Because Yoshinobu TOKUGAWA, who was the Commander in Chief and the core of the conflict, deserted the army in the face of the enemy, the former Shogunate forces disintegrated and stopped fighting; each of the domains brought their troops home.
最高指揮官であり当事者であるはずの徳川慶喜が敵前逃亡したことにより、旧幕府軍は自壊し、抗戦をやめて各藩は兵を帰した。