Beard-O-Rama: Wyndham vs. Walker

Today’s beard bracket pits Federal Col. Percy Wyndham (left) of the 1st New Jersey Cavalry versus Federal Admiral John Grimes Walker (right).

Remember, this is a bracket to determine the best Civil War beard, not a popularity contest about who was better. Cast your facial hair vote by typing in the name of the officer with the best beard in the comments section below. Feel free to defend your choice. You can also cast a vote on the ECW Facebook page.



32 Responses to Beard-O-Rama: Wyndham vs. Walker

  1. not even close — Colonel Wyndam all day long … he’s even got a cooler first name — Percy

  2. From my perspective, I am of the opinion that Wyndham facial hair does not qualify as a “beard”. He is sporting a very elaborate and extreme form of mustache and goatee, not a beard. (To the point of it being ridiculous). The Navy guy Walker, wins my vote by default.

  3. Colonel Wyndham wins going away. As has been mentioned earlier in this competition, styles like Admiral Walker’s are a cross between sideburns and mere whiskers.

  4. Wyndham with the look of wings beheath his nose. But unfortunately, they were incapable of flight. As noted on HISTORYNET: “It was there in Rangoon, on that January day in 1879, that Wyndham would be killed. The well-publicized balloon ascent was a promising financial venture, as individuals, for a small fee, were welcome to tour the 70-foot-tall contraption he had built. On his first attempt, Wyndham was reportedly 500 feet in the air when the balloon burst apart, sending him crashing into a lake below. Wyndham’s body was pulled from the debris, and two doctors from the crowd attempted unsuccessfully to resuscitate him. Bleeding from the nose and mouth, with a fractured skull, Wyndham likely had already been asphyxiated to death by the burning straw and oil before even hitting the water—no one was sure.”

  5. First off Walker’s is not a beard, is sideburns not trimmed. Second, Wydham’s is just a long goatee. As such neither gets my vote. A question – are these the best “beards” that this competitions moderator can come up with?

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