After traveling 15-30 miles a day in the saddle, the Arkansans set up camp, cared for their horses, and cooked meals. Men were assigned daily to guard or "picket" duty. While the regulars in the army had standard responses to officers checking the guards, Archibald Yell's so-called "Mounted Devils" were less inclined to follow the rules. A colonel making his rounds one night had this encounter:


Arkansas guard: "Who comes there?" Just as the guard said this, the colonel walked into a cactus.

Colonel: "Jesus Christ!"

Guard: "Halt, Jesus Christ! And send the twelve apostles with the countersign."

The Colonel answered, "A pretty dark night, friend," and offered no challenge to the alert sentry.