Kinda. If memory serves a guy challenged Lincoln to a duel which Lincoln didn’t really want to do but as the challenged it was his right to decide the weapons. Lincoln chose broadswords and beforehand told the dude that they didn’t have to go through with it. Lincoln then swung the sword around his head, lopping off a chunk of tree branch which was the height of Lincoln’s body + outstretched arm + broadsword. Apparently this shook the dude when he realized that sword fighting a guy with an extra foot of reach was a death sentence and they resolved. Young Abe psyched the dude out.
Didn’t he offer to “debate” someone in a pit with broadswords?
Kinda. If memory serves a guy challenged Lincoln to a duel which Lincoln didn’t really want to do but as the challenged it was his right to decide the weapons. Lincoln chose broadswords and beforehand told the dude that they didn’t have to go through with it. Lincoln then swung the sword around his head, lopping off a chunk of tree branch which was the height of Lincoln’s body + outstretched arm + broadsword. Apparently this shook the dude when he realized that sword fighting a guy with an extra foot of reach was a death sentence and they resolved. Young Abe psyched the dude out.