Red tape?

[Hoosier49er]

Probably a silly question, but here goes; I know that "red tape" was in use durring the civil war, but what was it composed of and how was it used? Was this more or less just a strip of red cloth ribbon? How long were the pieces?I've seen this called for in stationery requests, and just wanted to know more about its use.
Thanks in advance,

[Ohioreb1861]

I know the government still uses it and it dosen't hold or help anything.:D

[vmescher]

Probably a silly question, but here goes; I know that "red tape" was in use durring the civil war, but what was it composed of and how was it used? Was this more or less just a strip of red cloth ribbon? How long were the pieces?I've seen this called for in stationery requests, and just wanted to know more about its use.
Thanks in advance,

The piece of original red tape I have is like cotton twill tape and is pinkish red. I would expect the length depended upon how much was needed to secure the bundle of documents.

The tape has been in use since the 17th century in England and was used to tie legal documents.

According to advertisements it came in broad and narrow and was sold on spools; it was a common item sold in stationery stores. By the late 1870s the term "red tape" could mean either the tape itself or the bureaucratic process.

[Pvt Schnapps]

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9874

The "School of the Clerk" has a brief discussion of red tape. As Ms. Mescher describes, it's about a quarter of an inch wide and made of cotton twill. Bob Sullivan has it for sale, as did Gaylord office supply until quite recently. While surviving examples tend to be pinkish, the Sullivan/Gaylord version is red, but will fade in time.

As discussed in "School", one source gives the length of a "piece" (the normal issue for one company for one quarter) as three and three-quarters yards. Based on this, and an equivalent for spool, I calculated that the War Department bureaux purchased over 150 miles' worth for their offices in the fiscal year ending on June 30, 1864. As one measure of the intensification of the northern war effort during that period, at the beginning of the fiscal year the War Department was buying red tape by the dozens of pieces; by the end they were buying it by the spool.

Red tape is useful for binding documents together, especially tri-fold returns enclosing multiple abstracts and vouchers. I've also found it useful for keeping documents in portfolios and tying up packets of paper or forms or envelopes. It's useful enough that I keep a few pieces lying around the office for those moments when a binder clip just doesn't make the right statement.

More creative uses for red tape can be found in this instance recorded in the Official Records (Series 2, Volume 8, p. 841):

HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF FORT MONROE,
Fort Monroe, Va., December 29, 1865.
General E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General:
GENERAL: I have the honor to report the prisoner Davis as well.
Clay is quite well and very cheerful, as his wife has been permitted to
visit him. The inclosed report of Major Muhlenberg, with the red tape,
will explain itself. I directed it to be removed trom his cell, when he
took occasion to make use of the profane and vulgar language. His
becoming so much enraged at its being removed leads me to believe
that he desired it for improper uses, as it is long enough to reach from
the ramparts to the moat, and strong enough to draw up a longer cord.*
While he is under my charge I shall exercise the same vigilance, not-
withstanding his refined compliments.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
NELSON A. MILES,
Major-General of U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.
[Inc1osure.]

FORT MONROE, VA., December 29, 1865.
Capt. JOHN S. MCEWAN,
Aide-de-Camp and Acty. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Fort Monroe, Ye.:
I have the honor, in reply to your communication of the 28th instant,
to make the following report of the language used by Mr. Davis, as far
as I now remember it:
When I asked Mr. Davis if he had any use for the tape, which I was
directed by General Miles to remove, he replied: “The ass! Tell the
damned ass that it was used to keep up the mosquito net on my bed. I
had it in the casemate and he knew it. The miserable ass!”
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHAS. P. MUIILENBERG,
Brevet Major, U. S. Army.


CONFIDENTIAL.] WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJT. GEN.’S OFFICE,
December 50, 1865.
Maj. Gen. N. A. MILES, U. S. Volunteers,
Commanding, Fort Monroe, Va.:
SIR: Yonr letter of the 29th instant, inclosing a quantity of red
tape and report of the language used by Jefferson Davis on the occa-
sion of its being taken from his room, has been submitted to the Secre-
tary of War, who desires me to thank you for your action in the matter
and to say that you cannot at this time be too vigilant, especially in
regard to vessels arriving at night off Fort Monroe.
The Secretary desires that care shall be taken in reference to any of
the officers at the post who may have undue feeling in favor of the
prisoners, and who might thoughtlessly accord them privileges or con-
vey information to or from them. Allusion is made in a certain letter
to the wife of a Third Pennsylvania artilierist, who promised Mr. Clay
not long since to write to his wife.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant- General.

* The “red tape” is in the custody of the War Department. It is thirty-six feet
long, and is made up of small pieces knotted together.

[Rob]

I tied a piece around my Enfield tompion as a safety measure, somewhat akin to the red flag that folks use when carrying extra-long pieces of lumber. It makes it hard to forget that it's there.