Fresh troops came marching out of Dijon, and the Germans, to avoid being between two fires, drew back again through the valley behind the mountain.

The French pressed after them, but were received by the German reserves with such a firm front, that they paused and slowly retreated.
General von Kettler knew that in spite of his momentary success, he could expect no further advance from his half-starved, cold, and weary brigade, and therefore he ordered them half a mile to the rear.

The Garibaldian troops, who thought victory could be gained by one strenuous effort, tried to arrest the departing troops, endeavoring to bring them back to another advance.

When they were at last distributed in the villages, the exhausted Germans found rest and refreshment for the first time for forty-eight hours.

They had lost a tenth part of their powers of endurance in those dreadful two days spent on the hills in sight of Dijon.
The brigade had retreated, as one who jumps goes a step or two backward to obtain more impetus.