Burnsides, Sideburns, Handllebars & Muttonchops

[GraniteStater]

Here's something all Union and CSA fanboys can get together and discuss over a jug of Oh Be Joyful.

The Smithsonian site has a poll on who had the best facial hair:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Who-Had-the-Best-Civil-War-Facial-Hair.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=twitter

but feel free to write in candidates here. It's not multiple choice - discuss!

* Ambrose baby has to be up there. Got in the dictionary and set trends, big time.

* Given the Smithsonian choices, I'm partial to Carter Stevenson; yes, no beard or 'stash, but some impressive muttonchops. Jeb Stuart gets major props, too.

Who do you like?

[Pat "Stonewall" Cleburne]

I always liked Alpheus Williams crazy mustache/handlebar thing. I don't think I could grow that if I had a thousand years.

[Ethan]

Hey, and what about Kilpatrick's sideburns? He had a sideburns to make two braids!

[John Sedgwick]

Alpheus Williams' is most impressive for its outlandishness, but I'd have to go with Ambrose Burnside's famous facial hair. He just carries it off with so much pizzazz, and I frickin' love that hat:

He strikes me as the kind of guy you'd want to hang out with and have a beer. He wasn't a stellar commander, but he was aware of his unsuitability for army command, and I admire that.

My wife is rolling her eyes at me as we speak. She's grudgingly come to accept my pirate/viking/wizard beard, but has threatened to leave me if I grow muttonchops or a giant handlebar

[Ethan]

Have on hand your beard trimmer machine, just in case!

Regards!

[John Sedgwick]

Hah, yes, I will keep the beard trimmer handy. It was a Christmas gift from her parents - I think they were trying to tell me something? I was sporting "the McClellan" for a while, but now I more closely resemble my avatar

[LittleMac]

Burnside will win, as the general public just can't get enough of him.

Can't say I disagree.

[Cromagnonman]

I want them all to win!

Heck, the most outlandish of all probably woulda been clean-shaven.

[caranorn]

I voted Dunlap, because it most resembles my own moustache (in better days, before it met with fire ;-) )...

[gekkoguy82]

I always liked Alpheus Williams crazy mustache/handlebar thing. I don't think I could grow that if I had a thousand years.

+1

I could have voted for a number of those guys, but I enjoy his the most

[Sieben]

I voted for Stuart, but it's inevitable that Burnside will win the poll. Longstreet had a pretty good thicket, too. Personally, I've always liked Grant's neatly trimmed beard (not the spade-shaped one he wore at Belmont) and relatively short hair; very distinguished.

In the Mexican-American War it was rare to see a military or political figure with a beard or even a moustache; clean-shaven was almost the rule. Yet, 15 years later, it was just the opposite.

[Alexander the Average]

I went with Romeyn B. Ayres. The photo from the side doesn't do his man hair glory but i do like the snarl. As someone who has struggled to grow a beard for many years i know how hard it is and I think he managed to pull off the rugged but still sophisticated look very well indeed.

[Jorje Vidrio]

I liked W.B.Hazen's combination mustache and goatee.

Its what I would wear had I lived back then. apy:

[anarchyintheuk]

Hood had a little zztop in him but having facial hair named after you pretty much seals the deal as to who wins imo.

[epaminondas]

You guys are all kidding, right. Check out Daniel Ruggles - now there's a face full of fighting fur.