7th South Carolina Infantry Engages Cobb’s Brigade in a Snowball Battle

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Autograph Letter Signed, “J.C. Williams” 7th South Carolina, 2p. folio, February 1, 1863, Army of Northern Virginia, with good content and reads in part: “..we had quite a hard engagement with the enemy on the 29th Jan. learning from some of our spies, that hte enemy was advancing a large force against us (particularly Kershaw’s Brigade) we resolved to meet them with the greatest possible promtitude - the long Roll was immediately beaten in each Regiment of our brigade - the men quickly formed, and the brigade ready to march forth; Colonel Bland took command of the brigade...formed it in line of battle, threw out our skirmishers...we discried about one mile distant, through an open field their skirmishers advancing; our men eager for the fight gave one almost deafening yell, and the command forward by the Battlalion of direction was given by Col. Bland and the brigade moved off in regular line of battle. Long before we got in musket range they had taken an advantageous position on top of a hill, byond a creek through which we had to pass...the command was given, right flank by file left, an order to give us a chance of crossing at a brigde & prevent our wading the stream, as soon as we filed across the creek we filed to the left again forming line of battle , parallel to that of the enemies, which was now about four hundred yards distant, our skirmishers and those of the enemy were already engaged, and the command to go forward, was quickly given, we advanced in good order, driving their pickets back, upon the main body of their forces, which was formed across the top of the hill, in a solid line four ranks deep, they reserved their fire until we charged up the hill, withing about [?] paces of their line when all of a sudden, they poured into our ranks, a shower of balls prepared for the occasion the whole air in front and above our heads, seemed a solid sheet of whiteness, notwithstanding the numerical strength of their forces, and the unprecidented shower of ball, that passed through our ranks, our boys faltered not, but pressed forward within close proximity of the enemy and poured on a well directed fire of snowballs into their masive columns...the enemy which was no other than Cobb’s brigade was driven back in some disorder...” More. Some tape repairs, else about VG.

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