Exceptional 1887 cabinet card portrait of a young militiaman of the Longview Rifles, photographed in full dress uniform by Anthony & Hill of Longview, Texas. The subject wears an ornate double-breasted frock coat with decorative trim and a white crossbelt, topped with a forage cap marked “L.R.” for Longview Rifles. Bold period ink on the mount identifies the date as 1887, and pencil on verso notes the sitter’s surname as “Whitelock.”

Organized in 1884, the Longview Rifles were a proud unit of the Texas Volunteer Guard and were later mustered into federal service during the Spanish-American War as Company A, 3rd Texas Infantry. A printed article from the Longview News-Journal (included with this lot) details the history of the unit, their reputation for drill and discipline, and their role in guarding prisoners, including a member of the Dalton Gang.

This is a rare, early Texas militia image, regionally identified and connected to a known historical unit. An important piece of Lone Star State military history.