about seven in the morning
This joyful and unexpected news passed rapidly from mouth to mouth , and put the whole city in a ferment . Hope turned to glad certainty , when , at break of day , the enemy 's army , with its artillery and baggage-waggons , was seen marching away from the city , and taking the road towards Klein-Waltersdorf ; although four or five hundred Swedish dragoons still held the Hospital Church , whence they fired on the town and on all who issued from it . The Freibergers , instead of abandoning themselves to the transports of an excessive joy , re-occupied the Peter Gate without delay , and made a sortie in which they set fire to the enemy 's batteries and advanced works . By about seven in the morning , when the Swedes had finally evacuated the Hospital Church itself , Imperialists began to arrive before the city , in small numbers at first , which , however , rapidly increased . Their officers were astounded at sight of the ramparts and fortifications , which in many places were almost level with the earth . Their colonel asked as a particular favour that he might be permitted to ride his horse into the city over the principal breach by the Peter Gate . This was readily granted by the commandant , and as easily accomplished by the gallant officer .