Two days into the Commune, on 30 March, exploratory Versaillais troops arrived at a Communard post on the approaches of Courbevoie, near Neuilly-sur-Seine.

A Versaillais military surgeon general, attempting to negotiate, was killed on approach by Communards who mistook his uniform for that of a colonel.

When government forces fell back, some Communards mistakenly believed their side was victorious.

[2] Communards who fell back to Paris reported on Joseph Vinoy's orders for all those captured to be shot.

Later on April 2, the Commune informed the National Guard that the Versaillais had provoked civil war.