Emilio, Luis F., History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry , 1863-1865

[132] October 5, by the sound of the long-roll. Shots had been heard among the naval vessels. Our regiment took position in the old Confederate rifle trenches near Oyster Point on the inlet. This alarm was caused by the attempt of Lieut. William T. Glassell, C. S. N., to blow up the ‘Ironsides.’ With a small boat—the ‘David’—he exploded a spar torpedo near our iron-clad without serious damage to that vessel; but the ‘David’ was swamped. Glassell and one of his men were captured. The other two men righted their craft and returned to the city by midnight. This enterprise was one of the boldest undertakings of the war, and nearly successful.

Henry N. Hooper, formerly captain, Thirty-second Massachusetts Infantry, commissioned major of the Fifty-fourth, arrived October 16, and relieved Captain Emilio of the command. It was his fortune to lead the regiment for a longer period and in more actions than any other officer, owing to the assignment of Colonel Hallowell to higher command. On all occasions he proved an able and courageous soldier. Colonel Hallowell, promoted during his absence, returned the day after Major Hooper's arrival, and was waited upon by the officers, who expressed their pleasure at his recovery and return. A stanch friend of the Fifty-fourth was a visitor in camp about this time, in the person of Albert G. Browne, Esq., the special agent of the Treasury Department, whose headquarters were at Beaufort. His son, Col. Albert G. Browne, Jr., was the military secretary of Governor Andrew, and also one of the regiment's early and tried friends.

There had been several promotions in consequence of the action of July 18. Lieutenant Smith was made captain of Company G, but was still North; Lieutenant Walton,