The orders were to carry the city at all costs, a counterblow to compensate the Germans for their failure to capture Compigne.
Counterblow had followed blow, swift as the clash of rapiers in a duel of fencers.
In the counterblow the edge of Cheever's cuff caught on Dyckman's knuckles and ripped the skin.
The French retaliated with a counterblow that drove the enemy back (p. 293) in disorder.
It now became necessary for the older body to deal a counterblow.
