Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

The regiment was not engaged again until the arrival of the command at Macon, on the twentieth day of November, when, during the progress of the demonstration made by General Kilpatrick upon that place, the regiment was ordered to make a sabre-charge along the Clinton and Macon road, and from which the enemy were then firing. The distance to reach the guns was something over half a mile, along a road through deep woods, which concealed the enemy's guns and their work.

The regiment, (except one battalion detached,) in pursuance of orders, charged along the road, reached the enemy's guns, which were in a redoubt, completely blocking the road, there being only room for two horses to enter the works abreast. In rear of, and also extending from both flanks of the redoubt, were long lines of breastworks and rifle-pits, filled with infantry. On the left of the road there was also a battery commanding the road and the point where the road crossed, a small but deep creek being the point from which the regiment started on the charge. Notwithstanding all these obstacles, the regiment charged into the redoubt, and for a moment had complete possession of it, and could, if the men had possessed the means, have spiked the guns. As the head of the column entered the redoubts, the first line of the enemy's infantry (apparently militia) seemed to be stampeded and panic-stricken, and were rapidly falling back. The second line, however, were seen advancing, to gain a position behind the works abandoned by the militia. An infantry line was also seen advancing from the woods on the left of the road, and seeing that the guns could not be removed, and that there was barely time to withdraw the regiment before the rebel infantry would be upon us, I ordered the column to retire; this was done in good order under fire from the enemy's guns.

The loss of the regiment in this charge was seven wounded. It is with pleasure I call the attention of the Colonel commanding to the heroic conduct and bearing of Captain J. H. Hafford, of company M, commanding companies C and M. His squadron was in the advance, and, its head, he was the first man to enter the fort, where his horse was shot under him, and falling upon him, he could not extricate himself in time to prevent his capture. He is now in the hands of the enemy.

In the next action of note in which the division was engaged, at Reynolds, on the twenty-eighth of November, the Tenth being sent to the right flank of the line, which the enemy did not attack, was not specially engaged, and nothing more of note occurred until the engagement at Waynesboro on the fourth of December; on the morning of that day, when the command moved from bivouac at Thomas Station to attack Wheeler's command near Waynesboro, the Tenth Ohio volunteer cavalry moved in the advance, under orders from the Colonel commanding brigade, that as soon as an opportunity occurred, to charge with the sabre. A skirmish-line was thrown out from the regiment, which drove the skirmish-line of the enemy more than a mile back in the direction of Waynesboro upon the main line, strongly posted behind barricades, dismounted. As soon as this line was developed, the regiment was arranged for a charge by battalions. The first battalion, commanded by Captain J. E. Norton, was directed to move down the railroad on the enemy's left flank; the second, Major Platt, to move to the left, so as to turn the barricades on the enemy's right; and the third, Major Filkin, was ordered to move straight on to the barricades, all to charge with the sabre, at a given signal. At the same time, the Ninety-second Illinois, dismounted, moved in line of battle, toward the rebel line. As soon as that regiment got within range, I ordered the charge, which was made in splendid style — the barricades carried, and the whole rebel line stampeded. The regiment captured over seventy prisoners. I have not been able to learn their loss in killed and wounded. In this action the regiment lost four killed and seven wounded. Among the wounded was Captain S. E. Norton, commanding the first battalion, whose wound proved mortal. His loss to the regiment is irreparable. For faithfulness in the discharge of all his duties as an officer, and bravery upon the battle-field, exhibited on every ocasion when an opportunity presented, he could not be surpassed. The brilliant victory of the day was dearly purchased in his loss to the army and the country.

The total loss of the regiment since leaving Marietta, Georgia, November fourteenth, 1864, is as follows: Officer mortally wounded, one, (1;) officers wounded, three, (3;) officers captured, two, (2;) enlisted men killed, seven, (7 ;) enlisted men wounded, twenty-two, (22;) enlisted men missing, thirteen, (13.)

During the campaign, the regiment captured two hundred and twenty-nine horses and mules. There were one hundred and eighty of these killed in action and abandoned.

The undersigned, as commanding officer of the regiment, is fully satisfied with the bravery and gallantry of the officers and men of his command during the campaign, and only hopes that they have met the expectations of the Colonel commanding brigade, in the faithful discharge of their duties of officers and soldiers, and in their conduct upon the battle-field in one of the most successful and glorious campaigns of the war.

I have the honor to be most respectfully your obedient servant,