64, that he was finally cornered.

On Sunday, June 12, 1864, the United States sloop-of-war Kearsarge lay
at anchor off the sleepy town of Flushing, Holland. Her commander, John
Ancrum Winslow, had served in the navy of the United States for
thirty-seven years, and had done good work off Vera Cruz in the war with
Mexico, but the crowning achievement of his life was at hand. As his
ship lay swinging idly at her anchor, a boat put off to her, a messenger
jumped aboard, and three minutes later a gun was fired, recalling
instantly every member of the ship's company ashore. The message was
from our minister to France and stated that the long-sought Alabama had
arrived at Cherbourg. For nearly two years, Winslow had been searching
for that scourge of American shipping, but Semmes had always eluded him,
so it may well be believed that Winslow lost no time in getting under
way. On Tuesday morning, he reached Cherbourg, and breathed a great sigh
of relief as he saw, beyond the breakwater, the flag of the Alabama. He
took his station off the port, and kept a close lookout for fear his
enemy would again elude him. But the precaution was unnecessary, for
Semmes had decided to offer battle.

Four days passed, however, with the Kearsarge keeping grim guard. Then,
on Sunday morning, June 19, as the crew of the Kearsarge was at divine
service, the officer of the deck reported a steamer at the harbor-mouth.
A moment later, the lookout shouted, "She's coming, and heading straight
for us!" Captain Winslow, putting aside his prayer-book, seized the
trumpet, ordered the decks cleared for action, and put his ship about
and bore down on the Alabama.

The two vessels were remarkably well-matched, but the engagement was
decisive evidence of the superior qualities of northern marksmanship. It
was, in fact, an exhibition of that magnificent gunnery which was so
evident in the war of 1812, and which was to be shown again in the war
with Spain. Nearly all of the 173 shots fired by the Kearsarge took
effect, while of the 370 fired by the Alabama, only 28 reached their
target. As a result, at the end of an hour and a half, the Alabama was
sinking, while the Kearsarge was practically uninjured and had lost only
three men. Hauling down her flag, the Alabama tried to run in shore, but
suddenly, settling by the stern, lifted her bow high in the air and
plunged to the bottom of the sea. So ended the career of the Alabama.
Winslow received the usual rewa