Smithsonian magazine is asking. They nominate 25 splendidly hirsute Civil War-era contestants and ask readers to vote for the gentleman with the best facial hair. It’s hard to pick just one. I do enjoy the extended sideburn styles, but the ZZ Top long styles and the full, rounded approach are also magnificent.

So far my top three are Confederate general J.E.B. Stuart, Union general Christopher C. Augur, and Union general John McAllister Schofield.

Pardon the flippant and abbreviated entry. Sleepy Sunday news, donchaknow. History news, anyway. The opposite of sleepy in current events.