The Infantry Post was protected by blockhouses and, on the north and west sides, by cottonwood walls called palisades, while the rugged terrain to the south and east helped discourage attacks. The palisades were costly to maintain and were removed in 1873 because of damage due to wind and rot. The Civilian Conservation Corps rebuilt the blockhouses and palisades in 1935, but the palisades were dismantled again because of the same problems. From the safety of the blockhouses, soldiers could see for miles. These buildings served as both observation posts and defensive fortifications, and they also provided holding areas for prisoners and, at one point, were used as scouts’ quarters.