Amanuensis Monday: Louis C Gober at the Gratiot Street Prison

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project back on February 16, 2009.  Since I began, many others have joined in on the meme. I am thrilled that this meme I started has inspired so many to transcribe their family history documents. Why do we transcribe? I provide my three reasons in the linked post. You may find others.

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I learned on the Civil War St. Louis site, my wife's 3rd-great grandfather, Louis C. Gober (1830-1876), spent some time in the St. Louis Gratiot Street Prison "by order of the Provost Marshall General." I searched for his records at Fold3. (I have access to Fold3 through my local library card.)

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	Gober, Lewis C Co. A, 8 Missouri Cavalry (Confederate) Private Number of Medical Cards herein - 0 Number of Personal Papers herein - 0
	(Confederate) G | Jeffries L.C. Gober Pvt. Jeffries Regt. Appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War at Cape Girardeau, Mo. for the last 15 days of August, 1863. Roll dated - Not dated, 186_ Remarks: Voluntarily gave himself up. In the guard House
	(Confederate) G | Jeffries Regt L C Gober Pvt. Jeffries Regt Appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War at Cape Girardeau, Mo. Sept 30, 1863 Roll dated - not dated, 186_ Where captured - Surrendered When captured Remarks: Charged with violating oath. Sent to St. Louis
	(Confederate) G | Jeffries Regt Louis C. Gober Pvt. Co. A Jeffries Regt Appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War and political prisoners received at Gratiot Street Military Prison, St. Louis, MO from Sept 16 to 20, 1863 Roll dated - not dated Where captured - Cape Girardeau Mo When captured - Aug 28, 1863 Received - Sept 20, 1863 Remarks - C.S.A.
	(Confederate) G | CSA Lewis C. Gober Pvt Co. A. Jeffries Regt CSA Appears on a Roll of Prisoners of War discharged from Gratiot Street Military Prison (St. Louis, Mo.) during the month of February, 1864. Roll dated - not dated Where captured - Cape Girardeau, Mo. When captured - Aug 28, 1863 Received - Sept 20, 1863 Discharged - Feb 29, 1864 Remarks: Bond $1000, Pro. Mar. Genl. Was tried by Court Martial and ordered released

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Notes:

1. He turned himself in in August of 1863, and spent just under a month in Cape Girardeau, before being sent to St. Louis where he was imprisoned for 5 months before being tried by court marital, and released. Why did he turn himself in? Did he change his mind regarding which side to be on?

2. His son, Louis Pleas Gober (1867-1948) would name a son, Robert Lee (1895-1971).  However, Louis Pleas was only 9 years old when his father died. It's not known yet when his mother died, but he appears to be an orphan in the 1880 census, age 13, living with the Kinder Family in Cape Girardeau.  Were Louis Pleas's socio-political views influenced more by his father in his first 9 years, or the Kinders?

An interesting historical side note is that one of the Kinder children in the 1880 census, Shaba Catherine, would later marry Jason Hunter Limbaugh, uncle to Rush H Limbaugh. (The talk show host is Rush H. Limbaugh III.)

3. Are there any surviving records of Civil War court martial trials? Yes there are.