three o'clock
In the meantime two columns of the French moved along the main road to Moscow with the evident intention of heading the Russian army at Loubino , the point where the cross road by which they were travelling came into it . This they might have accomplished owing to the much shorter distance they had to travel and the delays caused by the difficulty of getting the guns over the hills , but a small Russian corps under Touchkoff had been sent forward to cover that point . Ney had crossed the river early by two bridges he had thrown over it , and Touchkoff , as he saw this force pressing along the main road , took up a position where he covered Loubino , and for some hours repulsed all the efforts of the French to pass . At three o'clock the pressure upon Touchkoff became so severe that several regiments from Barclay 's column , which was passing safely along while he kept the road open for them , were sent to his assistance , and the fight continued . Napoleon believed that the whole Russian force had taken post at Loubino , and sent forward reinforcements to Ney . The woods were so thick that it was some time before these reached him , the guns of one of the columns being obliged to go a mile and a half through a wood before they could turn , so dense was the growth of the trees . Ney now pressed forward with such vigour that Touchkoff was driven from his position in advance , upon the village itself , where he was again reinforced by four infantry battalions , two regiments of cavalry , and heavy guns .