January 12, 1863
More Prisoners---Arrest of Hostages---Seventeen prisoners arrived in the city on Saturday and were committed to the Athenaeum. Eight of them are citizens of Barbour county, who were arrested by order of Colonel Wilkinson and will be held as hostages for the return of the Loyal Sheriff of Barbour county recently dragged from his home by a gang of rebel horse thieves. Three of the prisoners are Confederate soldiers, one of whom was recently taken at Boothville, Marion County, as he was prowling about in Citizens clothes, and is supposed to be a spy. The other six recently came into our lines near Beverly, and represented themselves as deserters from the rebel army.
Provost Marshal Darr has established an admirable system in regard to the prisoners placed in his charge. Every man arrested is immediately reported to Washington, with all the particulars of each particular case --- the offense charged, the age, height, and complexion of the party, his residence, occupation, etc.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: January 1863