The uniqueness of Lincoln's beard

[Laurie Verge]

I am not that well-versed on men's facial hair of the Civil War era; but off the top of my head, I am tempted to say that it was an either/or period in male fashion. One had either no facial hair, or simply a mustache, or simply a beard. Not a combination of beard and mustache.

I know that the Imperial was in vogue, but it was mainly mustache with a well-shaped goatee on the chin.