You're right, of course. What intrigues me is that I've seen some illustrations that have details that are confirmed by contemporary written accounts. I suppose it just depends on the subject. An example would be the cotton lighters on the Rio Grande. The illustrations of these things show very small side-wheel steamers. I've always just assumed that they got the scale wrong. Then I read a great book on the blockade running war in Texas called "The Matamoras Trade". I read another called "River of Lost Dreams". Both confirmed that the steamers on the river WERE really small. I cross checked the names with Way's Packets and the Lytle List and sure enough, those steamers were that small. Leslie must have had access to someone who had seen them or gotten his rough sketches really quickly. Perhaps Matamoras to Havana to New York. There were good, frequent steamship connections. Thanks again for the insight!