The following are some excerpts of a diary kept by Michael Shuler as Captain of Company H, 33rd Virginia. The period is from about June to December of 1862 and portions that have not been included are indicated by the three dots.
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Thur June 11 - I stopped at Wm Ferrilsons sick and have suffered a great deal on account of fever, headache, and weakness.
Fri June 20th - I am still at Mr. Ferrilsons. I feel better this morning. I want to start for Camp in a day or two. I wrote a letter home and sent it by Mrs. Eppards yesterday.
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July 1st Tuesday - The Company was engaged in the fight, loss one killed and 5 wounded. viz: Killed James H. Alger, wounded Ge D. Bushwell in the arm, David G. Hite: waist, Benj. F. Coffman side, Jesse W. Riley hand, Willis Cubbage hand.
July 2n Wednesday - Remained close to the Battle field (_?_) and took care of the wounded.
July 4th - Forc'd marched on the Charles City road towards the enemy about 10 miles, distance from Richmond 30 miles.
July 8 Tues. - Fell back towards Richmond about 14 miles.
July 9 Wednes - Marched back within 3 miles of Richmond distance about 13 miles.
July 10 Thurs. - Marched about 5 miles and camped near Mechanicsville, about 4 miles N.E. Richmond.
July 15 Tues - Marched to Richmond and took cars to Louisa C.H., got there 16th, camped 2 days.
July 18th Satur. - Marched to Gordonsville, distance 14 miles, remained to 21 July.
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July 24th Thurs to Saturday - Morning everything quiet when we were ordered to cook 2 days rations from camp about 9 AM to Gordonsville lay there some time when we were again ordered back to camp. I learned the enemy had advanced to Orange C.H. which I suppose caused the stir. They were driven back Sunday 27th July. Perry and I got a pass to Covis Harrison Y Kites, Y is very warm indeed.
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July 29th Tues - Reville at 2 1/2 this morning marched at sun up nothing known as usual as to where we were going took the Green (_?_) Road to Gordonsville. It runs very near (_?_) farm there keeping between the Railroads, marched through Mechanicsville and encamped about 1 1/2 miles below making a distance of about 11 miles we marched today.
July 30 Wednes - Nothing of interest everything quiet. We now have been drilling and cleaning up camp as though we were going in regular encampment. Wm Purdam came back the 31st. I wrote a letter home , the second. I find everything is beautiful this morning have had but little rain since we have been at camp. Had a very heavy rain this evening.
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Aug 7 Thurs - Had orders to cook two days rations about 12 M, we marched about 4 P.M. in the direction of Orange C.H. of which place we encamped about 4 miles, distance 6 miles.
Aug 8 - We marched by day light this morning by Orange C.H. took the Culpepper road. It is exceedingly hot. Encamped about a mile below the Madison Mills. The Yankees scouted very close to our camp in the night but were met by some of the 3rd Brigade.
Aug 9 - We were in line this morning before day, thought we would have the enemy upon us, it was nothing but their scout. Marched by sun up in direction of Culpepper C.H. It is very hot here today the men suffer a great deal by the heat. When we arrived within about 8 miles of C.C.H. rested and found our artillery getting in position. Cannonading commenced about 12 M. We were soon advancing from the hill we could see the Yank line. Our batteries soon advanced from the hill. Ewell's division on the right, Hill's in the center, ours on the left. We lay under a very heavy fire of shell before going in the fight. Not more than 10 minutes after the musketry commenced upon our right we were ordered to advance. Col. Reynolds in advance of the brigade (he having command after Gen. Winder fell). We had not gone far before he came galloping back to say, "1st Brigade, prepare for a charge bayonets". The brigade charged with a sirabile yell the Yanks fled the men fought well. I had but wounded. Captured a great many prisoners. The enemy were driven from the field leaving their killed and wounded and a great amt of arms. We encamped on the battle field.
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Aug 11th Thurs - This day has been set apart by order of Gen. Jackson for prayer and thanksgiving for the late victory at Cedar Run. I have for the first time the duties of field officer of the day to perform. Robert Aleshire, Jn. S Wilson and Reub Comer came in to duty.
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Aug 18th Monday - Everything quiet this morning. Expect to move today. Orders to cook two days ration and put in haversacks by sun set. Expect to move early in the morning.
Aug 19th Tues - Slept on my gum cloth did not rise until after sun up no move yet as expected. I witnessed the execution of 3 men this evening one from the 5th Reg, 2 from 10th Regt. Both the 1st and 3rd Brigades were drawn in to witness the execution. Orders to keep cooked rations on hand, 3 days rations in haversack and canteens ready filled. We have been disappointed as to moving but expect to move early in the morning.
Aug 20th Wednes - Reville at 1 this morning but is after sun up now and we have not moved yet. Yanks are moving on down the road. Took up march about 9 A.M. Crossed the Rapidan River. Tis very warm and dusty. The Yanks are retreating. Had a cavalry fight this evening drove the enemy to the Rappahannock. We encamped below Stephensburg. Marched about 12 miles today.
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Aug 22nd Friday - Ewell's division was marching by us to the ford very early this morning and we expected would cross the river but the enemy's batteries were still in position and opened a heavy fire upon the wood we lay, shelling continued until about 9 P.M. when we left our position. Following Hill and Ewell's division, we marched up the river and about 5 P.M. crossed the south fork of the Rappahannock. Our advance was engaged with a brigade of the enemy and we lay in line of battle all night. The heavens looked terrible as a heavy rain might be approaching. Firey streaks of lightning was quickly followed by sharp peals of thunder.
Aug 23rd - After the threatening passed we had but little rain last night. We were exposed again for about 2 hours this morning to the shelling. We changed positions about 9 A.M. Marched about 8 miles up the River to Jim Jacksons at Lee Springs. It was extremely hot. Our rations ran out last evening and our wagons have not been able to get to us. We are getting very hungry. Bob Cubbage came to the Company yesterday, Daniel Abbot came to the Company to day.
Aug 24th Sunday - We are all suffering in fact for something to eat, got beef and had to boil it no bread. Drew a days ration of hard bread and bacon about 12 M, cannonading coming about 10 A.M. Our forces fell back from the other side of the river. Cannonading is kept up pretty lively. I have not heard with what results. Ruben Somers and Jno. Printz just came to camp. Cannonading kept up until dark. Drew and cooked 2 days rations.
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Aug 27th Wednesday - Marched by daylight our brigade in front. Had a slight skirmish across the creek to the left of Bristoe then marched to Manassas found the Yankees had retired but a short distance. Got rations then took the breastworks and waited for the enemy to advance which they did. There was but one brigade of the enemy they were soon routed. Started from Manassas after night. burnt all the cars and stores that were there, marched in direction of the old battlefield we marched all night.
Aug 28 Thursday - We rested a little north of the old battlefield of Manassas, shifted positions often during the day and had nearly given out the idea of a fight as the sun was fast sinking in the west. About an hour by sun we heard distant cannonading in the direction of Thoroughfare Gap. We were ordered forward to the right of Grafton lay in the woods a short time advanced just as sun set and fought about an hour and a half the severest infantry fighting I ever saw. Drove the enemy back lay upon the battlefield at night. I went to see my wounded, I had one killed and 8 wounded in my Co. viz. killed Jno. I Wilson wounded Serg Menifie, Privates Webster, Ambrose Huffman, David Hite, Geo. Kite, Jos. L Cullers, Silar A Somers, A.P. Printz, none I think dangerously.
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Aug 30th Saturday - Got with the Regt about 10 A.M., we lay in line of battle until 3 P.M. when the greatest battle of the war commenced in earnest. Regular skirmishing had been kept up all day. The battle opened right in our front. We were ordered immediately forward. We met a desperate fire but pushed forward until we gained the old rail road. Soon got the Yanks in full retreat. Longstreet closed in from the right and did some desperate fighting finally got them to running. We followed in pursuit about an hour after dark, encamped the night near Stone Bridge. We had two days fight the following wounded ... I am now left with not over 15 men present in my Company.
Aug 31st Sunday - Wrote a letter home this morning made a detail to bury the dead. Knapsacks, blankets, and oil cloths are strewn in all directions. Cooked some rations and took up the march in the direction of Leesburg ...
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Sept 16th Tuesday - Reville about 12 in the night, marched at 1 A.M. passed through Shepardstown a little after sun up. Waded the Potomac again and are again in Maryland. Cannonading commenced in our front very early this morning. Marched to a woods but a short distance from the cannonading and rested. Marched to the left of Longstreets line of battle took position in line about sunset. The Yankees opened a very heavy fire of shell upon us. Infantry skirmishing to our right, marched 15 miles.
Sept 17th Wednes - We lay on our arms all night in line of battle. Skirmishing keeps up all night to our right, day light heavy firing commenced. The enemy advanced upon our line about sun up. The fighting was terrible, we have possession of the battlefield. The fight has been general today and very hotly contested. I am feeling very ill this evening went to the rear.
Sept 18th Thursday - Got with out wagons today, found Lieut Kite with them, cooked rations no fighting today. Our division moved out of line about 12 in the night.
Sept 19th Friday - Got to the Potomac about sun rise, found the whole army was massing in Va. We crossed and marched through Shepardstown took the Martinsburg Road. Encamped about 4 miles from town. I took command of the Regiment this morning, marched about 11 miles didn't get any sleep last night.
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Sept 27th Saturday - Marched out of camp at 8 A.M. and lay in a road near by awaiting the movement of other troops until about 3 P.M. when we marched through Martinsburg and took the road to Winchester. Marched very slow stopped very often. Encamped in a field near Bunker Hill about 2 in the morning. Marched the greater part of the night. Marched 11 miles.
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Sept 29th Monday - In camp today. Drill, a morning report required. Philip Long came to camp. Tuesday in hunt of God. Nothing of importance, everything quiet in camp. Father came down Wednesday and left for home Friday. Commissary brought something to eat for us. Have had regular drills.
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Oct 16th - Reville at 3 this morning. Cooked breakfast and marched out of camp by day light through Smithfield to the Shepardstown Road and marched to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Kerneysville. Commenced to tear up the Railroad but were soon interrupted by Yankees after a slight skirmish we (_?_) back the enemy, did not pursue, marched back some two miles after dark through the rain and encamped in a large mill.
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Nov 29 Sat - Marched out of camp by sun up, passed through Orange and encamped about 7 miles below. Marched about 12 miles. ...
Nov 30th Sund - Marched out of camp at 8 this morning, William Purdam was detailed as wagoner. Encamped for the night in a woods about 16 miles of Fredricksburg. Marched about 12 miles today.
December 1st Monday - Marched by 8 A.M. Encamped in a woods about 6 miles and to the right of Fredricksburg. Marched about 12 miles today.
Dec 2nd - Marched by 7 A.M. to the Fredricksburg and Richmond Road, the road leading to Guinea Station. Encamped in a woods to left of road about 2 miles of Station. Marched about 10 miles today. I was ordered under arrest by Genl Lee for shooting my pistol at a squirrel when we stopped this evening.
Dec 2nd + 4th - We lay in camp quietly, was relieved of arrest the evening of the 4th, Jesse Rily and D B Abbott came in the 3rd Dec, 5th Friday moved camp about 1/2 mile at 9 A.M. to where wood was more plentiful, commenced snowing this evening.
Dec 6th Sat - Tis pretty cold snowed some last evening. Capt Hensley and I went hunting today caught an opossum everything quiet very cold this evening. Remained very quiet in camp until Thurs 11th Dec when we were awakened very early by heavy cannonading in direction of Fredricksburg. We were ordered to cook and keep 2 days rations on hand. Orders to move by 6 in the morning.
Friday Dec 12th - Marched out of camp
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[ED: The narrative in the diary ends abruptly just before Fredricksburg. The remainder of the diary contains several pages of accounting information which deals mainly with clothing items drawn by the company.]