Then the siege began afresh and more earnestly.

First of all Scipio cleared the camp of the mass of camp-followers and sutlers and once more tightened the relaxed reins of discipline.

Military operations were soon resumed with increased vigour.

In an attack by night on the suburb the Romans succeeded in passing from a tower--placed in front of the walls and equal to them in height--on to the battlements, and opened a little gate through which the whole army entered.

The Carthaginians abandoned the suburb and their camp before the gates, and gave the chief command of the garrison of the city, amounting to 30,000 men, to Hasdrubal.
The new commander displayed his energy in the first instance by giving orders that all the Roman prisoners should be brought to the battlements and, after undergoing cruel tortures, should be thrown over before the eyes of the besieging army; and, when voices were raised in disapproval of the act, a reign of terror was introduced with reference to the citizens also.