April 8, 1863. Death in the Twelfth

"April 8. Col. George J. Stannard is promoted Brigadier General, and assigned to the command of this brigade. Two regiments and the headquarters are at Union Mills; two at Wolf Run Shoals; and ours a mile north of Occoquan village, which is situated on the banks of a small bay of the same name; all keeping up about twenty miles of the front line in the Department of Washington. In the afternoon, battalion drill."~ Lt. Edwin Palmer, 13th Regiment,  The Second Brigade: or, Camp Life, By a Volunteer (1864) 

"Camp Near wolf run Shoals Va. Apr. 8th, 1863

"Dear parents, I now set myself to write you a few lines to let you know that we are as yet alive. But we are not all all well. ... 

"Capt Savage handed me a paper to day to circulate for the purpose of raising money to embalm the remains of T.R. Turner & transport the same to Windsor & in less than one hour I had the required sum upon the paper (which was $48.75)

"The weather here yesterday & today has been quite comfortable But cloudy most of the time. the Snow has mostly disappeared leaving the roads very muddy. Two men have died in Co. D since yesterday morning & one of them was buried to night in a pine grove near by. The procession was head by the band with muffled drums & at the grave three salutes were fired I believe that there had been but one (before this one) of our regiment buried in Va. & he died with smallpox the day after the regiment left Fairfax courthouse. We expect Surgeon Ketchum here to morrow to stay we used to think that he was rather hardhearted But I guess that he is as good as they will average

"... I see by the last Windsor Journal which came into camp to night that it is talked some of making a brigadier General of Col. Blunt. there is not a man in the regiment but what hate to lose him as a col. Still there is not one but what would like to see the Star placed upon his Shoulder Strap for they think that he is well worthy of it, if any one is. Said he to the Captain the other night if there is any help for the Sick boys they should have it & said he I have telegraphed to Dr. Ketchum to make his appearance here forthwith & when Ketchum got here he went with him & visited all of those in the hospital & those that were confined to their tents. a thing I do not believe that Lieut. Colonel Farnham has done since we have been here. But it is half past eleven & I shall not get much sleep to morrow night. So I will draw to a close by wishing you all good night with pleasant dreams." ~ Jabez H. Hammond, West Windsor, age 20, Sgt. Co. A, 12th Regt Letter No. 35

Between March 14 and April 8 there were 14 deaths from disease in the Twelfth at Wolf Run Shoals.