eight o'clock
The next morning it was discovered that Prince Bagration had marched with his army from the hills on the other side of the river to take post on the main Moscow road so as to prevent the position being turned by the advance of a portion of the French army by that route . During the night Barclay had thrown two pontoon bridges across the river in addition to the permanent bridge . At daybreak a dropping fire broke out , for both Davoust and Ney had sent bodies of troops into the suburbs , which they had entered without opposition , and these now opened an irritating fire on the Russians upon the wall . At eight o'clock the firing suddenly swelled into a roar . Doctorow , the Russian general in command of the troops in the town , made a sortie , and cleared the suburbs at the point of the bayonet . Napoleon , believing that the Russian army was coming out to attack him , drew up Ney and Davoust 's troops in order of battle , with 70,000 infantry in the first line , supported by Murat 's 30,000 cavalry . Partial attacks were continued against the suburbs , but the Russians obstinately maintained themselves there .