Table of Contents
Section Four: The Fourth Wave of Attacks [March 1849]
The charge led by Mullá Husayn on 2 February 1849 before the hour of dawn had delivered a severe blow to the forces that had laid siege to the fort. The besieging forces did not know about the death of Mullá Husayn and the injuries the companions had sustained that day. Furthermore, an unexpected severe cold spell hit the area, which caused the army to delay all its action. This gave a brief respite to the firing onto the fort. However, the siege itself remained in full force as the army reassembled with further forces arriving.
As to life in the fort, the leadership role of Mullá Husayn was largely taken over by Muhammad-Báqir-i-Qá’inĂ, the builder of BábĂyyih. One historian records:
Mullá Husayn’s brother and constant companion, MĂrzá Muhammad Hasan,45_ACT9 was fighting with the companions on the night that Mullá Husayn was martyred. He was badly wounded but returned to the fort alive. After Mullá Husayn died, QuddĂşs consoled Muhammad Hasan and place him in command of the companions. He delivered to the new commander both the green turban that Mullá Husayn had received from the Báb and Mullá Husayn’s sword. The appointment was largely honorary, however, since his severe wounds were slow to heal and kept him from the fighting. 46_ACT9 Actually, it was MĂrzá Muhammad-Báqir, the builder of BábĂyyih,47_ACT9 who assumed leadership of the company. 48_ACT9
Early March 1849: The last of the food supply in the Fort
The siege had caused the food supply in the fort to draw to an end. Mullá Husayn had stored some extra rice for when supplies would run out, and what was left of that emergency supply was now distributed. Now there was no food left. When
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