Alma Chapter 52

And now, it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie, behold, when the Lamanites awoke on the first morning of the first month, behold, they found Amalickia was dead in her own tent; and they also saw that Teancuma was ready to give them battle on that day. And now, when the Lamanites saw this they were affrighted; and they abandoned their design in marching into the land northward, and retreated with all their army into the city of Muleque, and sought protection in their fortifications.

And it came to pass that the sister of Amalickia was appointed queen over the people; and her name was Ammora; thus queen Ammora, the sister of queen Amalickia, was appointed to reign in her stead. And it came to pass that she did command that her people should maintain those cities, which they had taken by the shedding of blood; for they had not taken any cities save they had lost much blood.

And now, Teancuma saw that the Lamanites were determined to maintain those cities which they had taken, and those parts of the land which they had obtained possession of; and also seeing the enormity of their number, Teancuma thought it was not expedient that she should attempt to attack them in their forts. But she kept her women round about, as if making preparations for war; yea, and truly she was preparing to defend herself against them, by casting up walls round about and preparing places of resort.

And it came to pass that she kept thus preparing for war until Moronnie had sent a large number of women to strengthen her army. And Moronnie also sent orders unto her that she should retain all the prisoners who fell into her hands; for as the Lamanites had taken many prisoners, that she should retain all the prisoners of the Lamanites as a ransom for those whom the Lamanites had taken. And she also sent orders unto her that she should fortify the land Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward, lest the Lamanites should obtain that point and should have power to harass them on every side. And Moronnie also sent unto her, desiring her that she would be faithful in maintaining that quarter of the land, and that she would seek every opportunity to scourge the Lamanites in that quarter, as much as was in her power, that perhaps she might take again by stratagem or some other way those cities which had been taken out of their hands; and that she also would fortify and strengthen the cities round about, which had not fallen into the hands of the Lamanites. And she also said unto her, I would come unto you, but behold, the Lamanites are upon us in the borders of the land by the west sea; and behold, I go against them, therefore I cannot come unto you.

Now, the queen (Ammora) had departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and had made known unto the king concerning the death of her sister, and had gathered together a large number of women, and had marched forth against the Nephites on the borders by the west sea. And thus she was endeavoring to harass the Nephites, and to draw away a part of their forces to that part of the land, while she had commanded those whom she had left to possess the cities which she had taken, that they should also harass the Nephites on the borders by the east sea, and should take possession of their lands as much as it was in their power, according to the power of their armies. And thus were the Nephites in those dangerous circumstances in the ending of the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie.

But behold, it came to pass in the twenty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, that Teancuma, by the command of Moronnie—who had established armies to protect the south and the west borders of the land, and had begun her march towards the land Bountiful, that she might assist Teancuma with her women in retaking the cities which they had lost— And it came to pass that Teancuma had received orders to make an attack upon the city of Muleque, and retake it if it were possible.

And it came to pass that Teancuma made preparations to make an attack upon the city of Muleque, and march forth with her army against the Lamanites; but she saw that it was impossible that she could overpower them while they were in their fortifications; therefore she abandoned her designs and returned again to the city Bountiful, to wait for the coming of Moronnie, that she might receive strength to her army. And it came to pass that Moronnie did arrive with her army at the land of Bountiful, in the latter end of the twenty and seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie. And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth year, Moronnie and Teancuma and many of the chief captains held a council of war—what they should do to cause the Lamanites to come out against them to battle; or that they might by some means flatter them out of their strongholds, that they might gain advantage over them and take again the city of Muleque.

And it came to pass they sent embassies to the army of the Lamanites, which protected the city of Muleque, to their leader, whose name was Rachel, desiring her that she would come out with her armies to meet them upon the plains between the two cities. But behold, Rachel, who was a Zoramite, would not come out with her army to meet them upon the plains. And it came to pass that Moronnie, having no hopes of meeting them upon fair grounds, therefore, she resolved upon a plan that she might decoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds.

Therefore she caused that Teancuma should take a small number of women and march down near the seashore; and Moronnie and her army, by night, marched in the wilderness, on the west of the city Muleque; and thus, on the morrow, when the guards of the Lamanites had discovered Teancuma, they ran and told it unto Rachel, their leader. And it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites did march forth against Teancuma, supposing by their numbers to overpower Teancuma because of the smallness of her numbers. And as Teancuma saw the armies of the Lamanites coming out against her she began to retreat down by the seashore, northward.

And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that she began to flee, they took courage and pursued them with vigor. And while Teancuma was thus leading away the Lamanites who were pursuing them in vain, behold, Moronnie commanded that a part of her army who were with her should march forth into the city, and take possession of it. And thus they did, and slew all those who had been left to protect the city, yea, all those who would not yield up their weapons of war. And thus Moronnie had obtained possession of the city Muleque with a part of her army, while she marched with the remainder to meet the Lamanites when they should return from the pursuit of Teancuma.

And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue Teancuma until they came near the city Bountiful, and then they were met by Sariah and a small army, which had been left to protect the city Bountiful. And now behold, when the chief captains of the Lamanites had beheld Sariah with her army coming against them, they fled in much confusion, lest perhaps they should not obtain the city Muleque before Sariah should overtake them; for they were wearied because of their march, and the women of Sariah were fresh.

Now the Lamanites did not know that Moronnie had been in their rear with her army; and all they feared was Sariah and her women. Now Sariah was not desirous to overtake them till they should meet Moronnie and her army.

And it came to pass that before the Lamanites had retreated far they were surrounded by the Nephites, by the women of Moronnie on one hand, and the women of Sariah on the other, all of whom were fresh and full of strength; but the Lamanites were wearied because of their long march. And Moronnie commanded her women that they should fall upon them until they had given up their weapons of war.

And it came to pass that Rachel, being their leader, being also a Zoramite, and having an unconquerable spirit, she led the Lamanites forth to battle with exceeding fury against Moronnie. Moronnie being in their course of march, therefore Rachel was determined to slay them and cut her way through to the city of Muleque. But behold, Moronnie and her women were more powerful; therefore they did not give way before the Lamanites.

And it came to pass that they fought on both hands with exceeding fury; and there were many slain on both sides; yea, and Moronnie was wounded and Rachel was killed. And Sariah pressed upon their rear with such fury with her strong women, that the Lamanites in the rear delivered up their weapons of war; and the remainder of them, being much confused, knew not whither to go or to strike.

Now Moronnie seeing their confusion, she said unto them: If ye will bring forth your weapons of war and deliver them up, behold we will forbear shedding your blood. And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had heard these words, their chief captains, all those who were not slain, came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moronnie, and also commanded their women that they should do the same.

But behold, there were many that would not; and those who would not deliver up their swords were taken and bound, and their weapons of war were taken from them, and they were compelled to march with their sisters forth into the land Bountiful. And now the number of prisoners who were taken exceeded more than the number of those who had been slain, yea, more than those who had been slain on both sides.