Photos: The Best Facial Hair in the Civil War
Browse through these portraits of officers with great facial hair and then vote for your favorite
- By Jeff Campagna and Brian Wolly
- Smithsonian.com, April 29, 2011
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(Library Of Congress)
Gen. Alexander Shaler was awarded the U.S. Army's highest honor for his valor in the Second Battle of Fredericksburg. He also fought at Gettysburg and Wilderness, where he was captured and later returned to the Union side in a prisoner exchange.
Can this mustache handle the competition? Vote for this facial hair!
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Comments (80)
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Girls just love that hair
Posted by Penelope Cruz on April 23,2012 | 09:38 PM
Didn't see James Longstreet or Stonewall Jackson..Was this contest about facial hair or weird ways of growing it? Consider Longstreet's sideburns in his later years..Those were impressive..
Posted by J.L.McCright on April 8,2012 | 08:08 PM
I would have liked to see more Confederate generals. Seems like the South was mostly clean shaven.
Posted by David DeVoss on March 21,2012 | 10:19 AM
Looks just like my friend Cliff Pops Duggins!
Posted by David Lenci on February 22,2012 | 06:02 PM
Do any of these styles have names? If not, that would also be a great competition!
Posted by Ann Nunnally on February 19,2012 | 01:34 PM
" . . . [N]ever really about slavery"? May I suggest that Mr. Price read James McPherson's "Tried By War" for the historically substantiated contrary conclusion.
Posted by H. R. Penn on February 17,2012 | 06:40 PM
Looks like Rear Admiral Stephen Bleecker Luce got into the hemp stash!
Posted by Einric on February 17,2012 | 03:08 PM
Where is Burnside? He was in the magazine.
Posted by walter e price on November 30,2011 | 10:07 PM
The most handsome man in this line up is definitely "Jeb" Stuart - hair, no hair, whatever! He reminds me of several of my cousins, and that doesn't surprise me since we're all from the same area, from the same families of long ago. The War Between the States was never really about slavery; that horribly institution woud've ended in about the sameamount oftime, without such losss of life but the real issue made men and women fighting mad! State rights. Too bad the South lost so badly - NOW we need some of those state's right BACK! The South, during Restoration, was kicked when down, for sure. Carpetbaggers raped and ripped off and ruined so much; no wonder the South took forever to catch up with all kinds of things! One thing for sure,we gave up FAR too many state rights over the years.
Now? So much for the federal govt being a "servant to the states." It's just the opposite! Maybe the Occupy movement can turn some of this around. The Bonus Army left ripples that created the middle class as we know it today, so if THEY can occupy and make change, then we, their children and grandchildren, can do it, too! States rights rule, right, JEB!? :-D
Posted by Terry Reed on November 4,2011 | 05:36 AM
What about Union General Naglee? Now that was some major facial hair. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Morris_Naglee
Posted by CarterL on October 19,2011 | 12:43 AM
I think have a photo of Abe Lincoln about the age of 20 trying to find his photo to compare looks at that age
Posted by liz wormington on September 19,2011 | 12:41 AM
Wow! The shape of his head makes me feel sorry for his mother! What a magnificent done he has!
Posted by Kylie on September 17,2011 | 07:30 PM
I didn't see General Lee.
Posted by Joe Toboni on September 13,2011 | 02:33 PM
Where's U.S. Grant? How could you have left him out? Too obvious? Alvord's facial hair may not be a prize winner, but his George Clooney eyes absolutely knock me out.
Posted by Linda Lloyd on September 1,2011 | 02:48 PM
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