Alma 52

The Lamanites awakened the next morning to discover that Amalickiah lay dead, and that Teancum was pressing them for battle. Seeing this, they abandoned their plans of continued conquest, and retreated to the city of Mulek, to regroup behind the protective fortifications. Amalickiah’s brother Ammoron was appointed as the new Lamanite king. He declared that the Lamanite army should hold on to and defend all of the Nephite cities that they had conquered at great sacrifice of their people.

Teancum saw that the Lamanites planned to keep possession of the lands they’d conquered, and determined that it would be foolish for his small army to undertake a siege of the fortified cities. Instead, he kept his army close by, and prepared places where they could defend their positions while they waited for Moroni to send a reinforcing army. [66 BC]

Moroni sent messages to Teancum advising him to hold onto any Lamanite prisoners he captured for a possible exchange of Nephites held by the Lamanites. He also ordered Teancum to secure a strategic narrow pass to the north and prevent the Lamanites from acquiring it. Because Moroni was fighting another Lamanite army on the west coast he left the fight on the east coast to Teancum. He advised him to do whatever he could to defeat the Lamanites, regain the lost cities if possible, and strengthen the cities that had not fallen.

The Lamanite King Ammoron returned home, informed the queen about the death of his brother, and raised more men with which to battle Moroni’s army on the west coast. By fighting on two fronts he hoped to keep possession of the conquered cities and keep the Nephite army divided.

Early the following year Moroni advanced toward Teancum hoping to recapture the Nephite cities that had been lost to the invading Lamanite army. Until Moroni arrived it was impossible for Teancum to overpower the well defended cities. [65 BC]

When Moroni and his army arrived, they strategized on how to coax the Lamanites from the fortified cities and into the open field for battle. Since the Lamanite commander who held the city of Mulek would not be lured out by flattery or posturing, Moroni planned to trick the Lamanites into coming out using Teancum as a decoy.

Teancum took a small number of men and visibly marched down to the coast, while Moroni withdrew his army into the wilderness. When the Lamanites saw Teancum’s small army in a vulnerable position they decided to attack them. This is what Teancum and Moroni had planned on. As the Lamanites advanced Teancum fled northward, which emboldened the Lamanites to chase after them. While the Lamanites were busy pursuing Teancum, Moroni emerged from the wilderness and captured the city of Mulek killing all the remaining Lamanites who attempted to resist the Nephite reconquest of the city.

After taking possession of Mulek, Moroni sent part of his army out to meet the Lamanites who were out chasing after Teancum. Meanwhile Teancum retreated as far north as the Nephite city of Bountiful, which was held by another small army led by Lehi2. When Teancum’s force joined the army defending Bountiful, the Lamanites decided it was time for them to retreat, not knowing that Moroni’s army now stood between them and Mulek.

Lehi’s army pursued the Lamanites southward, being careful not to overtake them until the Lamanites were trapped against Moroni’s army from behind. When the armies finally met the Nephite armies of Moroni and Lehi2 were fresh. The Lamanite army on the other hand was exhausted and hungry from the march north to Bountiful, and then south again without resting. Moroni ordered an immediate attack. Thinking that they could break through and safely retreat to the city of Mulek the Lamanites fought ferociously. But the army of Moroni was stronger. With Moroni’s army in front, and Lehi’s army at their back, it was only a matter of time until the Lamanites fell and scattered. At this point, Moroni saw their confusion and said, “If you lay down your weapons, we will quit killing you.”

Hearing this, the surviving Lamanite captains threw down their arms and ordered their soldiers to do likewise. But there were a great number who refused. So they were subdued by force and taken as prisoners. In the end, more prisoners were taken than the total number who had been killed on both sides. [64 BC]