It requires making the overall enterprise more costly than the opponent is willing to sustain.

The Hayfield and Wagon Box defenders held their positions, but they couldn’t ride out the next morning and use the trail safely.

They were still effectively besieged.

The U.S.

Army had demonstrated the ability to defend specific positions against specific attacks.

What it could not demonstrate was the ability to use the Bozeman Trail for its intended purpose.

Those are very different things, and the distinction between them explains why the defensive successes of 1867 didn’t change the outcome.

The Decision-Making in Washington