three o'clock
Every Russian peasant possesses a roughly-made cart on two or four wheels , and as their belongings were very scanty , these , as a rule , sufficed to hold all their property . The greater portion of the fugitives had passed out of the city at two o'clock in the afternoon , and shortly afterwards Murat with his cavalry passed across the river by a ford and entered the town . A few desperate men left behind opened fire , but were speedily overpowered and killed , but a number of citizens , mad with fury , rushed so furiously upon Murat and his staff , that he was obliged to open fire upon them with a couple of light guns . At three o'clock Napoleon arrived with his guards , expecting to be met on his arrival by the authorities of the city with assurances of their submission and prayers for clemency for the population . He was astounded with the silence that reigned everywhere , and at hearing that Moscow had been evacuated by the population . Full of gloomy anticipations he proceeded to the house Murat had selected for him . Strict orders were issued against pillage , and the army bivouacked outside the city .