[Non-Sequitur]

Selfridge had a history of sinking boats....especially those that begin with a "C".

That must have ben Ed being colorful again. Selfridge commanded two ships with names beginning with C. The USS Cairo was sunk by a confederate mine, hardly a matter to be ashamed of. His second one, the USS Conestoga, was sunk in a collision with the USS Sterling Price, unfortunate but that happened in wartime.

[stainlessbanner]

The Cairo was not supposed to venture that far down the Yazoo. It was known to have mines - so yeah, it was not a good move to destroy a Union ironclad by disobeying orders.

Read the orders....better yet hear Bearss tell the story - it's amazing to hear him.