The men of the 11th Ark and the 17th for that matter were assigned to the army there but as mounted infantry did not stay cooped up in the works. They operated outside against Banks. Their men captured were in the works for a reason, sick, detailed etc. The fact that they could still get info etc across the Miss there has nothing to do with that. They were part of the ARmy of East La and Miss. I just wasn't sure what you were implying. These men were assigned there upon release from prison in 62.