Having made a breach, he ordered a general assault.

Though twice repulsed with loss, he renewed the attack, and himself, along with Ireton, led on his men.

All opposition was overborne by the furious valor of the troops.
The town was taken sword in hand; and orders being issued to give no quarter, a cruel slaughter was made of the garrison.

Even a few, who were saved by the soldiers, satiated with blood, were next day miserably butchered by orders from the general.

One person alone of the garrison escaped to be a messenger of this universal havoc and destruction.
Cromwell pretended to retaliate by this severe execution the cruelty of the Irish massacre: but he well knew, that almost the whole garrison was English; and his justice was only a barbarous policy, in order to terrify all other garrisons from resistance.