Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, January 21, 1863

The weather continues cold. At daylight our fleet started on down the river, reaching Helena, Arkansas, at 10 o'clock. We left Helena at noon with thirteen transports loaded with troops and tied up for the night sixty miles below. The transports dare not run at night on account of being fired upon by the rebels from the banks of the river. They fire on us even on the day run, but before we can get our boats to the banks to give them chase, they are gone and out of sight.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 96