George A. Porterfield

George A. Porterfield
Born(1822-11-24)November 24, 1822
Berkeley County, Virginia
DiedFebruary 27, 1919(1919-02-27) (aged 96)
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Buried
Greenhill Cemetery
Martinsburg, West Virginia
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
 Confederate States of America
Service/branch United States Army
 Confederate States Army
Years of service1847–1848 (USA)
1861–1862 (CSA)
Rank First Lieutenant (USA)
Colonel (CSA)
UnitVirginia 1st Virginia Regiment (USA)
CommandsVirginia 25th Virginia Infantry (CSA)
Battles/warsMexican–American War
American Civil War
RelationsJames B. Terrill (brother-in-law)
William R. Terrill (brother-in-law)
Other workBanker

George Alexander Porterfield (November 24, 1822 – February 27, 1919) was 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 was in command of Confederate forces at Philippi in northwestern Virginia, later West Virginia, when they were 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 11 more months, Porterfield resigned from the Confederate Army because he lost his position in a regimental election. In 1871 he helped found a bank at Charles Town, West Virginia, which he served for many years. At his death, he was the third-last surviving veteran officer of the Mexican–American War.