Question of the Week: Which Civil War commander had the best facial hair?
September 7 was World Beard Day. In that spirit, which Civil War commander had the best facial hair?
September 7 was World Beard Day. In that spirit, which Civil War commander had the best facial hair?
Without a doubt, R E Lee.
Even though he only had the thing under the lip, I think General Beauregard has it.
I like neat face fur. On the Confederate side, I would chose Patrick Cleburne.
On the Union side, I am inclined toward William T. Sherman on photographs where he has recently been groomed and remembered to comb his hair and beard when he got up that morning. I am sure there are other less famous Union general officers whose face fur I would admire.
A beard, with or without mustache, was a great way to avoid shaving if you were in the field. It still is from what I see on the streets and online.
General Nathan Bedford Forest. Well, I’m sure it was pretty wild in battle, his hair is perfectly coiffed (don’t get a chance to use that word very often) in every photo you see.
Had to be Burnside. Who else had a hair style named after them?
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain rocked an impression mustache.
On the Union side I’d pick Generals George Crook or Alpheus S. Williams and on the Confederate side I’d pick Generals Albert Gallatin Jenkins or James Lawson Kemper.
General John Cleveland Robinson, the hairiest man in the AoP. That beard goes for days!
If “best facial hair” is defined to include who best used facial hair to hide an unflattering face, the award would have to go to J.E.B. Stuart, ironically nicknamed by his West Point classmates as “Beauty” for his lack thereof. Perhaps Honorable Mention would go to Old Abe.
Steve Cowie, for channeling Jubal Early.
Wade Hampton of South Carolina!
I submit Colonel Percy Wyndham. His mustache is so wide it’s like he taped a bird in flight under his nose, with the extended goatee serving as tail feathers.
I’m probably not being very original here but I think it’s hands down JEB Stuart. Burnside has to be runner up for me. Now, a more original thought occurred to me on the Historic Orange Turnpike today and that was the conflict of Hays vs Hayes was a battle of two impressive beards, similarly named…
Lafayette McLaws- you could hide a bear in it!!
This is a hard question — so many luxuriously bearded men to choose from … i am going with “Little Billy” Mahone and his ZZ Top looking beard action!
Today in class: I have a picture of Chamberlain on the wall. One of the girls said, “Damn I could work with that. Was he married?”
Absalom Baird or Eugene Carr