Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-05-22
D nj isDT3 sloaFofs the So scrA ron.
I, Gen, Robert iPorterfleId.

D.-- -.-,.r,- - -
INCIDENTS IN ms. LIFE. NEVER BEFORE
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81 p. sf5S9 70 -f5-Ps4.l As iA In 6ohihD'
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=,
MIR. Toh-'-something over forty
years nave passea Slhee Gen. Robert lPor-
Jefneid dleq,sa soldler and officer In the
heToln1Ionary rev l,I war, as also IN the war OF
l?I9 - mere ateAln tnis town number OF
where he was, born, when. he died or
where he was buried, Is this fame Is
ltlns the reward Of hat courage. that in
cites q man to deeds Of daring? Is this
the need bestuwed on lone who shared
with NRSlHags gssnsthe hpfdships of Valley
Forge and prompted hits to give utter
ance to those words that the people of Au-
gasta, for one or itwe generations, have
been won't to ron asa sweet msfsel under
their tongues 20 Methinks that2is thes ven
eraple man could have, -anticipated how
shofs i,ved mas been their graitude, he,
wound nave hesnated Ion IN paying them
tne mplmept referred to-. I ai..' r. D21i'
6en- FerFet1eid was born su5Isil.5 wufi
IN TffE~ coy1Nry, or -rr;rro4tt1,rep I'M 7115o
n 4. ~ -
o., Dn,;1' NJ .rio N-oNoiueital h,ne, anuer
TIa.,ail NJ. Di'LiiI1 % lnoulg9r oi TIE
az - -l1 l'e X r,iAS.V ne 5Jeineu
Jlo.ai " ny Iuuoi srso S'on a1 Miu
,,nd :, 80" oU.;', - ~ lie coHtili- u
WSed W. AZ SCI VIC uhIii eilo 01pGlre oi zen.
o,,,'"J " mu' ~ cI, ilu ene eioHps "1sn WHICH ne
80 w ne
h. * ie.. - G. Nv. Wsfn.S . lt piace W
~. '',o ~ 80 80 anu soiVeu III
til tho VI i''' Gnu i''o' anu III
INC u Ing ways
AT VALLEY FORGE, WITH CAPT PHIL.
SLAUGHTER,
occ,,niad am oro,, sbontv
On one occasion ha iyas sant with III,
matches To Cen Wasbington,s beado,,ar
tars On neoring tbarn his attentio1, ,,,., W..
attracted by a noble-looking gray horse
when, on a closer observation, he saw
Gen. Washington at one side engaged in
prayer. Waiting until he arose from his
knees, he approached, when the Gen. asked
VINO he was? He replied, his name was Rob't
Porterileld, and he was bearer of dispatch
es: "Robert,' ne said, taking his, hand,
II am glad to know you" In after life,
IN referring to this interview, the Gen.
sald that 1t was pleasure to have been
thus recognized by Gen. Washington.
Some Que writing In the SPECTATOR, af-
ter his death, mentioned his being in the
battle OF Brandywine, 1t was an error.
A friend, to whom we are indebted for this
correction of history, as boy and man lived
near the Gen., and was often entertained
with his war experiences. The Gen.
and his comrade-in-arms, QIieut. Heth,
who. after the war, married the Gen.
sister, oehg overcome with unusual Ia
ISNine thro.r +t,asolsns Sne e'tI 20 49, u 5 D,nn
and 1vora soo,, i, Joo,, s1,,,, or. r, tta
,nornino afte,. q hor1 80, t,,a,- So Ia
tbon1saf1as i, IN -e.s'' co 10y AVo4s SAis
and sr,ffarinc +hot 80 ,,ro,,o,',,oa1 ,r,'at
c. 81 - 80 polioSi e ~ e. 80
zvb;c,, Iyas dc. .stro,,S 20 90 ~
''---O-- o'i''''''i ''' ~ 0"' ''i ms
WHEN BRANDY WINE WAS cRlMsoNED
WITH BLOOD,
they sought shelter in a neighboring
farmhouse. 1t so happened that the in
mate was Quaker. His presence of
mind was equal to the emergency. He
stripped them Of their uniforms, which he
concealed. He put them to bed, in one
with high posts, on each Of which he hung
a Quaker hat Presently, squad OF Brit
ish made theif appearance and roughly de-
manded to know who he had there. With
sad and very demnre face, he replied, a
pair OF sick boys. Helping themselves to
what they wanted, they left. second
squad came that were more rough and bo:s
terous, and very profane, but the Quaker's
equanlmlty served the purpose. As soon
as the coast was clear, he put them in a
vehicle and set them down out of harms
way, and they joined the army again
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE OF CAMDEN.
Because Of the timely and efficient aid
rendered to the Gen. and his friend by this
shrewd and level-headcd Quaker, he ever
held them, as denomination, in high esti-
nation.
At the close of the Revolution, this
friend heard the Gen. say he held $13,5O0
of Continental Script that he disposed of
for shilling and six pence in the dollar,
and with the proceeds bought the farm
few miles below Waynesboro', that he
named Soldiers Retreat" and where he
died on February 18th, 1S43 We are of
the opinion that he married after the Rev
olution, and to Miss Rebecca Farrar of
Amelia. The present Judge Faarar is of
the same family. Col. Charles PorteIf1eld,
his younger brother, distinguished himself
in gallantry at the siege of Quebec, where
he scaled the walls. He received a severe
wound, breaking both bones in one of his
legs. He made his home under the Gems
rcof, died there, and was buried in the
cemetery close by, on the Capt. James
Turk farm. Gen. Porter1eld and Col.
Charles both took part in the war of 1919.
1t was during that war he attained the
rank of Brigadier, having had the rank of
Major at tie close Of the Revolution.
HE WAS A MAGISTRATE FOR FIFTY YEARS.
a,,a bo1d a. hi, chor;e.,1tv +r,;oo IT.
''u,. i;eiS. ;. ING iil - a. '"oa no
t Uu,J lns'''iloe, p0n naiS' :" ua "
iata h So SIa,9 9elo'o p " He ont,V u t.lo
aaso Glsuuius t "I.on h, i, 40,
f,.i,od III, a4i' & io it,, 1haries ;o;J Eat
TClnoSq, Uan ST,u ai.t VIII 'D JuJ n11 ~ Oape
10 -lao s"ir ',so-ratG ~ 14la sis
soi Lai5 ia'nq' ieinostu " 4hsuShs, th "iole
ne neau hiSn posienon t-, - ene 3Caee s0v-
q e-Haenr, ouS ~ a,oy1 s0Gm micnopg lss'G' lilS
Mide aote,neu s 10 4ba, n''I; ssliu was olSe-
verv advanced are o.. and sleens in the
cemetery of the adjoining farm above
mentioned. Miss Rebecca, a maiden sister,
also was member of his family, and
sleeps in same place.
The General as we said, married Rebecca