Girls just love that hair

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..

I would have liked to see more Confederate generals. Seems like the South was mostly clean shaven.

Looks just like my friend Cliff Pops Duggins!

Do any of these styles have names? If not, that would also be a great competition!

" . . . [N]ever really about slavery"? May I suggest that Mr. Price read James McPherson's "Tried By War" for the historically substantiated contrary conclusion.

Looks like Rear Admiral Stephen Bleecker Luce got into the hemp stash!

Where is Burnside? He was in the magazine.

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

What about Union General Naglee? Now that was some major facial hair. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Morris_Naglee

I think have a photo of Abe Lincoln about the age of 20 trying to find his photo to compare looks at that age

Wow! The shape of his head makes me feel sorry for his mother! What a magnificent done he has!

I didn't see General Lee.

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.

Two of the photos weren't even Civil War ones...

Where's Pickett?

You could easily include Raphael Semmes, Captain of the CSS Alabama. He was quite well known for his long waxed moustaches

Wondering why Longstreet didn't make this group? He had quite the beard!

ya right stone wall jackson was awsome

Where is Stonewall Jackson??? Now he had some whiskerz.... :-)

Alvord (#2) isn't even trying. You got to bring more than that to this competition. Come on, man, is that all you got? Oh, and my vote is for Auger (#23), although there are many that are worthy.

I just noticed that Burnside missed some buttons in his top. Could it be that he overindulged on mutton, requiring him to leave the buttons loose? Bayyaaa! I think his head may take flight with those wings on the side of his face!

This unidentified soldier is definitely a young John Bell Hood. Just Google it - unmistakable long face, somewhat close-set eyes.

You can understand why Burnside is winning the poll - and why he invented sideburns in the first place. It take the focus away from his lack of hair on top.

"Is that man bald?" "Gee, I didn't notice, I was staring so hard at his facial hair."

I voted for Mr. Hazen. My Mom dated a guy of the same last name right before she married my Dad. I think this one looks like a young Colonel Sanders.

I'm going to attempt the Adelbert Ames with the three weeks I have before I find out if i get the job I just interviewed for.

I maybe mistaken, but I've seen the unidentified soldier identified as John Bell Hood of Texas. Could it be him?

"Brig. Gen Benjamin Alvord was the rare West Point graduate with a talent for math"

Very ignorant- West Point was and still is one of the top engineering schools in the country. In fact- during the 18 century- it was the premier engineering school in the country.....

Given the level of hygene in those days, especially in the field, I've got to believe those guys were packing a lot of lice in those beards. So going with 'less is better' I'm picking # 24, Selfridge. He looks neat and clean.

Col King, #7, looks like he fell off the cover of the Sgt Peppers album.

I have 3 Great Grandfathers who wore gray. One was 27 years of age when he died at Richmond in the hospital Fortunately, I have a big picture of him on the wall. He was a nice looking may with full facial hair.

JEB Stuart, because his facial hair enhances, not detracts, from his appearance. And it's natural looking, not affected. I'd have voted for Robert E. Lee if he were a choice: so distinguished and genuine a style he had.

Where is John Bell Hood?

Burnside will have to do, but if I had the option I would have voted for William Mahone: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cwpbh.04844/

As a Yankee with many Southern friends, I too am taken aback by the near absence of Southern officers. I have not voted yet, but will vote for JEB Stuart in response to this apparent oversight.

Your most obedient servant,

P.C. Schroder

Regarding the eyes: some of the intensity may just be us reading into the photograph, and some of it may be the style of portraiture at the time (notice nobody smiled) but it was also not rare that the eyes of portraits were retouched. The long exposures required at the time meant that it was hard to keep from blinking or moving your eyes at all; if this resulted in blurriness in the eyes, they might be retouched later.

And my vote goes to Maj. Gen. Alpheus Williams and his fantastic beard-points.

Perhaps the reason there are so few southern gentlemen is that they were gentlemen and shaved for the most part? I don't know but doubt the Smithsonian meant to offend anyone, as I may have just.

Reading the comments it's strange how many voiced my thoughts...where are are the Johnny Reb men? The one thing that I would add is that as I sit here in my dotage saying prayers for these lost men no matter what side...has anybody besides me noticed how beautiful their eyes are? Maybe it is just the soul piercing stares or the black and white photos of old but no matter. Rest in peace all of you that died in those days gone by.

Mary Anne Huff
Roanoke, VA

How come Chamberlain isn't on here? He had the most intense mustache ever.

. . . and I just shaved! I had a nice Robt.E.Lee-style this winter . . . .

MGen. J.E.B. Stuart has the best hair hands down. He wrote a lovely poem to his wife when her cousin (famed author John Esten Cooke) teased her by claiming Stuart had shaved it. "Nary a hair from it will I spare" is the only line I remember right now, but that letter was classic Stuart. No braver man fought in the War, my favorite aspect of his personality was his unfailing optimism and enthusiasm! He also worked hard and played hard. If I needed a cavalryman, Stuart would easily be my first choice.

Too bad Longstreet in his seventies isn't part of this. He had "Burnside whiskers" that would make a young man envious.

How are you going to leave out Bvt. Maj. Gen. Joshua Chamberlain? There is a mustache for the ages.

Just wanted to say that Ambrose Burnside is an ancestor of mine, so of course he gets my vote. It may be a little known fact, but did you know he coined the term "side burns"? And I think I know why; there's 2 patches in my beard that just won't grow in fully, right below the chin and next to the lip on the right side of my face. If his genes are anything like mine, he couldn't grow hair there either, so he chopped off the bits that wouldn't grow in and called his beard style 'side burns'. At least that's my theory. Cheers.

Such beautiful facial hair.

You certainly have slighted the CSA. While there were quite a few 'dapper' CS officers, omit Earl Van Dorn, John Hunt Morgan, and Basil Duke in your selections. From your selection I will go with Col. Hazen, as he was Brigade commander of one of my ancestors.

"Second battle of Fredericksburg"

Excuse me? The SECOND battle? When, pray tell, was that? Are they talking about the attack on Marye's Heights during the battle of Chancellorsville?

Having spent a summer portraying Corporal James Cook of the 85th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry at Appomattox Courthouse, I've got to give props to my colonel. He gets my vote.

Only TWO Confederates out of 24 choices? Pleeeeez. I probably would have voted for Gen. Burnsides, but since the South is being dissed, my vote goes for the gallant Gen. Stuart.

It was General Custer that kept Jeb Stuart from hooking up with General Lee at Gettysburg. If Stuart had hooked up with Lee they could have taken Washington and the American Civil War would have ended with the Confederacy being victorious. That is how close it was between the Union and the Confederacy. As close as one of JEB Stuarts whiskers!

I voted for JEB Stuart - but only because Grant wasn't shown with his earlier "straw broom" beard. Now, a beard you can sweep the sawdust outta the woodshop with is my kinda whiskers!

How about a few more confederates in the lineup...? GEEZZZ?

In regards to "Gen. C.B. White" You probably found no information on him because he was breveted to Brigadier General rank. In actuality he was a Colonel

He served as Captain in the 1st Ohio (Volunteer) Regiment, in the Mexican War (1847-48). In May 1861, at it's organization, he was appointed Lt Colonel of the 12th Ohio. Colonel John W. Lowe was killed at Carnifex Ferry, W.Va., 10 September 1861, and Lt Col White then became Colonel.

The remainder of the War:
Fought with his regiment at Antietam. In September 1863, while in command of a Brigade in West Virginia, he organized an anti-guerilla force later known as "Blazer's Scouts". Colonel White was mustered out of the service 11 July 1864.

Fought a duel with a Lt. Fyffe (later Colonel, 59th Ohio) after the Mexican War over their relative ranks.

Place of Birth: Mason County, KY

"Brig. Gen Benjamin Alvord was the rare West Point graduate with a talent for math."

C'mon now, rare? West Point has graduated tons of gifted people.

Where is Abe Lincoln, for pete's sake?

Probably a brave man and good soldier. From the length of that mustache the gentleman never smoked cigarettes. Of the ones pictured here, Alpheus has my vote!!!

I agree with those who are saying how handsome JEB Stuart is, he has beautiful eyes.

I was always partial to Joshua Chamberlain's mustache - I'm sad to see he didn't make the top 24. I'll take Admiral Worden as a close second.

I want this guy to play bass in my band !

Hazen is the coolest of the cool!
JEB would have been my selection if it were not that he was sticking his tongue out at the time of the lens opening.

I would never let a man that looked like this watch my kids.

Very strong and handsome face...with stories to tell...

Where is Confederate General Pickett?

I think they ALL look silly !!!

For heaven's sake, where's Longstreet?? Has he become so undeservedly discredited that no one remembers his beard, which was much better than JEB's.
Deplorable!

The is AWESOME!!! BG John C Robinson was hairy I'll try to find a pic for you! Us great grand kids have hair on the tops of our toes he was so hairy!

And who is the fool who left Robert E. Lee out of this list? Of all the military figures, his hair and facial hair seemed, at least in pictures I have seen, to have been neatly trimmed at all times. C'mon!

Being an aging '60's hippie chick I wish facial hair would come back into style - maybe we're just reincarnations of folks from the 1860's and were "remembering" the heros of our past lives. J.E.B. Stuart is so hot/handsome - wish I could find one like that now !

Where's John Bell Hood? He definitely should be in the competition!

My grandfather, David Crockett Freeman, was in J.E.B Stuart's cavalry, so of course I'm prejudiced. However, Stuart and my grandfather both had grand facial hair, luxuriant but neatly trimmed. On the other hand, Burnsides had unusual, handsome sideburns.

Still, my vote is for Stuart.

Gen. Burside wins by more than a whisker. After all he gave the name to that hairy male condition.

BG John C Robinson [2d Div, I Corps, A/Potomac] was reputedly "the hairiest man in the Army of the Potomac"--and with all your resources, you couldn't find a picture of him?

A difficult choice,but I have Carroll blood,so had to pick for the name!

J.E.B. Stuart -- now there's a handsome man! He's got my vote for the best looking. I'm normally not a beard-type gal, but his beard looks great.

This is awesome facial hair! All of them are great, but this guy's is too cool :D

The left side isn't a sideburn. It's the continuation of a giant comb-over.

Alpheus Williams' mustache looks like the handlebars on a Harley. I can picture him grabbing hold of each end and riding off into the sunset with a trail of exhaust trailing behind.

I think the name of this man is C. Everett Koop the first!

What's not to like about JEB? Dashing cavalryman, and a bit of a loose cannon. Great screener, recon and raider for the Army of Northern Virginia. Yet went strangely missing when Lee needed him most at the Battle of Gettysburg. I have never read a satisfactory account of just where JEB was while Lee tried to figure out just how much of the Army of the Potomac had made its way to PA. Perhaps a drink or two on a warm Spring day seemed in order. In any case, the beard screams, 'I am a force to be reckoned with!' But the mustache says, 'Of course, one more for the road couldn't hurt...'

Smart man! He could eat corn on the cob without losing half of it in his beard.

J.E.B. Stuart's photo looks like Jim Henson!

Those sideburns are pure 70's. I didn't realize that was 1870's too. I guess they'll come back in style in 2070.

What about Confederate General Albert G. Jenkins? Now that was a beard!