I began to have a realizing sense of what life in the army was likely to be. There was little to do, but it had to be done at certain hours and in a prescribed manner, and served to interrupt any self-imposed pursuit on the outside. A certain class of our visitors always caused the introduction of cards and playing for stakes. As I had foresworn cards,9 I was never included in the game, but in order to fill my leisure time I lad out a plan of reading and writing.
Nothing Worthy of Note Transpired Today (archive.org) The transcribed journals of Civil War General August Valentine Kautz that detail his daily life and activities during his post at Fort Steilacoom in 1850.
https://archive.org/details/nothing-worthy-of-note-transpired-today-the-northwest-journals-of-august-v.-kautz/page/n57/mode/2up