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Porterfield, George A

soldier, banker, was born Nov. 24, 1822, in Berkeley county, Va., now West Virginia. In 1844 he graduated from the Virginia Military institute of Lexington. In 1846 he helped to raise a company of volunteers for service in the war with Mexico.

July 10, 1847; he was appointed adjutant of the Virginia regiment at Buena Vista; and on Oct. 27 of the same year was promoted to acting-assistant adjutantgeneral to the division stationed at and near Buena Vista; which position he held until the end of the war. He declined a place on the staff of Gen. Wood. In 1861 he was appointed colonel of volunteers in the confederate service, and was ordered to raise a command in northwestern Virginia. He collected a force of about eight hundred men; was subsequently relieved of command; and later served on the staff of Gen. W. W. Loring; was in command of a brigade under Gen. Edward Johnson, but retired from the service in May, 1862. He is a prominent banker of Charlestown, W. Va.