Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Major William C. Clemens At Fort Fisher-- Part 4: With Lincoln in Richmond

Major Clemens was one of four men guarding President Lincoln when he visited Richmond, Virginia, shortly after the fall of the Confederate capital.

In a letter written after Lincoln's assassination, Clemens wrote:  "Here it is!  Here it is!  I can hardly realize the fact that the president is dead, as it has only been a few days since I had the pleasure of entering Richmond with him and passing as he did safely through the city without any protection whatever."

After the war, he was a bookkeeper for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company.  He died June 2, 1894 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and is buried in the Church of Brethern Cemetery in Germantown, Philadelphia County.

--Old B-R'er

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