Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-08-03
One Of the Boys.

In the County of Allegany, n. Y.
and on the hcadwaters Of the Allegany
River, lives an active, thrifty citizen,
still IL early manhood, who deyotes his
energies to preparation and sale oflum
Der. He RATS many thousands of pine
boards annually down the rivers, and
has u yard at Memphis-probably
not his only one. Associating intimate
ly and trailing largely with Southrons,
he has ever been thorough Demo
crat and last fall advocated Brcckin-
ridge for President, though he, Of
course, voted the Fusion ticket.
Hearing Of trouble at Memphis, he
started for that city some weeks since,
to look after his property, but was met
at Cincinnati by representations that
induced him to think even he might not
be safe in the Tennesseean emporium.
He telcgraphcd to q friend in Memphis
for a solution Of his doubt, and was
rather surprised at receiving the gruff
answer, "damn you !" "come onn' He
obeycd the discomtcous invitation );
reached Memphis; and soon found his
hotel surrounded by mob Of demons,
yelling for his blood, though they only
knew of him that he came from the
North, and was supposed to be after
pay for his property. Aided by q
friend, he made his escape from rear
window, ran several miles across the
country to the next station north on
the railroad, there took the cars, and
somehow reached Cincinnati, whence
he telegraphcd home that he would fol-
low the message forthwith, and wish
ed to meet his friends and ncighbors
the next evening. He did SO meet
them, told them he was in for the war
for the Union, and raised company
of sharp -shootesr on the spot, and is
now at its head in Virginia. Whether
the North shall decide to entertain
propositions looking to Compromise,
we shall move that he be appointed
one of the Commissioners to arrange
the terms of adjustment.
CoLoRs Mosr FREQUENTLY IIIr
DURING WAE.-It has ocurrcd to lis
that many of our military companies
are making q great mistake in the Sc
lection Of their uniform. Bright col
ors are gay and attractive, but afford
q better mark for the enemy and arc
therefore the most unsafe that can be
used. Any person can convince him
self Of this by putting up a scarlet or
crimson red cloth at = distance, by the
side Of one of q dull or natural tint, as
gray, and drawing sight on it with a
gun. The first appears clear and dis,
tinct, the other wavers before the eye
with a dimness and indefiniteness.
The Zouaves have more grossly dis
regarded this phiIosophic fact by COW
ering their, heads and vital parts of the
body with brilliant scarlet caps and
coats.
Scarlet has the advantage, to be
sure, Of being the most exciting of all
colors, and therefore best calculated
to stir the blood and stimulate the bra
very Of the soldier. It's effect is the
same upon the lower animals witness
the red cloth used in the Spanish bull
fights, and the effects Of the same col
or upon the turkey and other fowls
But then this argument is open to the
objection that equally rouses and mad
dens the opposing foe.
A great number of observations
made by scientific and military men,
determined that soldiers are hit during
battles according to the color Of their
dress in the following order: