About ten o'clock in the
morning
I was on the outer side of the Elbe when this dreadful piece of butchery was done . The city of Magdeburg had a sconce or fort over against it called the toll-house , which joined to the city by a very fine bridge of boats . This fort was taken by the Imperialists a few days before , and having a mind to see it , and the rather because from thence I could have a very good view of the city , I was going over Tilley 's bridge of boats to view this fort . About ten o'clock in the morning I perceived they were storming by the firing , and immediately all ran to the works ; I little thought of the taking the city , but imagined it might be some outwork attacked , for we all expected the city would surrender that day , or next , and they might have capitulated upon very good terms . Being upon the works of the fort , on a sudden I heard the dreadfulest cry raised in the city that can be imagined ; 't is not possible to express the manner of it , and I could see the women and children running about the streets in a most lamentable condition . The city wall did not run along the side where the river was with so great a height , but we could plainly see the market-place and the several streets which run down to the river . In about an hour 's time after this first cry all was in confusion ; there was little shooting , the execution was all cutting of throats and mere house murders .