Abes Ax and the Historical Facts

The novel Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter presents a version of Lincoln we haven't seen before: a vengeful slayer of vampires, a fanatic whose weapon of choice is an ax. In trailers for the film based on the novel, Lincoln is a dark 19th century superhero and Abe's ax is a mythological weapon.

Now, Lincoln did not really kill vampires. But all those old stories of him swinging an ax, those are mostly true.

If we look at the actual history, Lincoln was often associated with an ax. The earliest Lincoln biographies made it sound like he grew up with an ax in his hands.

And, late in his life, he was not above showing off with an ax at a Civil War field hospital as soldiers cheered him on.

Of course, Lincoln used his ax not to vanquish the undead, but for constructive purposes. And some fence rails he split with his ax decades earlier became mighty political symbols in the election of 1860.

Enthusiastic Lincoln supporters carried rails personally split by the candidate in campaign parades. And his background as a free laborer was particularly potent during an election dominated by the issue of slavery.

The version of Lincoln playing at the movies isn't rooted in reality. Yet one aspect of the fantastic tale is backed up by even the earliest writings about him. Abe Lincoln could really swing an ax.

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Illustration: Lincoln with his ax, depicted in an early 20th century painting/Getty Images

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