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The American civil war wasn’t just a war between the union and the confederate states. It was also a war of beards!
Civil war facial hair varied in style. Some men favored high-maintenance, heavily styled looks, while others preferred a simple, clean-shaven appearance. Popular choices were a long beard with or without a moustache, a moustache with large sideburns (muttonchops), and the goatee known as a ‘French Cut’.
It will interest you to know that most of the modern day facial hairstyles have its root in the civil war facial hair. The facial hairstyle you are rocking right now probably dates back to 1863, but it has evolved to fit this era.
For instance, did you know that they named the word sideburns after Ambrose Burnside because of his large growth of mutton-chops during the civil war?
This article will feature the civil war facial hair wore by the great Abraham Lincoln, Alpheus Williams, and Ambrose Burnside on the union side versus Albert Jenkins, and Robert E Lee on the confederate side.
Top Civil War Facial Hairstyles
ALPHEUS WILLIAMS
Alpheus Stanley Williams was a lawyer, US congressional representative and one of the union general in the civil war.
General Stanley grows a thin beard and a long mustache that flows down to the chin, on both sides of the mouth, with a goatee. The beard can be regarded as a regular beard, but the mustache is one hell of a mustache.
AMBROSE BURNSIDE – Mutton-chops
This civil war facial hairstyle is without the chin hair. The mustache connects the two large sideburns, which resembles muttonchops. Ambrose Burnside was a senator and Union army general. The word “sideburns” was named after him because of his sophisticated growth of muttonchops.
The sideburns is well trimmed and it complements the white streak that grows on his chin.
ALBERT JENKINS – Bandholz Facial Hairstyle
Albert Jenkins beard is similar to the modern day Bandholz facial hairstyle, but Albert Jenkins beard is longer. It reaches below the sternum. Albert Jenkins was a Brigadier general in the confederate states army.
Though, he was on the wrong side of history, he deserves a salute for growing a beard that long during his 33 years of life with a horseshoe mustache.
Robert E Lee – Boxed Beard
Robert E lee was a confederate army general. He was nicknamed the tactician. You could easily guess he was a good tactician from his beard.
His beard is well trimmed from the sideburns to the chin. The mustache too is well trimmed. Only few generals on both sides have a well-maintained facial hair as Robert E Lee. His beard is a similitude of modern day boxed beard style.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN – Chin Curtain
Abraham Lincoln is one of the greatest presidents. We admire his beard, just as we admire his courage and the love for his country. Abraham Lincoln civil war facial hair is called chin curtain in our contemporary world.
His beard grows along the jaw line and completely covers the chin. LeBron James wears a similar beard style with a tiny mustache. LeBron has some homage to pay!
The civil war facial hair takes us back to centuries to see how bearded men in the past sported their beard. The journey was adventurous and fun. We discovered that most modern day facial hairstyles is a similitude of the civil war facial hairstyles.
Keen to try out a fancy civil war style for yourself? You’re going to need a few things to help you maintain your facial hair! Check out our top recommended products.
You can try to imitate these great styles with a razor of your own: