By 1863, Moyock and the surrounding area were under Union control, but vicious guerrilla attacks continued unabated, bringing hardship to local farmers and merchants who wanted to sell their goods in Norfolk, Virginia. Union Gen. Henry M. Naglee tried to suppress guerrilla activity and contraband smuggling, and in July and August 1863 he allowed county residents to travel to and from Norfolk with passes from the Federal provost marshal while demanding that they do all they could to stop smuggling and partisan attacks. On August 10, thirteen Currituck County residents, including several from Moyock, answered that they supported his goals but insisted that citizens were not responsible for the violence and had no control over those engaged in it. Although peaceful trade with Norfolk continued, partisan warfare and smuggling also persisted despite the efforts of civilians and the Union army. On August 13, 1864, county resident Alice Stephen wrote that Robert Poyner of Moyock was confronted in his front yard by two Union soldiers, that two shots were fired and the army officers fell dead, and that men from the camp then set the village of Moyock on fire and burned everything. During the colonial era, Moyock was known as Shingle Landing because roofing shingles made from the massive cypress trees of the Dismal Swamp were shipped from there, and Moyock became the official post office designation in 1857.