two o'clock
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 . Finding that they showed no signs of advancing to attack him , Napoleon at two o'clock gave orders for a general assault , and the whole of the French troops advanced against the suburbs . The attack of Ney 's corps was directed against the Krasnoi suburb , which faced them , and against an advanced work known as the citadel . For two hours a terrible struggle went on . The Russians defended all the suburbs with desperate tenacity , every house and garden was the scene of a fierce encounter , men fought with bayonet and clubbed muskets , the cannon thundered on the heights , and Poniatowski established sixty guns on a hill on the French right , but a short distance from the river , and with these opened fire upon the bridges .