December 3, 1861
THE MOCCASIN RANGERS - The three Moccasin Rangers brought up from Wirt county by Capt. Baggs, were examined yesterday in the Adjutant General's Office. One of the Rangers, Dent, told what appeared to be a plain, true story of his connection with the Moccasins. He says the Rangers go about in squads, and have their head-quarters at Big Bend, on the Little Kanawha. He says that when the country is scoured and all the "Hellyans" raised, they number about one hundred. They live altogether upon the provisions of Union men, when it is possible to do so, but when they are badly in want of something to eat, they are not particular who they get it from. Dent gave the names of all the prominent leaders in the Moccasin tribe, and gave a great deal of what is known to be valuable information.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: December 1861