A comparison of the crews and armaments of the _Kearsarge_ and _Alabama_ will show that they were pretty evenly matched, though the slight numerical superiority of the Union ship was emphasized by the fact that her men were almost wholly American, while those of Semmes, as already stated, were nearly all English.
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.