Flowers, Swords and France

The first shot was fired at the Boulevard near the Porte Saint-Denis.

This was the gathering place for the workers and one of the defensive fulcrums in the uprising plan. When the barricades were just built, the worker insurgents took over all the surrounding sentries and prepared to meet the enemy.

Soon, just after midnight, the people who seized their positions came over - a group of National Guard soldiers.

Most of these National Guard officers and soldiers were property owners who had suffered huge losses in the recent economic turmoil. They were full of anger at the uprising and the Republic. They planned to help the army put down the riots and vent their anger.

The National Guard, led by the chief of police, slowly advanced forward.

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