Featured Article The Great Snowball Battle

By John Copeland

This story was originally published in the Lanyard magazine of the Sons of Confederate Veterans but was later reprinted in the 1975 issue of the “Skirmish Line”.

The Army of Tennessee was passing the winter of 1864 – 65 in Dalton, Georgia under the command of Joe Johnston. The temperature had hovered near zero for several days and since it was much too cold to drill or play the usual outdoor games, about all the soldiers could do between meals was gather wood and keep warm. Most of the young and vigorous were fast growing weary of inactivity. For the Army commanders, this was fast becoming a problem. On one side of a ravine were camped some Georgia troops and on the other were Tennessee soldiers. For one night, a huge snowfall blanketed the area, and the soldiers awoke to find slightly warmer temperatures and plenty of snow. This combination proved tantalizing for some younger fellows, and they soon began snowballing each other. Soon individuals’ duels gave way to larger engagements; presently, entire companies were arrayed against each other. Finally, the inevitable happened: a group of Tennesseans and Georgians squared off for battle. And hostilities begin in earnest. News spread like proverbial wildfire throughout. t the camps that an engagement of major proportions was shaping up. Now, it was a matter of state pride, and all the minor skirmishes ceased and recruits poured into both sides until it resolved into a strictly Tennessee – Georgia contest (probably the first time the two undefeated teams had met each other in many seasons). By that time, almost 2,000 men were taking part, and the numbers swelled. Snowballs were flying everywhere; charge after charge was attempted and repulsed. Shouting and cheering pierced the air and the struggle seesawed back and forth for several hours. During the various charges, many prisoners were captured, but in the wild excitement of another charge, they would make their escape and rejoin their comrades in battle. Realizing that an ample supply of snowballs would play an important part in the struggle, both sides piled large mounds of the wet missiles in advance and located them in strategic areas. As can be imagined, these “supply depots” were often prime objects of attack. As the encounter grew in intensity, the Tennessee boys requested one of the colonels to come out, mount his favorite war horse, and lead them in the attack. The colonel accepted the invitation, grabbed a flag a soldier had made of an old bandana, and galloped to the front. When the Tennesseans caught sight of him racing out, a tremendous roar went up from their ranks. Across the way, another loud roar arose as the Georgians induced a major to ride out and lead them. Not only were two large forces lined up in battle formation, but hundreds of noncombatants assembled on the surrounding hills to watch. Enlisted men scrambled for good seats, and generals and their staff were either mounted on horseback or looking on from higher ground. Directing his Tennessee troops to load up with as much “ammunition” as possible and instructing his ordnance officers to follow up with fresh supplies of snowballs, the colonel ordered the charge. With a resounding roar from both sides, the fray erupted as hundreds of snowballs filled the air, men stumbled and tripped over one another in attempts to doge the flying missiles. Others were knocked to the ground by direct hits scored by some good marksmen. The hardest hit, however, were the colonel and his horse; leading the men into battle, they were principal targets for the Georgia boys. The force of the Tennessee charge enabled them to simultaneously outflank and break through the center of the Georgia line, resulting in a complete rout. Not content with chasing their opponents off the field, the Tennesseans pursued their Confederate comrades right through the latter’s camp and into the woods beyond. Thus ended an action involving over 5,000 soldiers. The only casualties were some black eyes and a few broken noses. And the first meeting between Tennessee and Georgia concluded in a victory for the Volunteer!