The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-11-01
NltsCcllQl,co,ls.
How cred Tape" Works.

Old Thirteenth, northumberland
Second Pennsylvania, y in letter to the
Unted Presbyterian, thus illustrates
the cred :apeism'' of the army, SO often
alluded to. The writer learning that
the army was likely to rcpose for a time
after the battle Of Ante am. applied for
lurlough, setting forth the reasons in
his best rhetoric. The fate Of the APP
plea ion is thus detailed
Our Adjutant-Joe Brown we call
hm-bcing a plain, blum, s'raigh. for
ward matter-oi-fact sort of man, shook
his head ominously as he took in hand
the prepared paper, frankly stating that
neither the penmanship, nor the size or
folding Of The sheet Was in proper form
for "rcd tape" The prcsumtion as to
pcnmanship may have been we'll founded;
else, Mr.. Editor, your poor typo may be
tlockhcad for, IN transferring my
letters into print, he not INDEPENDENTLY
produces word. Of which your correspon-
dent never dreamed. Our Adiutant,
however, being a warm friend, aud very
obliging withal, caused the clerk to
trascribe tho document in round, bold,
we'll houTlshed pcnmanslip, and upon
paper having the proper size for cred
ape"-foded according to regulation
put into the prescribed envo!opc-tied
with "red tape" and then carried 10 our
rcglmcntai headquarters for approval or
disarproval. Our Colonel, by far too
open. hearted and generous ever to re-
fuse a request to friend, wrote upon
he proper folding, "Appro"cd and re-
spectfuliy forwarded under which his
name and official title were fifty in
scribed had the paper rcfoldcd, tied
with "rcd tape" and carried by an Or
DERBY to the headquarters Of our brigade
Having acquaintance and some favor in
said locality, our good Brigadicr turned
a fold Of the sheet and woe thereon
"Approved and respectfully forwarded"
with name and officials underneath. An
Orderly carried it thence to division
headquarters.
Is Introduction to our Division Cen
eral must have been in an evil hour
the petitioner could have preceded the
Orderly. Some untoward circums aucc
may at the time have veXcd the worthy
General, or perhaps he may have be-
come weary wi h leave Of absence re-
quo>tcd. BE all these as they may. a
new fold of the paper was made, and the
endorsement commenced with that I'M
fortunate Ii tie bit of Latinizcd English,
"Dis'- disapproved, but duly forward
cd"-namo and officials being duly
affixed, lied up, with red tape, and by
an Orderly forwarded to Corps Head
quarters.
AS the foremost sheep in flock, when
making leap even over some imagin-
airy obsticlc, is almost sure to be fol-
lowed in the bonnd in the rear, so that
ominous "Dis," being the first thing
seen upon the document at corps head
quartcra-no doubt had a preponderat-
ing influence in settling there its dcs-
tiny. 4 new fold was made, and thare
upon the fatal endorsement began with
"Dis," having underneath both name
and official digni1y-was re-envelopod,
tied with additional red tape, and by an
orderly carried on its last stage to the
high place Of the field Headquarters of
the Army Of the Potomac. Two
"Discs," according to human calcula-
ton, were likely to produce negative,
and so it unfortunately turned OUT
Red tape having thus conveyed the docu-
mcnt, eloquent i'll appeals, to its final
destination, red tape arrested there its
further progress. VIVA ever, under
other circumstances, might have been
its fate, those unfortunate 'sdiscs" had,
no doubt, strong prepondera ing inhu-
ence towards the unasrs gned's slde.-
The last fold on the precious sheet was
here made, and thereon written, ssDis-
approved and rcspec fully returned, by
order oil Gen. McClellan"-refoldcd, re-
envclop"d and rebound with all its
accumulation of red tape.
An orderly again took the concern in
charge, aud conveyed it to Headquarters
Of Corps Commander. His orderly car
red i. down to the Division Headquar-
tors his, again, down to the Briga-
dlcrs his to the Regimental thence to
the Adjutant, aud by him, with a grave
military salute, to the disappointed
wri er.