The garrison, twelve hundred strong, ran down from their places on the wall, and seeing how small was the force that had entered fell upon them with fury.

It was a hand to hand fight.

Loud rose the war cries of the Italian and Spanish soldiers, and the answering cheers of the Scots mingled with the clash of sword on steel armour and the cries of the wounded, while without the walls the cannon of Gustavus thundered incessantly.
Not since the dreadful struggle in the streets of New Brandenburg had Malcolm been engaged in so desperate a strife.

All order and regularity was lost, and man to man they fought with pike, sword, and clubbed musket.

There was no giving of orders, for no word could be heard in such a din, and the officers with their swords and half pikes fought desperately in the melee with the rest.
Gradually, however, the strength and endurance of Ramsay's veterans prevailed over numbers.