In the North, at St.Quentin, the Germans were equally successful, as also in Burgundy against that once effective free-lance, Garibaldi, who came with his sons to fight for the Republic.

The last effort was made by Bourbaki and a large but ill-compacted army against the enemy's communications in Alsace.

By a speedy concentration the Germans at Hericourt, near Belfort, defeated this daring move (imposed by the Government of National Defence on Bourbaki against his better judgment), and compelled him and his hard-pressed followers to pass over into Switzerland (January 30, 1871).
Meanwhile Paris had already surrendered.

During 130 days, and that too in a winter of unusual severity, the great city had held out with a courage that neither defeats, schisms, dearth of food, nor the bombardment directed against its southern quarters could overcome.
Towards the close of January famine stared the defenders in the face, and on the 28th an armistice was concluded, which put an end to the war except in the neighbourhood of Belfort.

That exception was due to the determination of the Germans to press Bourbaki hard, while the French negotiators were not aware of his plight.