Shortly after the arrival of Captain Winslow the following challenge was brought out to him: 

                              Confederate Steamer Alabama,
                              Cherbourg, June 14, 1864.

      Sir:—­I hear that you were informed by the United States
     Consul that the Kearsarge was to come to this port solely for the
     prisoners landed by me, and that she was to depart in twenty-four
     hours.  I desire you to say to the United States Consul that my
     intention is to fight the Kearsarge as soon as I can make the
     necessary arrangements.  I hope these will not detain me more than
     till to-morrow evening, or next morning, at the farthest.  I beg she
     will not depart before I am ready to go out.

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

R. Semmes, Captain.

This note, though couched in seemingly courteous language, contained the most aggravating sort of sting, in the hope expressed that the Kearsarge would not leave until the Alabama was ready to go out, and the intimation—­undoubtedly false—­that the sole business of the Union vessel was to take charge of the prisoners brought thither by the Confederate.  Captain Winslow had not spent months in hunting over the globe for such a chance as this to let it slip.

The Alabama was among friends.  She had the sympathies of the thousands, who hoped to see the Yankee ship sunk by the fearful commerce-destroyer.  Excursion trains were run from Paris and other points to Cherbourg, and among the vast multitude who gathered on shore on that warm, hazy Sunday morning—­June 19—­to witness the coming battle, it may be doubted whether there were a score who wished to see the Kearsarge win.

The respective captains were brave men and good officers.  Both had declared that, if they ever met, the battle would not end until one of the ships went to the bottom, and each knew that the other would keep his word.  Such a thing as surrender was not thought of by either.

Semmes was confident of his ability to sink the Kearsarge.  Being a Roman Catholic, and unable to attend service, he requested a friend to go to mass and have it offered up for him, which was done.  His accumulated sixty chronometers were sent ashore, and the motto displayed by his ship was “Aide toi et Dieu t’aidera,” meaning, “Help yourself and God will help you,” another version of the old adage, “God helps them that help themselves.”

The church chimes were sending out their mellow notes on the warm summer air when the Alabama began slowly steaming out of the harbor.  She was cheered by the sympathetic thousands, who heard the drums beating to quarters, and fervently prayed that their favorite might return victorious.

Winslow neglected nothing in the way of preparation.  While calmly confident, his experience had taught him that such a contest is often decided by a chance shot, and he knew that the doom of one of the ships would be sealed before the set of sun.  Having done all he could, he committed everything to the God of battles, content to abide by His will, whatever it might be.