Dawn Breakers

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Table of Contents 13 Section 6
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      in a state of misery and hunger.”90_ACT14 Among the enemy reinforcements that came were regiments from the tribe of Karrús with many large canons. The focus now became heavy bombardment of the Fort. The bombardment was so heavy that the very structure of the fort was under threat of destruction. This bombardment took the lives of many of the Bábí companions.

      One day, while the bombardment was in progress, a bullet struck Hujjat in the right arm, as he was performing his ablutions. He bled profusely. Though he ordered his servant not to inform anyone of the wound, yet such was the man’s grief that he was powerless to conceal his emotion. As soon as the companions found out about Hujjat being wounded, they laid down their arms and hastened to him. 

      The enemy took advantage of this lull and redoubled their attack upon the fort and were able to force their way through the gate. Very soon, the army took over the whole fort and the companions had to retreat. That day, the army took captive more than one hundred Bábí women and children. 

      The last stand of the Bábís and the death of Hujjat

      With the loss of the fort, the retreating BábĂ­s went to the cluster of houses in the neighbouring area which included Hujjat’s house. They crowded into Hujjat’s residence and the other houses that lay in its close vicinity. From here, they made a last stand effort to fight the army in the streets. 

      This state of fighting continued for a few days, with many Bábís being killed. As the bombardment went on, most of the houses around Hujjat’s residence were razed to the ground. The artillery could now direct their canons directly on to Hujjat’s residence. Nabíl records what happened:

      A section of his [Hujjat’s] dwelling had already collapsed when Hujjat, who was still living within its walls, turned to his wife Khadíjih, who was holding Hádí, their baby, in her arms, and warned her that the day was fast approaching when she and her infant might be taken captive, and bade her be prepared for that day. She was giving vent to her distress when a cannon-ball struck the room which she occupied, and killed her instantly. Her child, whom she was holding to her breast, fell into the brazier beside her, and shortly afterwards died of the injuries he had received … 91_ACT14
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