Very readable and meticulously-researched book. My great-great uncle was a post trader at Fort Walla Walla, Washington for several years in the 1870's. I bought this book to learn more about "post traders". I learned a great deal from the book about "sutlers" and "post traders" (if you read the book, you'll find there is a significant difference between military "sutlers" and "post traders"). I found the book a wonderful read that provided many details about military life and the life of civilian post traders on the American frontier.