Editing Franco-Prussian War (section)

===Eastern campaign===
[[File:Armée-Bourb-en-Suisse.jpg|thumb|The French Army of the East is disarmed at the Swiss border in [[Bourbaki Panorama|the monumental 1881 depiction]].]]
Following the destruction of the French Army of the Loire, remnants of the Loire army gathered in eastern France to form the [[Armée de l'Est|Army of the East]], commanded by general [[Charles-Denis Bourbaki]]. In a final attempt to cut the German supply lines in northeast France, Bourbaki's army marched north to attack the Prussian siege of [[Belfort]] and relieve the defenders.

The French troops had a significant advantage (110 thousand soldiers against 40 thousand). The French offensive took the Germans by surprise and by mid-January 1871, the French had reached the Lisaine River, just a few kilometers from the besieged fortress of Belfort.

In the [[battle of the Lisaine]], Bourbaki's men failed to break through German lines commanded by General [[Karl Wilhelm Friedrich August Leopold, Count von Werder|August von Werder]]. Bringing in the German 'Southern Army', General [[Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel|von Manteuffel]] then drove Bourbaki's army into the mountains near the Swiss border. Bourbaki attempted to commit suicide, though survived his wound.{{sfn|Howard|1991|p=429}} Facing annihilation, the last intact French army of 87,000 men (now commanded by General [[Justin Clinchant]]){{sfn|Howard|1991|p=421}} crossed the border and was disarmed and interned by the neutral Swiss near [[Pontarlier]] (1 February).

The besieged fortress of Belfort continued to resist until the signing of the armistice, repelling a German attempt to capture the fortress on 27 January, which was some consolation for the French in this stubborn and unhappy campaign.