charles Town, West Virginia which he serves for many years.
At his death he is the third-last surviving veteran officer of the Mexican–American War.
