 For the average soldier , life at the fort was " <unk> " . Until the permanent structures were built , soldiers had to live in tents , which lacked comfort . Aside from a few whiskey <unk> and prostitutes , few civilians lived at the fort . Officers had brought their personal slaves with them , including Captain Swords . Five miles East in Missouri was a <unk> shop that supplied soldiers , and quite a few courts @-@ martial followed soldiers ' going <unk> at the shop . The <unk> rate from the fort ranged from 12 % <unk> % , due to boredom , irregular pay , and hatred for military life . As no combat took place near the fort , it seemed more of a frontier village than a military base . Hunting was a popular <unk> ; according to Captain Swords , " wolf chasing and duck hunting " was the only way one officer could tolerate the place . 
