The Selfridge Curse Strikes Again-- Part 2

MARCH 8TH, 1864: Thomas O. Selfridge had been aboard the USS Cumberland during her engagement with the CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads on 8 March 1862, which resulted in her sinking and had commanded the USS Cairo when she struck a torpedo and sank instantly in the Yazoo River on 12 December 1862. //// Rear Admiral Porter, upon hearing of his young officer's latest mishap, replied: "Well, Selfridge, you do not seem to have much luck with the top of the alphabet. I think that for your next shop I will try the bottom." //// Selfrisge's next command was the paddle wheel monitor USS Osage and after it grounded (but did not sink) in the Red River, he went on to command the new gunboat USS Vindicator-- even further down the alphabet. Of interest, the USS Osage also sank, but Selfridge was not in command at the time. (Must have been a curse carry-over.) //// Good thing that Selfridge obviously was a favorite of Porter. //// It's Who You Know Sometimes. --Old B-Runner