Skip to main content

Beautiful Beards of the Civil War

There was a time when a man grew a beard on his face not because it was a part of the cultural zeitgeist, not because it was “hip” or “fresh” or “spoon” but merely because he was a man. And also shaving back in the day was a lot more of a hassle. (And also no, “spoon” is not a hip or fresh term, but maybe it should be. “Hey bro, that’s a spoon watch you’ve got there! Is it from Macy’s?” Keen, right?)

Related: Gift Guide for Bearded Men

Recommended Videos

The American Civil War lasted from April 12th, 1861 until May 9th, 1865. It was a savage conflict that almost rent our nation asunder and left three quarters of a million soldiers dead, with untold numbers of civilian casualties, as well. But from this darkest chapter of America history came a point of shimmering light: it was an era of glorious beards. And thanks to the frequent use of the relatively new medium of photography during the war, we have an invaluable record of many of the best beards of the Civil War.

Now, I won’t deign to say I or anyone else can create a ranking of the greatest beards of the Civil War; that would be an almost impossible task, so numerous were the wonderfully hirsute soldiers of that wretched war. But I can say with confidence that the whiskers we’re showcasing today deserve to live on in memoriam as much for the gallantry of the men who grew them as for their innate quality.

JENKINSALBERT JENKINS – A Longer Beard You’ll Seldom See

Albert G. Jenkins may have ended up on the wrong side of history, serving as a representative if the First Confederate Congress and subsequently as a Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army, but during his 33 years of life, he did manage to grow a beard that stretched down below his sternum, and for that we can all salute him. Few other men will live so short a life yet leave so strong a legacy of beard as he. OK, aside from the notable exception of Jesus, I suppose, who was also purportedly bearded.

BURNSIDEAMBROSE BURNSIDE – The Side Burns That Started It All

Any man who has ever stroked his sideburns with pride and thought: “These are lovely sideburns I have” has Union general Ambrose E. Burnside to thank for he term. His epic facial hair proved once and for all that a man could sport a glorious beard while still revealing his chin. Burnside survived the war (despite a rather mixed record as a commander) and continued to sport his stunning chops well into his later years, though he wasn’t all that old when he kicked off, passing away at the age of 57. And hey, here’s a weird little tidbit: Burnside was the first president of the National Rifle Association.

ALPHEUSALPHEUS WILLIAMS – Trim the Beard; Let the Mustache Flow

Before serving as a general officer in the Union Army, Alphas S. Williams attended Yale University and earned a law degree. During the war, he had a horse named Plug Ugly. Later, he served as a congressman. And while all that is fine and good, the important thing here was what grew off this man’s lips. During the Civil War, Williams sported what would be considered by both the standards of his day and ours a regular old beard. But the broad, beautiful mustache with which he topped that beard puts Yosemite Sam to shame. (Hell, it might have inspired the cartoonist behind Sam, a man named Friz Freleng, in case you were wondering.)

LINCOLNABRAHAM LINCOLN – The Great Bearded Emancipator

Alright, look: the fact is that, objectively speaking, Lincoln’s beard wasn’t all that remarkable. It wasn’t even all that good, if we’re being honest with ourselves, at least compared to some of the dashing beards of the day. But the story behind the president’s beard (apparently a little girl advised him to grow it, for those of you who somehow don’t know that already) and the fact that he was Abraham F—ing Lincoln, the man who held the nation together, damn well earns him a spot on this list.

Grant and LeeGRANT & LEE – Brothers In Beard

One of the great ironies of the American Civil War is that the leading military officers of the opposing sides sported almost identical beards (though that of the Confederate commander was of a hoarier cast). Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee were both able commanders and each noble in their way (though “noble” must often be taken to mean “drunk” in the case of Grant), and each sported a thick and full though never unruly beard. Many prominent historians have argued that Grant’s and Lee’s shared affinity for a well-maintained beard ultimately helped bring about the resolution of the war, or at least they could argue that if they wanted to.

Steven John
Steven John is a writer and journalist living just outside New York City, by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, by way of…
One of the newest movies on Netflix is from an action movie master
Havoc is the ideal movie for anyone hankering for more John Wick.
Tom Hardy in Havoc

Not every movie on Netflix is worth your time, but the streaming service definitely makes plenty of movies that are worth seeking out. Havoc, which hit the streamer on Friday, is one such movie, and part of the reason it's worth seeking out is the extraordinary talent both in front of and behind the camera.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, the movie follows a detective who must track down a politician's son in the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. As he climbs deeper and deeper into the criminal underworld, he begins to appreciate just how much corruption he's facing and kills a lot of people along the way.

Read more
A Miami Vice remake is coming from the director of Top Gun: Maverick
Kosinski will next direct F1 with Brad Pitt
Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in Miami Vice.

Miami Vice is coming back to the big screen. Almost 20 years after Michael Mann adapted the '80s series to the big screen, Joseph Kosinski is set to direct a new adaptation of the film. Universal Pictures will produce the film, which is being adapted by Dan Gilroy.

Plot details for the movie are not yet available, but the original series follows a pair of detectives who work undercover in South Florida. Mann was involved in both the original series and the first theatrical adaptation, which starred Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. That movie was a box office bomb and received mixed reviews at the time, but has since become something of a cult film in certain circles.

Read more
Everything we know about Dexter: Original Sin season 2
Get ready for another season of Original Sin: When to expect it and more
Patrick Gibson as Dexter Morgan in Dexter: Original Sin season 1

Dexter: Original Sin was announced to mixed reactions. Hearing that a Dexter prequel story was in the works with someone else playing the titular killer instead of Michael C. Hall could have been disastrous, but new star Patrick Gibson did a fantastic job of capturing the youthful version of Dexter Morgan. Dexter: Original Sin turned out to be a striking success that paints an entertaining picture of Dexter's life during early adulthood. Hall's narration of the character's inner monologues helps connect the prequel to the original and form the extended universe that SHOWTIME is trying to craft with Dexter.

While the first season of the show ended on a climactic note that would have allowed the series to be a single season if it had been cancelled, the renewal gives the writers more time to capture Dexter's story. This is everything we know so far about Dexter: Original Sin season 2, from the potential plot lines of the season to the release date on Paramount+.

Read more