Pretty good in March 1864:
“grand mock battle” March 22, 1864
It is written: “On rare occasions it snowed and like children released from school, the troops treated any snowfall as an occasion for play. On March 22 dawn revealed a fresh 5 inches of new snow, and a spontaneous snowball fight broke out all across the camp. The men threw themselfs into the fracas with enthusiasm.”
March 1864 was indeed cold and a time for sham battles for the Confederates in North Georgia. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch march 18, 1864:
Military drill.
Dalton, March16.
— Lieut. Gen. Hood had a grand drill of his corps to-day, which, notwithstanding the severity of the weather, was largely attended, especially by general officers. After the drill a sham battle was fought by the entire corps of musketry and artillery. The firing was splendid and the whole affair very imposing, and drew forth the warmest praise from all who witnessed it.
The weather here is excessively cold.
You can see a different image of the snowball fight in The mountain campaigns in Georgia : or, War scenes on the W. & A (page 23).
