Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 11.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[682] command of the advance. We rested near Spring Hill about an hour and then moved on. Near Montepelier Springs we again met the enemy, and charged him up to and through a strong barricade of rails and brush across the road, charging it, driving the enemy from it, and capturing about a dozen of them, three officers and a few horses. Resting a minute I again moved forward at a fast trot, in order to be in time to save the bridge over the Tobesofkee creek at Mimms' Mills. Here we found the enemy in line about three hundred strong, and attacked them. The advance charged, mounted over the burning bridge until stopped by the plank being torn up; they then dismounted, as did also the two advance companies, E and H, and I double-quicked them across the bridge, and after a sharp fight of about five minutes drove the enemy off in confusion. In the mean time I had parts of the other companies at work extinguishing the fire on the bridge, the men carrying the water in their hats, caps, and everything else available. As we drove the enemy from the bridge I sent two companies across a ford below the bridge (I and G) to pursue the enemy, and gave pursuit at the same time with the dismounted men. The road after crossing the bridge makes a bend, and the enemy had to retreat around this bend, whilst my dismounted men double-quicking across the bend had the enemy under fire for about two hundred yards, and took good advantage of it, firing very rapidly, demoralizing the enemy, causing them to throw away guns (over one hundred), blankets, haversacks, &c., and fly as for their lives. The fire on the bridge was sufficiently suppressed in about fifteen minutes to admit of horsemen crossing, and, leaving men still at work against the flames, I crossed the command and pushed on. About two miles from the bridge, and about thirteen from Macon, I was met by a flag of truce under the rebel Brigadier-General Robertson. The force we were pursuing passed the flag of truce and thus saved themselves. I sent word to Colonel Minty, commanding Second division, of the state of things, and awaited orders. The flag of truce detained us about half an hour. I then received orders from Colonel Minty to give them five minutes to get out of the way, and then to drive everything before me, and save the bridge over Rocky creek at Bailey's Mill. I placed Adjutant W. E. Doyle in charge of the advance guard of fifteen men, giving him instructions and sending him forward at a trot, supporting him closely with the regiment. After going about two miles he came in sight of the flag of truce party covering the rear of a force of about two hundred and fifty men, said to be Blount's battalion. They were moving slowly, and evidently trying to delay us. Seeing this, the adjutant, as I had instructed him, charged them, causing the flag of truce to run into the woods, capturing three of the officers that were with it, and driving the rebel cavalry pell-mell along the road. They kept up a continual fire on us for some time, but with no effect. On getting in sight of the Rocky Creek bridge the enemy were discovered on foot attempting to fire the bridge. The advance drove them off, however, and pursued them closely to the palisades in the road. Before getting to the bridge the adjutant had sent to me for a small re-enforcement, and I sent him Major Weiler and Lieutenant James H. McDowell, with company “E.” The major caught up before getting to the bridge. On arriving at the palisades the advance got up among the rebels and some firing ensued, the rebels breaking off the road through the gardens on the right in confusion. The advance tore down a few of the palisades, passed through, and rode up to near the rebel works. Here Major Weiler and Adjutant Doyle rode up on the works and demanded their surrender, telling them that we had two divisions of our cavalry in their rear. The colonel commanding not being present the men believed they were cut off; subordinate officers surrendered their commands, and the soldiery threw down their arms, and as directed marched down to the road where Lieutenant McDowell took charge of and formed them. The major and adjutant were at this time riding along the line of works, telling the men to throw down their arms and surrender, that they were cut off and were our prisoners, that flight was vain, and that fighting would avail nothing, and the rebel soldiery were throwing down their arms and hastening to the road, and the officers were following the men. I came up at this time with the regiment, and found the rebel prisoners in line along the road, under Lieutenant McDowell. I ordered Adjutant Doyle to the forts on the right of the road to receive their surrender. As soon as the regiment got inside the line of works, the entire line surrendered, finding themselves cut off from town, and Colonel Cummins, who commanded the forces (one brigade) immediately on the road, came down with about five hundred men and surrendered to me. I left two companies (G and I) in charge of prisoners, and moved on towards town with the other companies. At the edge of town I was met by some officers with a flag of truce from General Cobb, asking what terms I would give him if he surrendered the city and forces. My answer was — unconditional surrender, and gave the flag five minutes to get out of my way. After passing into the town the distance of four or five squares, another flag of truce met me stating that General Cobb submitted to my terms, surrendering the city and everything in it. I marched into town and up to General Cobb's headquarters, thus taking formal possession of the city. I placed patrols on duty at once, and camped the regiment on the Court-house square and adjoining street.

We captured in the city and in the works Major-General Howell Cobb, Brigadier-General Gus Smith, Brigadier-General Mackall, and Brigadier-General Mercer, three thousand five