Only half of the brave horsemen returned from that ride of death, but they gained their end.
The mad charge drove deep into the French array about Rezonville, and gave their leaders pause in the belief that it was but the first of a series of systematic attacks on the French left.

System rather than dash was supposed to characterise German tactics; and the daring of their enemies for once made the French too methodical.

Bazaine scarcely brought the 3rd corps and the Guard into action at all, but kept them in reserve.

As the afternoon sun waned, the whole weight of the German 10th corps was thrown into the fight about Vionville, and the vanguards of the 8th and 9th came up from Gorze to threaten the French left.
Fearing that he might be cut off from Metz on the south--a fear which had unaccountably haunted him all the day--Bazaine continued to feed that part of his lines; and thus Alvensleben was able to hold the positions near the southern road to Verdun, which he had seized in the morning.

The day closed with a great cavalry combat on the German left wing in which the French had to give way.