Table of Contents
The betrayer has announced the death of Mullá Husayn to ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán. Emboldened by his removal, he is now determined to storm our stronghold and to secure for himself the honour of being its sole conqueror. Sally out and, with the aid of eighteen men marching at your side, administer a befitting chastisement upon the aggressor and his host. Let him realise that though Mullá Husayn be no more, God’s invincible power still continues to sustain his companions and enable them to triumph over the forces of their enemies.52_ACT9
Nabíl recounts what happened:
No sooner had Mírzá Muhammad-Báqir selected his companions than he ordered that the gate of the fort be flung open. Leaping upon their chargers and raising the cry of “Yá Sáhibu’z-Zamán!” they plunged headlong into the camp of the enemy. The whole army fled in confusion before so terrific a charge. All but a few were able to escape. They reached Bárfurúsh utterly demoralised and laden with shame. ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán was so shaken with fear that he fell from his horse. Leaving, in his distress, one of his boots hanging from the stirrup, he ran away, half shod and bewildered, in the direction which the army had taken. Filled with despair, he hastened to the Prince and confessed the ignominious reverse he had sustained. Mírzá Muhammad-Báqir, on his part, emerging together with his eighteen companions unscathed from that encounter, and holding in his hand the standard [flag] which an affrighted enemy had abandoned, repaired with exultation to the fort and submitted to his chief [Quddús], who had inspired him with such courage, this evidence of his victory.53_ACT9
Attacking forces are reinforced
Prince Mihdí-Qulí Mírzá was quite pleased that ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán had been defeated in this battle, because this meant he wasn’t the only one who had been defeated by the Bábís at Fort Shaykh Tabarsí.54_ACT9 He asked ‘Abbás-Qulí Khán to reassemble his forces, and to these were added additional infantry and cavalry regiments led by senior captains Sulaymán Khán-i-Afshár and Ja’far-Qulí Khán. They dug trenches to be bunkers for those with guns and set up additional barricades around the fort, fortifying the siege. Additional ammunition including cannons, mortars and
387 / 803