With a present day note indicating that the image was found in Eastern Texas. The unknown militia officer wears a plain dark-colored triple-breasted frock coat with gilded shoulder straps and a plethora of obscured buttons. The coat is identical to the simple uniform worn in a published photograph of Arkansas 1st Lieutenant Omer R. Weaver of the Pulaski Light Artillery, killed at Wilson’s Creek. The militia battery was originally formed at Little Rock in December 1860 by Captain Robert C. Newton who coincidentally bears a striking resemblance to the officer in the tintype (see Newton likeness online). Robert C. Newton (1840-1887) later served in the 18th Arkansas (3rd Confederate) and as a staff officer under Generals Hindman and Holmes. Appointed colonel of the 5th Arkansas Cavalry, and later the 3rd Arkansas State Cavalry, Newton ended the war in command of a mounted brigade in the Trans-Mississippi Department.
Condition: Thick unvarnished plate with several scattered surface pops, minor diagonal abrasions, and subtle spidering throughout, still VG.+ with strong contrast but just average clarity. Housed in a complete composition case.