Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-04-07
Siege of NsagdebIsrg.

The resistance ly the besieged was long and
obstinate; but at length two gates were forced
open by the bcsicgers, and Tlly, marching a
pant Of his infantry into the town, Immediately
occupied the principal streets, and with pointed
cannon drove the citizens into their dwellings,
there to await their destiny. Nor were they
held long in suspense a word from Tlly deci-
ded the fate Ct Magede6urg. Even a more
humane General would have attempted in vain
TO restrain such soldiers but Tily never once
made the attempt The silence Of their General
lett the soldiers masters Of the citizens and
they broke, without restraint into The houses to
crafty every Lrual appetite. The prayers Of
innocence excited some compassion in the hearts
of the Germans, but none in the rude breasts Of
fappenleims Nal0ous. Scarcely had the mas
saere Commerctd, when the other gates were
thrown cpcn aud the cavalry. with the fearful
toiGts u LIOats, poured IN upon tie devoted
town.
Now began a scene Of massacre and outrage
winch history has 10 language, poetry no pencil
40 portray. Neither the innocence of CHILDHOOD,
nor lie LelPlessness Of old age neither youth
lor sex, neither rank nor beauty, could disarm
the iuly Of lie cOnQuerors. Wives were dishon-
cred in the very arms Of their husbands, daugh-
tens at the feet Of their parents, and the defense
l.ss rex exposed TO the double loss OF virtue
and lie. No condition, however obscure, or
Lo"eter sacred, could afford perfection against
The cruelty or rapacty Of the enemy. Fifty
three women were found in a single church, with
tbtir leads cut oA The Croals amused them
selves with throwing children into the flames,
and Pappenhcim's Wallo0ns with stabbng in-
ians at their mothers breasts Some officers
tt the League, lOTror-struCk at scenes so dread
ful, Ventuled to remind lilly that he had il in
his power TO stop the carnage. " Return in an
hour was hIs answer ; and will see " hat s
TO be done the soldier must have some recon-
pense for his dangers and toils!r
No orders came from the General to check
these horrors, which continued without abate-
meRt till the smoke and flames at last stopped
the course Of the plnndeiers. TO increase the
confusion, and break the resistance Of the nhah-
itants, the invaders had, at the commencement
Of the assault, fired the town in several places.
and a tempest now arose, and spread the flames
with frigbtful Tapidity, till the blaze became uni
yelsal, and forced the victors to pause awhile in
their work Of rapine and carnage. The confusion
was deepened by the clouds Of smoke, the CLASH
Of swords, the heaps of dead bodies strewing
the ground, the crash of falling ruins, and The
streams Of blood that ran along the streets
The atmosphere glowed, and the intOlerable hea
finally compelled even the murdereTs to taxi
refuge IN their camp. In less than twelve hours
this strong, populous and ilourishing city, one 0
the finest in all Germany, was heap of ashes
with the exception Of only two churches and
few houses.
Scarcely had The flames abatcd when tb
foluItTS leluIHGu 10 suIule anew lDelF rage 10
piuuder amid the ruins and ashes of the town
Auliitudes were su1ocated by the smoke bu
many found rich booty in the cellars where thu
citizens bad concealed their most valuable effects
AT length 1illy himself appeared in the town
after the streets had been cleared Of ashes ant
cOrpses. Horrible and revolving TO humanity
was the scene that presented itself. The few
furvi' crawling from under the dead lttl'
children wandering about, with heart-rendinl
cries, in quest Of their parents now no more
and infants still sucking the dead bodies of thel
mOtherFl More than five thousand bodies were
thrown into the .Elbe just 10 clear the streets
far greater number had been consumed by the
flames the entire amount was estimated at thir
ty thousand and in gratitude to the God o.
peace for such horrid success in the butchery o
his children for this triumph Of Christian oveI
Christian iu blood, and fire, and rapine, and
brutal lust, solemn mass was performed, and
Je DeUm snne amid the discharge Of artillery
MosT SATlsFACTORY.-A man is, in general