February:
Monday, 15th.—Raining very hard this morning. Singing at night; after singing had good deal of fun, two of the boys trying to see which could ruffle the other’s hair the most, and the fun began; soon the room was filled and everybody laughing; after awhile they remarked “laughing is catching,” and both of them caught and rubbed some other fellow’s head, and he, in turn, helped them. Somebody closed the door, and it wasn’t long till every one had been “initiated;” then the door was opened, and everybody was anxious to see what was the fun. As soon as they made their appearance, they were pulled and pushed in, and “initiated” also, and that was kept up probably one hour. They even went so far as to go and wake fellows out of their sleep and ask them to come and see what fun the boys were having down there. Many came and were immediately “initiated.”
(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)